Theistic Evolution Creation/Evolution

Last week we talked about… The universe had a beginning God must be the creator of the universe 3 views Christians can faithfully hold: Old-Earth Creationism, Young-Earth Creationism, Theistic Evolution Different Young/Old Earth Views Was Adam a real person? What does “day” mean in Genesis 1? Dating methods/Noah’s flood/fossil record

Naturalistic Evolution Intelligent Design Theistic Evolution Was there an intelligent agent involved in creating the universe? Is the intelligent agent the God of the Bible? Did God create humans directly (without evolution)? Does the Bible indicate that God created the universe less than 10,000 years ago? YES YES YES NO NO NO Naturalistic Evolution Intelligent Design Theistic Evolution NO YES Old-Earth Creationism Young-Earth Creationism

Naturalistic Evolution Intelligent Design Theistic Evolution Was there an intelligent agent involved in creating the universe? Is the intelligent agent the God of the Bible? Did God create humans directly (without evolution)? Does the Bible indicate that God created the universe less than 10,000 years ago? YES YES YES NO NO NO Naturalistic Evolution Intelligent Design Theistic Evolution NO YES Old-Earth Creationism Young-Earth Creationism

Evolutionary Creationism Theistic Evolution Also known as: Evolutionary Creationism Fully Gifted Creation

Defining Theistic Evolution How do we define theism? Does theism require a God who actively and intimately guides the development of life? Or does it allow a passive God who may not even know how the development of life will ultimately turn out? How do we define evolution? Does evolutionary theory require an undirected process? Or can evolution include a process guided to specific ends by an intelligent cause?

Did God guide the process? Some say that God was active in guiding the process, but how he guided it is hidden from us Others say that God did not actively guide it, but the process carried out naturally; God may not have even known what would happen (too extreme) All theistic evolution views state that God performed at least 1 miracle: the creation of matter at the beginning Many views state that he performed more than 1 (the creation of life, virgin birth, resurrection, etc) Minimalistic theistic evolution believes he only performed 1 miracle

Was Adam a real person? Most theistic evolution views believe that Genesis 2-4 should be read metaphorically and allegorically; it did not actually happen, but is a representative story The cultural context Genesis was written in allows for this; the Fall of Man did not occur as recorded in Genesis There are some who still believe that Adam and Eve were real people. Humanoids existed before them, but did not have souls. Adam and Eve were the first “humans” who God chose to represent the rest of humanity, about 10,000 years ago.

Common Beliefs All theistic evolutionists believe that the Earth is as old as scientists say it is They believe that the scientific evidence from many branches of modern science would make little sense apart from common ancestry and evolution They believe that death existed before the Fall of Man (either the Fall did not happen as recorded, or it existed before Adam and Eve)

Naturalistic Evolution

Intelligent Design

Resources http://biologos.org BioLogos - Theistic Evolution http://www.faithandevolution.org Faith and Evolution - Intelligent Design, Theistic Evolution, Naturalistic Evolution http://www.discovery.org/id/ Discovery Institute - Intelligent Design http://christianmomthoughts.com/18-recommended-resources-for- learning-about-creation-and-evolution-views/ General Overview

Defending our beliefs well

1 Peter 3:14-16  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 Colossians 4:6 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6