The classic debate between Darwinian evolutionism and young-earth creationism is often seen as a moldy conflict between atheism and theism. That’s never been quite true–some of the nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Christians who articulated “The Fundamentals” of the faith (and gave us the religious term “fundamentalist”) could imagine how aspects of evolution were compatible with the Bible, and not nearly all conservative Christians have regarded modern science as an intellectual or moral threat to orthodoxy. Still, we’ve had our Scopes and we’ve had our “Expelled,” and we’ve had our Jesus fish eating a Darwin fish. 

Today, though, the debate over evolution is as intense within the Christian community as it is between theists and atheists. Creation science prospers, as evidenced by the success of the Creation Museum in Kentucky, which has reportedly enjoyed over half a million visitors in its first year. (See our original coverage of the museum’s opening, complete with a slide show and video.) At the same time, top scientists such as Francis Collins are committed evangelicals who accept and work with the theory of evolution. 

This week, we’re hosting a debate between Ken Ham, the Creation Museum founder and president of Answers in Genesis, and Karl Giberson, the director of the Forum on Faith and Science at Gordon College. The men have very similar religious upbringings, as you’ll see, but they’ve chosen very distinct scientific and epistemological journeys. 

Follow the debate here.