Evolution Versus Religion

Warren Kurt VonRoeschlaub (3) presents a good point by saying that Genesis 1 was not meant to be taken literally. Geological evidence says that the earth was created 4.5 billion years ago, about 9.2 billion years after the estimated creation of the universe. On this timeline, humans date back only a few hundred thousand years from the current. In Genesis, it is stated that God created the universe in 7 days. VonRoeschlaub states that the term “days” in this usage is to be a period of time with varied length. Our definition of day would not even apply, because without any sun or earth to determine the time, days could theoretically continue on forever.

In the words of Lynn Margulis,

“If evolutionary theory (like the law of gravity or the periodic table of chemical elements) stems from accepted scientific knowledge, why is its teaching controversial? …No one doubts that gravity is the force that accelerates falling bodies, nor are statistics required to predict gas behavior when oxygen and hydrogen are sparked in a closed volume!” This is a good point. While most people accept the theory of evolution, there are a smaller number of people who think that it should not be taught as the only option. In most textbooks, the only explanation of how man came to be, along with all other species, is the Darwinian theory of Evolution. Rarely does one see the theory of Creationism or Intelligent design in a textbook. This is the reason for the controversy.

Science is in lockstep with religion in an ongoing “battle” for who is right and who is wrong. In my opinion, no one is more correct than the other. I feel that religion presents valid points as does the Theory of evolution. Given, there is more physical evidence to prove the Theory of Evolution; there is no physical evidence to disprove Genesis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 “Evolution and Religion Can Coexist, Scientists Say” NationalGeographic.com 2/26/09 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1018_041018 _science_religion _2.html

3 “God and Religion” TalkOrigins.org 2/26/09 http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-god.html

2 “Science and faith.” PBS.org 2/26/09 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/religion/ faith/ statement_01.html

4 “The phylogenetic tree topples.” Margulis, Lynn. American Scientist. 94. 3 (May-June 2006): 194(1). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. 1 Mar. 2009 .