Creation-Evolution
I accept that evolution (change in allele frequency over time) is a
fact. I accept that the Earth is over 4 billion years old. I accept
that the theory of evolution (decent from common ancestry via processes
which include natural selection of variations in allele frequency) is a valid scientific theory which goes a long way to explain the diverisity of life we see on this planet. I accept these things because they are well supported by evidence from a number of scientific disciplines, such as geology, chemistry, physics and biology.
I accept that science in general and evolution in particular makes no
judgement as to the existence of God. There is no conflict between
evolution and God. There is no conflict between evolution and the
Bible. There is a conflict between evolution and a narrow,
literal interpretation of the Bible. Science has shown that such a
literal interpretation of the Bible (especially concerning Earth
history) is incorrect. Science has not shown that faith in the
Bible is incorrect. Science has not shown that faith in God is
incorrect.
Accepting that the theory of evolution is a well supported, valid
scientific theory does not mean that one must reject the existence of
God, nor that one must reject the basic tennets of the Bible. There
is no dicotomy, i.e. that one must either believe in God and
the Bible or in evolution. The existence of devout Christians
who accept evolution proves such a dicotomy to be a false one.
Thus the creationism/evolution debate, for the most part, boils down
to acceptance or rejection of the literal truth of the Bible in
general, and Genesis in particular.
The Ontario
Centre for Religious Tolerance provides a very good
summary of
the creation/evolution issue. See also The
Institute for Biblical and Scientific Studies.
Combating young Earth creationist arguments
The A-files:
A series of files
containing information about various aspects of the famous fossil
Archaeopteryx. Is it a bird? Is it a reptile? Could it leap
tall trees in a single bound?
The Reptile to Mammal transition:
A brief discussion of one of the most well documented transitions in
the fossil record.
Ancester-Descendant Relationships
in co-exisiting groups.
Lunartic
arguments about the age of the
Moon
Dave Matson's
article refuting arguments for a young Earth.
A
large store of information generated by the talk.origins newsgroup on creation/evolution.
