With just a few days until the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth on the 12th of February, this week will bring new energy to the brutal and often vicious battle in courts, schools, and religious institutions across the nation. And it’s not only in this country.
Last week I posted about a survey in the Guardian which reports that even in much more secular England, Britons — like Americans — are evenly divided between those who “believe” in evolution and those who don’t. In each nation, about 50% of those surveyed agreed with Darwin’s approach to how we got here and 50% did not.
Those are scary numbers, and painfully ironic too, given the high degree of correlation between those in the anti-evolution half and people who report deep concern with the threat posed to western values and culture by radical Islam. I guess they don’t appreciate that it’s the fanatical attachment to any belief, including their own, that threatens us all, not the particular tradition in which the fanaticism finds its footnotes. But that’s another topic.
For now, I would settle for finding language that helps us end a needless 200-year-old cultural struggle, which helps nobody but the most strident ideologues. Rather than fighting against each other to determine which side is Right, we should find ways to learn from each other, precisely because we do not address these issues in the exact same ways. And to those ideologues whose vision of either science or religion is so narrow as to assume that no such learning is possible, we should say a pox on both your houses!
We can start with the phrase “believe in evolution,” commonly used by so many including those reporting about the recent survey in England. Using the same word to describe faith in God and support for a scientific theory strikes me as foolish and pernicious. It’s bad for both science and faith, creating a false dichotomy between the two positions – one which serves nobody but a small group of culture warriors dedicated to making our public culture as stupid and ugly as possible.
How can one use identical language to describe the decision to follow a particular spiritual path which is necessarily beyond scientific testing, and the decision to rely on a theory which is the product of such ongoing testing? We may use the same word, but are they really the same kind of belief?
The theory of evolution is just that: the best possible explanation possessed by science after years of testing and inquiry, which explains the process of biological development and differentiation. It makes no claims about the meaning or purpose of that process and represents no necessary threat to faith in God or in the eternal truth of a revealed scripture, if that happens to be one’s belief.
Like all scientific theories, and unlike religious faith, those who support the theory of evolution are prepared to dump it for something better at any moment. In fact, scientific breakthroughs occur when past theories are disproved more than when they are confirmed. It’s the exact opposite of religious truth, which is premised on immutable truths which can/must not give way.
I am not opposed to the notion of eternal religious truth. In fact, I trust in it about many things. But I don’t confuse that kind of truth, or belief in it, with my belief in evolution. They are two different issues, and blending them together brings out the worst in each.
Even words like evolutionists and creationists, so often used to describe the camps in this ongoing battle, only serve to highlight the most arrogant and coercive forces within their respective intellectual communities. “Evolutionist” evokes a God-hating materialist who wants nothing more than to rid the world of “silly ancient beliefs” and if necessary, those who subscribe to them. And creationists are portrayed as angry, fearful people prepared to battle in the name of God, against anyone who does not share their beliefs. That just doesn’t describe most people, regardless of the ideological camp in which they place themselves.
Believing in evolution simply means that one trusts the scientific method to provide answers about the mechanics of the physical universe. All one need posit to qualify as a creationist is that some force which exists beyond the laws of nature, willed our world into existence with some initial act or thought, one which may well have triggered the very processes described by Darwin’s theory.
It’s entirely possible to be both a creationist and an evolutionist. To be sure one need not be both, but if we addressed this ongoing debate which consumes huge amounts of time and financial resources in a way that reflected that possibility, we would all be better off.
Instead of continuing to nurture a culture of people doing battle over that which they most deeply believe, we should focus on how different intellectual worlds struggle with different kinds of questions, and how regardless of one’s beliefs, there is much to be learned from them all.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted February 10, 2009 at 12:31 am
Yes, Rabbi, it is possible to be both a creationist and an evolutionist. And also to take note that evolutionary theory has advanced since Darwin!
posted February 10, 2009 at 10:45 am
The difference of the creationists and evolutionists is:
Creationists believe in an eternally existing being that created the universe.
Evolutionists believe in an eternally existing universe and man who “created” a God in his own image..
posted February 10, 2009 at 12:23 pm
“Robert
February 10, 2009 12:31 AM
Yes, Rabbi, it is possible to be both a creationist and an evolutionist. And also to take note that evolutionary theory has advanced since Darwin!”
Very well said! The biggest problem I have with evolutionists, is that they fail to bother finding out that almost everything Darwin proposed, turned out to be wrong! “Proved” by that same scientific method that they so warmly embrace…I would belong to both camps if I was not convinced that one intends to be an attack on G-d, more than it intends to be a search for truth..
And
“The difference of the creationists and evolutionists is:
Creationists believe in an eternally existing being that created the universe.
Evolutionists believe in an eternally existing universe and man who “created” a God in his own image..”
I’m not aware of any modern scientific school that teaches the universe has eternally existed, though I may have missed it..I had thought the “Big Bang” was generally accepted..Catchy though..
posted February 10, 2009 at 1:31 pm
To Uncle,
I agree with everything you said and to go further, Darwin on his deathbed confessed to his nurse that he didn’t understand why people so embraced his “theory” as the Gospel when he himself wasn’t convinced.
There is a research foundation called the Institute For Creation Research(ICR) founded by Dr. John Morris 36 years ago that had a conference in Nov. 2005 that hosted an elite group of scientists known as the RATE team (Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth)that revealed their amazing discoveries from an 8 year study that revealed their findings that strikes at the very heart of the evolution “theory” and shines new light on the actual age of the earth, that is 1000′s of years old vs. billions. These scientists consisted of Dr. Larry Vardiman,Ph.D in Atomospheric Science,Dr. Russell Humphreys, Ph.D. in Physics,Dr. Andrew Snelling, Ph.D. in Geology,and Dr. John Baumgardner, Ph.D. in Geophysics.To get more info on this you can go to http://www.icr.org.
posted February 10, 2009 at 2:14 pm
The idea of evolution by natural selection is provably false; it contradicts the facts. It rests on rampant assumptions, speculation, and extrapolations (such as the peppered moth obsession). It is as much a matter of faith as is creationism. It is not science. “Darwinism” has nothing to do with evolution. Natural selection works to preserve the species, not change it into something else. The only reason that it continues to bind our minds is that no fact or objective evidence is allowed to refute it. Evolutionists are deliberately blind to any other possible process. Creationist beliefs also have problems. These beliefs rest upon misinterpretations of much of the Old Testament record. An objective analysis of both sides reveals contradictions. An alternative to both is clearly required. The evolutionists, hamstrung by “gradualism,” will never explain the origin of consciousness or of language. But if we recognize the inefficacy of gradualism, and if we recognize that the Genesis creation account is not all completely literal, and if we consider a new perspective, a rational paradigm presents itself. (Pardon my breathless sentence.) We must revise our world view. Also, Darwin’s inability to objectively analyze the disaster at the Tower of Babel doesn’t speak well of his credibility. Check out
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/ManAndHisPlanet.html
posted February 10, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Even with the “Big Bang” there was something already there, that went “Bang”. Where did it come from? What caused it to go “Bang”? It was either eternal “something” or an eternal force that made it go “Bang”
All evolutionists start with something, they cannot accept something intelligent existed before that “something” did, lest they admit there is a God.
posted February 10, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Thank you for your article about Darwin, evolution and creationism. As a college student in a Christian college fifty years ago, my English professor has us read Darwin’s “Origin of the Species” as English literature. I remain profoundly grateful for his courage, openness and trust in letting us read this profound document. Even our biology professor at this Christian liberal arts school encouraged us to think about the evolutionary process and how it does not have to shatter our belief in God.
It prepared me for seminary and my eventually becoming a Baptist minister. I studied Hebrew, translated the first eleven chapters of Genesis with our professor and five other students. We were encourage to read Hebrew commentaries, and I still do. The wisdom of the writers of the Torah and those who interpreted and enhanced the reading of the Torah are still important to me as I write curriculum for adult Sunday school classes in my denomination.
It is possible to believe in the scientific theory of evolution that is continuing to evolve, and that God, a Higher Power, was the guiding Source in some mysterious way of life evolving in this wonderfully unique world–the planet earth, and the universe as we know it today.
Thank you, again.
posted February 10, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Evolution Theory is a narrative attempting to address who did it, when and why? It is philosophical and addresses World View. It is a circular reasoning attempt to validate a socially correct belief for the social rewards offered. To choose a narrative to interpret the data to validate the narrative. That is not Science, it is Sophistry.
Science is analytic, technical and addresses the questions of What is it made of, How is it put together? How does it work? The Natural World is an integrated environment in operation. It is the reference. It is the anchor. All integrated environments are context driven. It is axiomatic. The fact that a tree exists proves the creator. The Thesis is 22 pages-page 241. Have a great day!
Mark
posted February 10, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Evolution is scientific.
Creations myths are religious.
Both serve different aspect of humanity.
posted February 10, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Well said, Rabbi. As usual.
posted February 10, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I’m no creationist, but when I think of how someone could have a understood a cause and effect relationship between intelligence and pain in childbirth, that is pretty amazing! Divine inspiration?
posted February 10, 2009 at 8:11 pm
To Albert The Abstainer,
With all due respect to what you believe,there is no scientific proof that the “theory” of evolution is how this world and us human beings came to be. I take it by your comment about creationism that you don’t believe in God as The Creator, and for that I feel sorry for you, but how do you and the evolutionists rationalize the beginning when there had to be something to start with, and just where did that something come from??????
posted February 10, 2009 at 9:49 pm
J.Kravette, how do you know that a god created this earth and all that “dwell therein?” There is no proof of that. Holy books of all faiths were written by men…and stories get changed with each teller.
Darwin was very sharp. He came up with valid ideas, or people wouldn’t be still talking about them, would they?
There are various beliefs from different peoples (Chinese, Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.) on the origins of the earth and it’s contents…humans, animals, plants, sun, moon, stars, that make as much sense as those told by the major faiths. Who knows just who has the right answer? No one does.
posted February 10, 2009 at 11:24 pm
“Theories” are simply someone’s idea of how something happened. Further investigation will eventually reveal whether the theory is a fact or falacy. In the early 20th century, there were theories about such things as – how continental shelves were formed. As more knowledge was gained most of those theories were made obsolete and facts started to emerge. It was once a theory that the earth was flat and the sun moved around the earth. Today those theories are not accepted because we now know the truth. One must never confuse theories with facts. Theories are mere ideas. Facts are truth. So let us leave Darwin’s theory right there with all its missing links. I believe in the One God who created not just the earth but the vast array of planets and stars beyond the vision of any man made telescope or other sophisticated instrument. I believe His word. Why? Because I have a personal relationship with Him. He has revealed Himself to me in numerous ways on many occasions and we have an intimate friendship where I can converse with Him. He changed my life and is still in the process of doing so. I love Him dearly. He is great and I can recommend Him to anyone who has doubts. If you call on Him with a sincere heart and ask Him to reveal Himself to you, He will do just that. May He bless and enlighten you.
posted February 10, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Thanks to Beliefnet.
posted February 11, 2009 at 1:20 am
Pagansister,
I was just wondering if you ever forsee a day when a non-Christian will be able to form an opinion without having to clear it with a Christian first, or having to apologize to a Christian afterward. Just wondering…
posted February 11, 2009 at 7:44 am
Definition of Truth: That which agrees with the final reality.
Religious and scientific truths are the only things worth debating. Beliefs and theories are not. When you find a truth, hold on to it dearly and defend it intelligently.
If God did not want it this way, he wouldn’t have given us such brains with the capacity for learning and thinking.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal…”
“The truth shall set you free…”
Find your truths.
MsAmber
posted February 11, 2009 at 9:36 am
For those who appreciate a little irony:
Some friendly atheists at the FriendlyAtheist.com have decided to “crash” a Darwin poll at Parade magazine:
http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/02/charles-darwin-200th-birthday.html
Ironically, crashing an evolution poll makes the results completely non-scientific.
posted February 11, 2009 at 10:26 am
All I can say in the matter of creation and evolution is watch the video on Laminin or afterwards this Man speaks on the universe and our our Solar system, if anyone can’t see the diffrence then, between a God of order and Love Out of all this whole Galaxy billions upon billons of plants, larger then the earth, yet no life, and heres this little dot of and earth with all the resorses we need and can continue to explore and invent to live yes and die…to go…where…He has a plan!!! By the way Science is part of those videos but or God is a creator and He created us to creat too, and He loves that we explore but He gets the Glory not man!!! or (mother earth, so to say,,, by the way did any one ever know what happenened in Darwins last days, I do, he found religion, he believed in creations story!!!
posted February 11, 2009 at 5:06 pm
To J.Kravette
who on February 10, 2009 8:11 PM said to me:
“With all due respect to what you believe,there is no scientific proof that the “theory” of evolution is how this world and us human beings came to be. I take it by your comment about creationism that you don’t believe in God as The Creator, and for that I feel sorry for you, but how do you and the evolutionists rationalize the beginning when there had to be something to start with, and just where did that something come from??????”
My beliefs are not terribly important. What is important is not applying a religious filter to science, or a scientific filter upon religion. Each has its own area to address. You are right, however, that I do not believe in God The Creator, (or at least not in the way that theists do.) My view, is that what is referred to with the frame “God” is a virtual and eternal. I have an analogy which I find useful in this regard. God is to universe, as fractal equation is to unfolding fractal form. God and fractal equation are virtual, unchanging and with respect to universe and unfolding fractal form define the set of all possibilities which may be expressed.
posted February 11, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Leah:
It’s late and I just read your question.
Am I correct in thinking you’re not Christian?
I don’t remember ever clearing my opinions with a Christian first or having to apologize to one for my opinions afterwards. So unless I’m to tired to understand your question, I can’t really answer either question. Why should anyone clear an opinion with a Christian first?
For what it is worth, I was raised in a Methodist home, but decided at 18 that it wasn’t for me. My 2 sisters are devout Christians as are their families. My husband (raised a UU) and I raised our 2 kids in the UU church and they have formed their own ideas on religion. Neither are Christian. I did spend the last 10 years of my teaching career in a RCC school. The previous years were in public schools. Didn’t change any of my beliefs.
posted February 13, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I agree that one can be a creationist and believe in evolution.
Evolution describes a procees that explains the origins of man.
Just because one believes in this process, does not prevent an
individual in believing in a Supreme being that brought this
process of evolution into existence. I do not believe that there
is an intrinsic conflict between these two schools of thought.
As with all schools of thought and belief systems, it is man who
brings about the conflict. One can approach the world with a
sense of connection or approach it with installing conflicts all
the time.
posted February 26, 2009 at 12:21 pm
if we came from monkeys why are they still here.and instead of killing inocent BABYS take stemcells from them and theres your answer, people choes to be ingnorant, if thats what they like let them stay that way,(I)believe (I) was created by GOD ALL MIGHTY!read romans chapter 1vers 18 to 32.it will tell you a few things!
posted March 11, 2009 at 10:39 am
dany your post make you sound ignorant!
Monkeys are still around cause they are part of the food chain, they help to pollenate trees/distribute seeds throughout the land which help with the growth of new trees(of which you breath the oxygen they create) and they do many other things similar which make earth a living enviroment. You are obvisouly a townie and dont know the way nature works. And as for your stem cell comment, well as you believe in your all mighty god,should you not be afraid to die when your time is up why should you have to cage and torture gods creations for the purpose of extending human life? If you have such a strong bond with god surly you wouldnt have any problem with dying and being in heaven with your creator?
Just remember if there were no animals other than humans on this planet we would all die, so respect nature and dont think its just there for people like you to abuse.
posted March 18, 2009 at 4:07 am
Where do you put God in a purely naturalistic closed system which is specifically structured to make God unnecessary, and obsolete. And where in the overall system do you put God when everything must always and forever explained by purely naturalistic processes alone, to the total exclusion of God. And where in science do you put God when all of science is specifically defined in terms of natural law alone, to the total exclusion of God. You may argue that natural law itself has no naturalistic explanation, but even that consideration is not allowed to be even discussed in science education, as that brings in religion. There may be heaps of happy Darwinian believers all over the place out there, but when God is shut out of His own creation you wonder what they are celebrating. Ever get the impression it’s a crazy world?
posted March 27, 2009 at 12:46 am
Genesis 1:27, “So God made man in his own image”.
Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground.”
Genesis 2:21-22, “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, …the Lord had taken from man, made he a woman, & brought her unto the man”.
From the above verses, it is obvious that God formed man/woman from dust instead of transforming apes to human beings.
posted July 2, 2009 at 10:28 am
I am not sure what all these comments are getting to, or exactly what the point is, but I sure do enjoy reading all the comments. Personally I believe that God is not so small that some individual gets to decide if He exists or not. God is there whether you believe it or not, and without a doubt we will all find out the truth some day. I don’t believe it’s a debate on whether God exists or not, I truly believe that those that oppose the idea of God, have not spent any real time analyzing both avenues sufficiently, and second do not want to believe.
I acknowledge that it is scary, and challenges us in the area of CHANGE, but finding the truth requires two responses. Either you accept it and move with it, or you reject it and suffer the consequences. It takes courage.
God Bless ALL
Peter