Category Archives: Creation

Evolution, function and meaning

Posted on 16/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

This piece arises from some discussion on the last post about the mathematical predictability (lack of) in evolution. Question: Is this the image of an insect, or not?

Posted in Creation, Science | 18 Comments

God, reason, science, proof

Posted on 15/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

One of the bitterest points of contention between many TEs and ID supporters is whether God’s existence or activity can be detected by science, granted that it is real. The bitterness shows that there are ideological issues lurking behind what ought to be just an intellectual question. But I want to leave those aside to ask what Christian biblical teaching actually says on the matter.

Posted in Creation, Science, Theology | 68 Comments

Ecology – slowly catching up with classical Christianity

Posted on 14/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

Back in February I commented on a BBC programme about the ecological system of Yellowstone National Park, and how it had benefited after the re-introduction of wolves. I concluded firstly that the beautiful balance of such systems poses yet another layer of complexity and teleology for evolution to explain, and secondly that for TEs to pick and choose which bits of nature God governs is untenable. Well, recently I saw another film about Yellowstone with some more fascinating lessons.

Posted in Creation, Science, Theology | 4 Comments

Models for a historic Adam – 7

Posted on 11/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

And so we come to the last model for a historic Adam listed by population geneticist David L Wilcox in his ASA talk this year. Symbolic Head – Adam was a character in a story told to illustrate the human dilemma – we are sinners for some reason or other. But the story does not represent the origin of that state, only its nature as rebellion against God.

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A History of Providence. Part One

Posted on 08/11/2013 by James Penman

A striking feature of current syntheses of Christian theism with evolutionary theory is an abandonment of the historic Christian doctrine of providence. It often seems as though we have a quasi-deist, hands-off God, who simply “lets things happen” without in any sense directing the outcome. The motivation behind this weak account of providence is, perhaps, a desire to “absolve” God from aspects of the evolutionary process and its products that many modern minds find problematic – e.g. animal suffering over geological time, species extinction, dysteleology (poor design).

Posted in Creation, James Penman, Theology | 19 Comments

Models for a historic Adam – 6

Posted on 07/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

David L Wilcox’s penultimate model for Adam is this: Experimental Head – Sin was already there, but we don’t know how – that’s why the garden was needed, the perfect environment. Adam was the experimental proof of the human condition – he showed we humans are all sinners by nature – that it is not environmental.

Posted in Adam, Creation, Science, Theology | 4 Comments

Models for a historic Adam – 5

Posted on 05/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

Continuing my series on the various models for a historical Adam listed by David L Wilcox we come to: Cultural Head – Adam was the appointed race representative in the garden. He sinned. Sin passed on from Adam to all other people then (and now) alive by communication between people – especially in families. Human society suffered a gradual transformation as sin spread like an infectious disease.

Posted in Adam, Creation, Science, Theology | 4 Comments

Models for a historic Adam – 4

Posted on 03/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

With several of us writing now on The Hump, ongoing series like this one are going to be harder to link together. It’s not a problem I’m going to lose sleep about! But here is the third “theory” about Adam named by David L Wilcox, as introduced here. Tribal Head – Adam was the “head man” of a small tribe put in the garden. The tribe was put to the test, and they all followed Adam’s lead into sin. We are all descended from that tribe (alone?) and have inherited their sinful nature.

Posted in Adam, Creation, Genealogical Adam, Science, Theology | 5 Comments

Real vs. Fake

Posted on 02/11/2013 by Sy Garte

About a year or so ago, I attended a “Science and Faith” symposium at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington. All of the panel members, representing five or six  different religious faiths, were quite clear that they supported all of the tenets of evolutionary biology. When a question was asked (by a member of the largely atheistic audience) how they could support the notion of Imago Dei when “science” has shown that human beings are merely another species in an unbroken line of primate evolution, the Protestant minister on the panel answered that  “created in the image of God” should probably  not be restricted to human beings but … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Science, Sy Garte, Theology | 24 Comments

Models for a historic Adam – 3

Posted on 01/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

The second model for understanding Adam listed by David L Wilcox  is this: Federal Head – Sin originated with Adam. He was not the only man living, but God appointed him as representative and put him to the test. When he sinned, sin passed on to all men everywhere (and when) by divine fiat. I.E., there was a sudden transformation of human life.

Posted in Adam, Creation, Genealogical Adam, Science, Theology | 2 Comments