Newsgroups: aus.religion
Subject: Re: Is evolution contrary to creation?
From: cree@elec.canterbury.ac.nz (Michael Cree)
Date: 27 Aug 92 17:06:45 +1200
Organization: Electrical Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

The original article of this thread didn't define evolution very well,
likewise most popular understandings are pretty naive. I personally
think that scientific evolution is an established fact, however some
particular examples are lacking or are contrived.

Let us define evolution, first.

evolution - The process in which a dynamical system goes through a
series of states over time to a more organised (or possibly just
different) state.

In fact, such a definition is summed up in one word - physics. (Note,
not necessarily biology). 

Examples of evolution are stellar evolution, geological evolution and
biological evolution of which the last should be furhter split into
categories such as cell evolution, micro and macro biological
evolution, etc.

The creation scientists hold each example in contempt and claim each
is wrong. As has some people have already outlined, the creation
scientists' work can only be categorised, using a phrase coined by
Richard Feynmann, as cargo cult science. I have read one of their
books and found them at best, laughable, and at worst, saddening, for
this is where the world and academic community perceive Christian
scientists are at. 

Some pointers to more usefull literature are (hope I get them right,
working off memory :-/ ).

Books that deal with problems in biological evolution:-

Michael Green, 'Evolution: A theory in crisis'
I havn't read this one (but it's on my list to read). It is by an
Australian academic who doesn't claim any religious affiliation.

Charles Darwin, 'The Origin of Species ...'. (late edition eg 1900).
Suprised, eh? Yes, Darwin knew the major problems of biological
evolution. The later editions of his work contain whole chapters
dealing with major problems, some of which stand to this day. It is
interesting to note that Darwin, toward the end of life, was also
worried by some philosophical problems with evolution. (Along the
lines of how can a deterministic system produce creatures that are
capable of rational thought?)

Some of the problems a Christian must face in evaluating creationism
versus evolution need some understanding of the philosophy of
science. It is interesting to note that the creation scientists
philosophy of science is about that of which scientists held at the
turn of this century and has been quite clearly been demonstrated to
be inadequate by the likes of Kuhn, et al. One good book addressing
this is a book by.. by... oohhhh... forgotten. Dal Ratcsh??? Willl
look it up. The guy gives a good overview of the philosophy of science
which would be useful to non-Christians as well as Christians. He also
includes some good chapters on a Christian response and approach to
science. 

Also another area of concern is the age of the universe (established
to be somewhere between 12 000 million and 20 000 million years. The
age of the earth is about 4 500 milion years old, contrary to some
other posters claim.) One book to deal with this is Hugh Ross' book,
which I forget the title of this one too.

Also seek out some Stanley Jaki's works too. (eg God and the
Cosmologists). He rips the claims the current prominent cosmologists
(Hawkings, etc.) are making to absolute shreds. That is, the
unscientific claims, of which they are making many.

But I've run out of time to prattle on any more, got to battle the
hail, sleet and snow on my push bike and make dinner :-(

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Michael Cree                              Gold there is
cree@elec.canterbury.ac.nz                 and rubies in abundance;
                                          But lips that speak knowledge
                                           are a rare jewel. (Prov 20:15)
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