An Act Of God

An Act of God

David Weaver

General Biology 1010

Section A04 M, W, F

Dr. Barcin Acar

The topic of evolution and the creation of the world have been debated for years. While there has been plenty of debate recently on the subject, it has not been about whether or not evolution occurred. Evolutionary biologists and scientists agree on the facts of evolution. However, they differ in opinion on how exactly it took place and the processes involved. The theory of evolution now stands on very firm ground, with plenty of facts and information to support that it did happen.

Many people oppose evolution on religious grounds, assuming that evolution rejects or denies the existence of a Divine Creator or Deity in whom they believe created the world and life on it. This is not true. Those who study evolution or believe it are not generally atheists. They do however, search for answers to questions regarding the origin of life. There are some evolutionary scientists that do not believe in Deity. However, one does not have to deny the existence of a Creator to believe in evolution. In fact even Charles Darwin himself believed in a Creator that had created life. He said in his book 'Origin of Species', "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most wonderful and most beautiful have been and are being evolved (Darwin quoted in Windle 9)." Although many people believe the view of evolution rejects the idea of a Divine Creator, there is enough evidence to support that there is a God or a Supreme Being who created the earth and life on it, by using the processes of evolution.

The theory of evolution was clearly one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century. It significantly impacted scientific thought possibly more than any other theory of that time period. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution revolutionized the idea of creation. Willard Young, author of the book "Fallacies of Creationism", said "[It] represented the very epitome of the intellectual revolution and no sphere of science, philosophy, or religion escaped its influence. Darwin was to biology what Newton was to physics. Newton showed that the motions of physical bodies were subject to understandable natural laws, and Darwin showed that life very likely evolved under the direction of natural laws in concert with fortuitous circumstance (Young, 17)." This shows the general impact that the theory of evolution had on science. From that time science has searched considerably for scientific proof to support the theory.

Scientists have provided enough evidence over the years to substantiate their claim of evolution. In fact, there is enough hard scientific evidence to show that evolution did occur. These are facts that evolution has occurred.

"It is a fact, shown by fossil record, that life has changed progressively from simpler organisms to more and more complex ones over long periods of time. It is a fact that many species, which once lived on the earth, are no longer to be found, and that, according to the evidence, for every species alive today there was a time in the past prior to which it did not exist. These appearances and disappearances of species are spread out over hundreds of millions of year. It is a fact that fossils of primitive microorganisms can be found in rocks of Precambrian age, which indicates that life actually arose well before the first appearance of complex life forms in the Cambrian Era about 600 million years ago. The sequence of rocks containing primitive single-celled organisms is now known to extend back at least two billion years (Young, 145)

There is simply too much evidence now to suggest that evolution did not occur. Regardless of one's personal religious beliefs, one must accept the facts of evolution. Although we cannot disregard peoples' beliefs, like creation by God, by arguing that they are wrong, we also cannot disregard the facts because of one's personal beliefs, and the facts of the case are this: evolution has happened.

Many people believe that evolutionists support the idea that man evolved from ape. It is a fact organisms that closely resembled man lived on the earth several million years ago. However, one does not have to believe that man suddenly sprang from apes to believe in evolution. One cannot deny that man has evolved from a type of being that generally resembles an ape or what we might call 'cave men', but it is clear that somewhere along the line there was a general parting of the ways. The evidence doesn't show exactly when or how it happened but there was definitely a parting. The early types of hominid were different from common man. Examples of such life forms have been found and their resemblance to modern man is unmistakable. Take for instance, Lucy, a famous African fossil that showed the similarities of these ancient species and man. Lucy is a prime example of the change that had occurred from monkeys into something definitely more human in form. She definitely shows a tie between monkey and the upright hominids, but there is no direct tie between her and humans as they are today.

Most evolutionists believe that while there is evidence of early man that appeared very ape-like, there was a great change that had to have occurred in order for the consciousness of the beings to change so drastically. These hominids were presumed to be wild creatures rather than logical, rationalizing individuals as common man is. Scientists still do not know how or when this change actually occurred but it is mentioned by some scientists that the intervention of a Divine Creator bringing clarity of mind to these beings could have been a likely solution.

Many Christians have argued against the idea that man could have evolved from apes because they believe that Adam was the first man on the earth. We do not know how Adam came to be. The Bible states "God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2.7)." We do not know however, if this meant that God created Adam in one brief moment or if Adam evolved. It is very possible that Adam could have evolved, and when God saw that he was ready, put a consciousness into him. However,