- 1 God and the Supernatural
Human-first ideologies
Charles Darwin lived from 1809 to 1882, during a period when the concept of evolution was relatively new. Even today, evolution continues to be a subject of debate and controversy. In the context of human history, the development of evolutionary theory coincides with a gradual shift away from theocentric ideologies, particularly Christianity. As humanity progressed and gained a deeper understanding of the natural world, various heresies emerged, challenging traditional religious beliefs.
Examining the proponents of evolutionary theory reveals a pattern of individuals who embraced ideologies that prioritized human self-interest over divine guidance. For example, leaders like Lenin, Stalin, and Marx, who advocated for communist ideologies, espoused a human-centric worldview that often led to the suppression of religious beliefs. Similarly, Adolf Hitler, with his twisted ideology of racial superiority, exemplified the dangers of ideologies that place humanity at the center of existence. These ideologies stand in direct opposition to the core tenets of Christianity and theistic theology. Relativism, pluralism, communism, and atheism all challenge the notion of a transcendent divine being and emphasize the importance of human autonomy and worldly concerns.
It is important to note that many scientists and thinkers who contributed to the development of evolutionary theory were also devout believers, seeking to reconcile scientific knowledge with their religious convictions. The complex relationship between evolution and Christianity has been a subject of ongoing discussion and debate, with various perspectives and interpretations emerging over time.
Darwin’s theory of Evolution
Darwin’s theory of evolution put forth the idea that all life shares a common ancestry and has transformed over time through gradual, incremental changes. At the heart of this theory is the principle of natural selection, which proposes that in a competitive environment, organisms better adapted to their surroundings are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on their advantageous traits to their offspring. Over vast spans of time, this process of natural selection leads to the accumulation of beneficial adaptations and the gradual divergence of species. In the case of human evolution, Darwin suggested that our species, Homo sapiens, descended from a series of ancestral primates through a gradual process of natural selection. This evolutionary journey began with early primates like monkeys, progressed to primitive humans such as Homo erectus, and ultimately led to the emergence of modern humans.
Similarly, Darwin's theory extends to the evolution of fish. According to his theory, fish evolved from simpler aquatic creatures, such as amphibians and reptiles, over long periods of time. This evolutionary process involved the development of various adaptations, such as fins, scales, and gills, which facilitated survival in aquatic environments.
The Father of Lies
In the tapestry of human history, the figure of Satan has often been intertwined with notions of deception and falsehood. It is believed that Satan played a pivotal role in humanity's downfall, tempting Eve with the forbidden fruit and leading her and Adam astray. In a similar vein, the theory of evolution, which serves as the cornerstone of our understanding of the natural world, has also faced scrutiny due to instances of deceptive claims and misinterpretations. The realm of scientific research, which is often viewed as a bastion of truth and objectivity, is not immune to such instances of misinformation and deceit. Throughout history, there have been notable cases of scientific fraud that have cast a shadow on the integrity of the field. One striking example is the infamous "Nebraska Man" incident.
In the early 1900s, scientists working in Nebraska discovered a single tooth embedded in a rock formation. Eager to make a significant contribution to the field of paleoanthropology, they hastily extrapolated an entire narrative based on this limited evidence. They envisioned a majestic prehistoric human species, dubbed "Nebraska Man," and even speculated on the appearance of both the male and female members of this supposed species. However, as DNA testing technology advanced, scientists were able to determine that the tooth actually belonged to an extinct pig, exposing the erroneous claims made by the original researchers.
Another instance of alleged scientific fraud involves the Piltdown Man, a combination of a human skull and an ape's jaw. For over four decades, this fraudulent reconstruction was presented in textbooks as evidence of early human evolution. It was only in 1953 that this chimera was exposed as a hoax, shattering the illusions it had created.
A more enduring and consequential case of scientific deception dates back to 1856. In that year, bones belonging to a human with arthritis were presented as evidence of a new species, named "Australopithecus africanus." This "discovery," made in 1924, was hailed as the missing link between apes and humans. However, in 1973, an African geologist named Ronald Clarke demonstrated that the bones had been incorrectly attributed and had no connection to early human evolution. Despite this revelation, "Australopithecus africanus" remains listed as a valid species in some science books today, perpetuating an inaccurate narrative about human origins.
It is important to emphasize that these instances of misinformation were not merely the result of honest mistakes. Rather, they involved the deliberate manipulation of evidence and the creation of narratives that were not supported by the available facts.
The Homo-sapiens Lie
There is not enough evidence to answer the basic science questions of when, where, and how homo sapiens “evolved.” The bones being found are sometimes a mile apart, and yet for the sake of a narrative being combined to say we found a new intermediary species. Sin started with Satan’s lie and has not changed ever since; it has just been adjusted to our modern society. Because of these lies, there are holes in the arguments, such as where is the proof then that chimpanzees evolved? Where are their preliminary ancestors and bones?
Evolution is still a theory, but its proponents still claim it as fact although even if it were true would be very hard to prove. They say that instead of being created in the image of God we evolved from the descendents of monkeys. Satan is always trying to bring down humanity to the lowest possible point because He knows how much God loves us: “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:17) So if we judge this theory by its fruit, we are left to conclude that this tree should be cut down as Christ says “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19)
Contra Evolution
The fundamental laws of science, such as the law of conservation of energy, unequivocally state that something cannot arise from nothing. This principle implies that the creation of anything, including life, requires a source or a creator. Science has yet to provide evidence supporting the spontaneous generation of life from non-living matter. For example, dirt in a backyard, despite being composed of various chemical elements, does not transform into trees and flowers on its own. Plants originate from seeds, cuttings, or grafts derived from existing plants, underscoring the need for a source of life. While it is conceivable that humans may one day synthesize a living cell in a laboratory using raw chemicals, such an achievement would merely reinforce the notion that intelligence is a prerequisite for creating life. It would not, however, provide evidence for the theory of evolution.
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution posits that all life forms on Earth share a common ancestry and have undergone gradual changes over millions of years. However, the timeframe proposed by Darwin is too vast to be observed within a human lifetime. If evolution were true, one would expect to find fossil evidence demonstrating the gradual transition from one species to another. Yet, the fossil record predominantly reveals the sudden appearance of distinct species, rather than intermediate forms. Instead of unlimited transitional forms, nature exhibits well-defined and distinct species.
The theory of natural selection, a key component of evolutionary theory, fails to provide a plausible explanation for how one type of creature can evolve into an entirely different kind. Genetic coding plays a crucial role in determining the characteristics of an organism, and without the necessary genetic information, the transformation of one species into another becomes highly improbable.
Mutations destroy genetic information and produce creatures more handicapped than the original, with the exception of bacteria, since the purpose of their mutation makes them more resilient but even in this regard, they remain bacterium. “To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” (Goldschmidt: Material Basis of Evolution, Yale University Press)
Due to a lack of evidence of how the first living creature evolved, and with the lack of current proof of all the transitory species over the years, evolution is at best still ‘a theory,’ not a proven fact, as it lacks a body of supporting evidence. Despite this, most people believe evolution to be true. Faith, rather than facts, then holds the theory of evolution. Regarding Darwin’s theory, Fred Hoyle states that the evolution of nothing to something is laughable, as, "that is about as ridiculous and improbable as the proposition that a tornado, blowing through a junkyard, could assemble a Boeing 747.” If we look at the evidence presented to us, we see that the belief in evolution as an explanation for our origin, requires far more faith than the belief in a creator because of all the evidence around us that there is truly a ‘designer.’ “The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)
What Does the Bible Say?
The Bible explicitly tells us that God is the creator: “then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) He is the Alpha and the Omega: “you are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3) The science community still states there are many things not fully understood about the origins of life. However, there is no excuse, “for since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
God’s concept of time is different from our own. The word ‘day’ used in Genesis does not mean ’24 hours,’ but instead a time frame that could be millions of years. The solar system was not created until the fourth “day”, so time, as we now know it, did not exist until then.
The Bible also uses the word ‘day’ to mean different things: “the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord,” (Acts 2:20) where ‘day’ here means eternity. We are also reminded that “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)
Day seven of creation did not end with ‘so the evening and the morning were the seventh day;’ this seventh “day” goes from the creation of man until today. St. John Chrysostom explains by saying, “you see, in saying at this point that God rested from his works, Scripture teaches us that he ceased creating and bringing from nonbeing into being on the seventh day, whereas Christ, in saying that “my father is at work up until now and I am at work,” reveals his unceasing care for us: he calls “work” the maintenance of created things, bestowal of permanence on them and governance of them through all time. If this wasn’t so, after all, how would everything have subsisted, without the guiding hand above directing all visible things and the human race as well?”
Creation Through Evolution?
God could have used evolution to create…but He didn’t. Although the creation could have taken millions of years, the Bible says: “then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so…So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:11,21) This means God created mature animals and plants ready to reproduce more of their own kind. The Bible also tells us that the first man was created from dust not from an ape or monkey-like creature. Those who try to marry the theory of evolution with the story of Creation, in the end, satisfy neither.