Evolving Darwin
A New Look at Evolution and God
(summary of Does Evolution Rule Out God's Existence? by John F. Haught)
It's been almost 150 years since Charles Darwin wrote his infamous book, On the Origin of Species. This book and the theory of evolution that arose from it have been at the center of controversy since it was published. The ideas in the book seem fairly simple and straightforward.
- Living things produce more offspring than what reaches maturity.
- The number of a given species is fairly constant.
- Individuals in a species are not identical.
- Therefore, some individuals are better adapted to survive than others.
What is it about these observations of the natural world that has caused such controversy? What exactly is the big deal with evolution? For many modern atheists and scientists the theory of evolution is the final proof that the universe is impersonal and Godless. Evolutionists argue that the existence of God is impossible in a universe governed by the laws of evolution. They make this argument because of the following three propositions.
- The law of natural selection allows only the better-adapted organism to survive and is indifferent to life in general.
- The struggle for survival results in suffering, death, and cruelty for the weak and survival for the strong.
- The randomness in nature is accidental, without foresight, and pure chance.
Many today view Darwinian evolution as the greatest modern challenge to religion. This summary of an essay by John F. Haught will show that evolution does not contradict the God's existence and that it actually confirms God's existence.
The Controversy
The war that is waging today in our classrooms and courtrooms over evolution is basically between the creationists and the evolutionists. The creationists are trying to keep evolution out of textbooks and replace it with biblical accounts of the creation blended with modern science. The evolutionists want to keep a scientifically tested view of evolution in textbooks but also usually view evolution as inherently anti-religion. Creationists view the Bible as scientifically accurate, while evolutionists view it as inaccurate. The problem with both sides in this debate is that they both assume that the intention of the Bible's creation stories were to give scientific understanding. On one side creationists fail to focus on the deep truths of God's love for us and His covenant with us that are the main points in the creation stories. While it is easy to sympathize with Christians that are tired of watching traditional values fall away, the attempt to pass the Bible off as a scientific text is doomed to failure. On the other side the evolutionists have taken a scientific theory from simple observations to claim that it inherently denies the existence of God. This tremendous leap in logic is completely without foundation.
Doesn't the indifference of natural selection prove that God doesn't exist or just doesn't care?
Not at all. Natural selection is a force of nature. It may be impersonal and blind, but it is just as impersonal as gravity or inertia or any other force of nature. Would you say that God doesn't exist because gravity affects everyone equally? Gravity pulls on rich and poor and is completely impersonal, but this is no argument to deny the existence of God.
Further, natural selection and evolution, despite their claims, offer no reason why the matter of the universe as a whole moves towards increasingly complex forms. While most things that we observe will break into smaller and less complex pieces, the matter of the universe has slowly moved from simple hydrogen to conscious life forms. The process of natural selection, while remaining an impersonal force of nature may be the expression of the divine will to create a beautiful diversity.
Doesn’t the pain and struggle of the weak in evolution prove that a God of love cannot exist?
This argument is commonly referred to as "the problem of evil". It has been a problem for a long time and has troubled some of Christianity's greatest thinkers. The short answer is that God loves us and desires for us to be free to love in return. Our choices that reject God lead us and our world to evil. Check our previous article on the Problem of Evil for more on this topic.
How can you claim that God exists in a universe full of random chance?
The nature of God is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Skeptics ask if God truly loves us and has a plan for our lives, why is evolution and so much else in the universe random? We must first look at the nature of God's love. It is a completely giving and unselfish love. It is a love that is not imposed upon us but offered freely to us. God's love for us and for all of creation refuses to force God's will upon us. Therefore, if we understand God to truly care for creation and to be intimately involved in all of creation at all times, then we should expect randomness and unpredictability in nature.
God is completely involved with all of His creation at all times, but His love for creation allows it to be something other than God. God could easily have completed creation. He could have made everything perfect and orderly without change or imperfection. But God is not an imposing figure that forces His will onto creation. This does not mean that God has withdrawn from the universe or that He does not care anymore. God is continually creating and maintaining the universe while allowing it to exist on its own.
But the question arises, why would God want a universe that must continue to evolve and unfold in such a painfully dramatic way? Part of the reason might be that God desires to share part of the eternal joy of creation with us. Our choices and our actions as a part of God's plan add to the beauty of God's creation.
Instead of evolution denying the existence of God, there is a deep way in which faith in God nourishes the idea of evolution. That is, evolution can be more deeply understood through a faith in God. Imagine the infinity of God's love being continuously poured into the universe. The finite universe cannot possibly receive such generosity, but would be asked to evolve to this life-giving love. The universe would have to expand in complexity, life, and consciousness in response to this love.
When you look at it this way, evolution is an expected result of God's love for creation
Sources:
Haught, John F. Science & Religion: From Conflict to Conversation. New York: Paulist Press, 1995.
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