by Rayne Britt

Created on: November 12, 2008

Evolution and Creationism are not one in the same and will never be feasibly combined. I do not go for this idea of Theistic Evolution. The two ideas have completely different theories and methods which can never be satisfactorily combined into one.

Looking at Creationism, particularly the Christian method, we see in the Genesis account a supreme being known as God creates everything ex nihilio by merely speaking it into existence over a period of six days. Depending on the sect, it is usually agreed that these a six literal days. Regardless of the sect, the general consensus among Creationists is that the universe He speaks into creation is made perfect (in that there is no death, disease or other generally bad things), full-grown, and ready to operate and does so well for a time. Then mankind makes a debacle of everything and the world begins to deteriorate into a gradually declining state of complete disarray culminating in the need of its eventual destruction and rebuilding.

Compare that to evolution where everything starts out disorganized and moves slowly over billions of years into a more complex and perfected state. Ignoring the fact that this argues with the laws of the universe (reference the 2nd law of thermodynamics if you don't believe me), it is not compatible with a Creationist view, which is the issue at hand. It does not have the same view regarding the speed in which the universe was created nor the same view of the direction the universe is heading in.

Other differences occur that are incompatible. For example, in Evolution we see mankind as primates before evolving into homo-erectus. Creationism teaches God creating a full grown man who is created separately from the apes and other primates. There are specific details regarding his creation that cannot be considered synonymous with the evolutionary method. Creationism teaches man from dust and not man from ape. Everything else is created with "and God said, let there beand it was so". There is no waiting for it to eventually evolve from a single-celled organism into whatever it was God told it to be.

The Creationist view holds that things like disease, death, pain, thorns, and weeds and so on did not exist until after the fall of man. An Evolutionary view would hold that diseases, weeds, thorns and so forth would have evolved along side of other living things. I do not know, nor do I think any Evolutionist could say, where death and pain begin to occur exactly in our evolution though there must be a starting point where cells begin to decay and living things begin to develop nerve endings that tell them they are in pain.

While I think both parties should respect the others beliefs, there is no way to combine these two very distinct and contradictory schools of thought. You can subscribe to one view or the other but not both. To do so would require great skills in the art of doublethink. People will point out perceived holes in both ideas for as long as humanity exists; there is no point in putting more holes in either theory.

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