12.3 Evolutionary theism and other reconciliation attempts

Evolutionary theism attempts to reconcile scientific evidence for evolution with belief in a divine creator. It proposes that God uses evolution as a tool for creating life's diversity, guiding the process through natural laws rather than direct intervention.

This perspective challenges traditional ideas about divine action and the problem of evil. It raises questions about God's role in a world shaped by seemingly random evolutionary processes and the suffering inherent in natural selection.

Evolutionary Theism: Reconciling Science and Faith

The Concept of Evolutionary Theism

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• Evolutionary theism maintains that God uses evolution as a means of creating the diversity of life on Earth, reconciling scientific evidence for evolution with belief in a divine creator
• Argues that the evolutionary process, including natural selection and random genetic mutations, is guided by God's providence and serves as a tool for divine creativity
• Suggests that the apparent randomness and contingency in evolution are compatible with God's ultimate plan and purpose for creation
• Proposes that God endows the universe with the capacity for self-organization and the emergence of complexity, enabling life to evolve and diversify over time
• Sees God as the ultimate cause and sustainer of the evolutionary process, working through natural laws and mechanisms rather than intervening directly in the development of life

Implications and Challenges of Evolutionary Theism

• Implies that the apparent randomness and contingency in evolution are ultimately directed toward a divine purpose, challenging traditional notions of divine omnipotence and the idea of a predetermined plan for creation
• Raises questions about the nature and scope of divine action in the world, as God is seen as acting through natural processes rather than intervening directly
• Must grapple with the problem of natural evil, as the evolutionary process involves suffering, death, and extinction (mass extinctions, predator-prey relationships)
• Some suggest that God suffers along with creation and that the evolutionary process, with its struggles and setbacks, is part of a larger narrative of redemption and the ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes
• Raises questions about the nature of divine love and care for individual creatures, as the evolutionary process often appears to prioritize the survival of populations over the well-being of individuals (survival of the fittest)

Theological Perspectives on Evolution and Faith

Creationist Views

• Young Earth Creationism (YEC) rejects evolutionary theory and maintains a literal interpretation of the biblical creation account, believing that the Earth and all life were created by God in six 24-hour days, roughly 6,000-10,000 years ago
• Old Earth Creationism (OEC) accepts the scientific evidence for an ancient Earth but rejects the common descent of all life, instead proposing that God created different "kinds" of organisms separately over long periods
• Intelligent Design (ID) argues that certain features of the universe and living things are best explained by an intelligent cause rather than an undirected process like natural selection, challenging the sufficiency of evolutionary mechanisms to account for the complexity of life (irreducible complexity, specified complexity)

Theistic and Deistic Evolution

• Theistic Evolution (or Evolutionary Creation) fully accepts the scientific consensus on evolution, including common descent and the role of natural selection, while maintaining that God guides and sustains the process
• Deistic Evolution holds that God created the universe and the laws of nature but does not intervene in the evolutionary process, allowing it to unfold according to these laws without direct divine guidance
• These perspectives seek to harmonize scientific evidence with belief in a creator, avoiding the conflict between evolution and a literal interpretation of scripture
• They propose that God acts through the natural processes of evolution rather than intervening directly in the development of life

Strengths and Weaknesses of Reconciliation Attempts

Evaluating Creationist Perspectives

• Young Earth Creationism maintains a strong commitment to biblical authority but faces significant challenges in light of the overwhelming scientific evidence for an ancient Earth and the common descent of life (radiometric dating, fossil record)
• Old Earth Creationism accommodates the scientific evidence for an old Earth but still struggles to reconcile the pattern of common descent and the gradual emergence of new species with the idea of separate creation events
• Intelligent Design attempts to provide a scientific critique of evolutionary theory but has been criticized for lacking empirical support and relying on arguments from ignorance (god of the gaps), and it faces challenges in specifying the nature and identity of the intelligent designer

Assessing Theistic and Deistic Evolution

• Theistic Evolution offers a robust integration of evolutionary science and Christian theology but some argue that it compromises the concept of God's omnipotence and active involvement in the world
• Deistic Evolution avoids conflicts with scientific evidence but may be seen as diminishing God's role in creation and ongoing providence
• Both perspectives must grapple with the problem of natural evil and suffering in the evolutionary process, and they raise questions about the nature of divine action and the ultimate purpose of creation
• They provide a way to harmonize scientific evidence with belief in a creator but may be seen as compromising traditional theological concepts or diminishing the role of divine intervention

Implications of Evolutionary Theism for Divine Action vs Evil

Divine Action in an Evolutionary World

• Evolutionary theism suggests that God acts through the natural processes of evolution rather than intervening directly, raising questions about the nature and scope of divine action
• If God guides the evolutionary process, it implies that the apparent randomness and contingency in evolution are ultimately directed toward a divine purpose, challenging traditional notions of divine omnipotence and predestination
• The idea of a God who creates through evolution raises questions about the nature of divine love and care for individual creatures, as the evolutionary process often prioritizes the survival of populations over individuals
• Some propose that God's action in evolution is top-down, setting the initial conditions and laws that allow for the emergence of complexity and life, while others suggest a bottom-up approach, with God guiding the process at a more granular level (quantum indeterminacy, chaos theory)

The Problem of Evil in an Evolutionary Context

• Evolutionary theism must grapple with the problem of natural evil, as the evolutionary process involves suffering, death, and extinction (predation, disease, natural disasters)
• Some argue that these are necessary consequences of a world that allows for the emergence of free will and moral agency, and that a universe without the potential for suffering would also lack the capacity for genuine love and goodness
• Others suggest that God suffers along with creation and that the evolutionary process, with its struggles and setbacks, is part of a larger narrative of redemption and the ultimate fulfillment of God's purposes (cosmic salvation, eschatological hope)
• The problem of evil in an evolutionary context challenges traditional notions of divine omnipotence and benevolence, requiring a reevaluation of God's role in creation and the nature of divine providence
• Evolutionary theism may offer new perspectives on theodicy, such as the idea that God's power is persuasive rather than coercive, or that evil and suffering are unintended consequences of a creation that allows for genuine freedom and autonomy