Ian
Musgrave has posted an excellent article on the poor
design of the vertebrate eye compared to the
cephalopod eye;
it's very thorough, and explains how the clumsy organization of the eye
clearly indicates
that it is the product of an evolutionary
process rather than of any kind of intelligent design. A
while back,
Russ Fernald of Stanford University published a
fine review of eye evolution 
that
summarizes another part
of the evolution argument: it's not
just that the eye has awkward 'design' features that are best
explained by contingent and developmental processes, but that the
diversity of eyes found in
the animal kingdom share
deep elements that link them together as the product
of common descent.
If all we had to go on was suboptimal
design, one could argue for an Incompetent Designer
who
slapped together various eyes in different ways as an
exercise in whimsy (strangely enough,
though, this
is not the kind of designer IDists want to propose)…but the diversity
we do see reveals a notable
historical
pattern of constraint...
Creation/Evolution
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____________________
"The Biblical doctrine of creation is one
of the richest doctrines revealed to us by God.
It reveals to us that the God who loves us is also the God
who created us and all things; at once it establishes the relationship
between the God of religious faith and the God of physical
reality.
It is because of creation that
we trust in the reality of a physical and moral structure to the
universe, which we can explore as scientists and experience as
persons.
It is because of creation that we know that the universe and everything in it depends moment-by-moment upon the sustaining power and activity of God.
It is because of creation that we know that we are not the end-products of meaningless processess in an impersonal universe, but men and women made in the image of a personal God. It is by the formulation of "creation out of nothing" that we affirm that God created the universe freely and separately, and reject the alternatives of dualism and pantheism.
To worship God as Creator is to emphasize both His transcendence over the natural order and His imminence in the natural order; it is to recognize that His mode of existence as Creator is completely other than our mode of existence as created.
To appreciate God as Creator is to recognize that which He created as intrinsically good; the rationale for scientific investigation, the assurance of ultimate personal meaning in life, and the nature of evil as an aberration on a good creation are all intrinsic to such an appreciation.
We believe in creation. It is unthinkable for a Christian to do otherwise."
Richard Bube-1971
ASA
Statements |
Biblical/Theological Papers
| College Course
| Evolution Basics
|
Historical
Papers |Lectures
| News |Resources
| Scientific Papers |
Spectrum
of Views |
On-line Science
Journals |
No topic in the world of
science and
Christianity has created the intensity of discussion and
disharmony with evangelicals
as the source of biological diversity. The pages of
Perspectives on
Science
and Christian Faith (PSCF)
reflect the tensions for a community which
claims to value both the Bible
and science yet finds it difficult to forge a view
on origins that takes into account both areas of revelation. The spirited debates
on the
ASA listserv demonstrate the current
paths of this discussion. 
This page points to PSCF
and other
sources that focus on the religious
significance of
the creation/evolution issue and
concerns over the evidence that
supports evolution.
The
ASA has no official position
on evolution; its members
hold a diversity of views with
varying degrees of intensity.
Advocates and foes
of evolution alike have often gone far
beyond the
science of the subject to
advance
various causes. Despite the claims of those who claim a
corner on
the Truth,
the importance of "beliefs" and "feelings" on all sides
reduces the
chances for
consensus. Too often, would-be authors are not
familiar with current research.
Scientists,
philosophers and theologians are rightly
concerned with those who would speak learnedly
about
fields with
which they have only a surface knowledge. A team approach
seems most
appropriate for such a
multidisciplinary enterprise.
Today's spirited discussion often pits
Christian vs. Christian and scientist vs. scientist when
it
comes to
points of
interpretation. The public debates over education and the "culture
wars"
keep
the pot boiling. We offer creditable resources from which the reader
can
draw his/her
own position.
 | Total:
18125MM Regarding creation and evolution, I believe: |
The universe was created in six days as described in Genesis. 29%
Evolution is true, but God began and/or directs it. 43%
Evolution is true, and religion has nothing to do with it. 28%
__________________________________________________________________
The
fifty plus years of ASA
publications reflect the paths that American and British evangelicals
have taken
on biological origins. Times have changed for the
cultures of science and Christendom in both nations.
What was essentially a concordistic - literal approach
between the early chapters of Genesis and the science of the
day has become a complex matrix of literary -
condordist treatments that take into account
ancienct Near East (ANE) cultures and the enormous depth of
understanding of our physical world.
We
offer a series of papers and books that emphasize various aspects of
biological origins. They are arranged under the categories of
and Biblical/Theolo
Then follows a Dialogue
from the Christian Scholars Review and
PSCF that captures much
of the current evangelical discussion and a friendly exchange in PSCF on
evolutionary
psychology. An earlier dialogue Theistic Evolution offers a
shorter introduction. Younger
surfers should check-out Fish Wars.
We close with recent news
items related to the
creation/evolution front.
Which statements reflect your views on the
origin of human beings?
1. We evolved from less
advanced life forms over millions of years, and God did not directly
guide this process.
2. We evolved from less advanced life
forms over millions of years, but God guided this process.
3.
God created us in our present form.
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
ALL
Evolved w/o
God
16%
9%
13%
Guided by
God
28%
23%
27%
Created by
God
51%
66%
55%
Unsure 5%
2%
5%
Source: CBS News/New York Times poll, Nov.
18-21, 2004
to document just when and under what circumstances our own genus Homo emerged. The origin of Homo
is one of the most intriguing and intractable mysteries in human evolution. New findings only remind
scientists that answers to so many of their questions about early Homo probably lie buried in the million-
year dark age...
Fredric P. Nelson, "Needed:
A New Vocabulary for Understanding Evolution," PSCF
58 (March
2006): 28-36.
Michael Kreuzer, " This View of Life," The aim of this project is to present
the topic of evolution in a scientifically accurate manner that
avoids technical language, but that also avoids potentially misleading
colloquial language. It strives to be accessible to the non-scientist
and so it represents a general outline, merely scratching the surface
of the large body of research in the many facets of this topic.
Darwin and Natural Selection takes a closer look at Darwin's thinking.
John van Wyhe, The
writings of Charles Darwin on the web.
____________________________________________
What do you think of the evidence regarding
evolutionary theory?
* 29716 responses MSNBC
Poll January 15, 2003
The evidence is so strong that the theory
is beyond doubt. 
56%
The
evidence is not sufficient to support the theory. 28%
Neither
of the above. 16%
Richard
H. Bube, "We
Believe in Creation,"
Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation
(PSCF), 23
(June 1971):121-122.
ASA
Executive Council, "A
Voice For Evolution as
Science," PSCF, 44
(December
1992): 252.
ASA Creation Commission Statement (August 2000)
Historical Papers
James
Moore , Evolution
and Wonder : Understanding Charles Darwin (July
20,2006) on
Charles Darwin’s view of religion,
adaptation, and creation.
Audio interview
Denis O. Lamoureux,
, Theological
Insights from Charles Darwin
PSCF
56.1:2-12 (3/2004).
Jerry
Bergman, "A
Brief History of the
Modern American Creation
Movement,"
Contra Mundum No 7 Spring 1993.
Harry
Cook, "Wonderful
Life: Burgess Shale and the History
of Biology,"
PSCF 47 (September 1995): 159.
Thought in
Early Evolutionary Theories and in Modern Biology
PSCF 52.2: 86-97
(6/2000).
Edward O. Dodson , Toldot
Adam: A Little-Known Chapter in the History of Darwinism
PSCF
52.1: 47-54 (3/2000).
Acworth Letters, 1944-1960 PSCF
48.1 28-33 (3/1996).
Evolution and
Foe of Spontaneous Generation
PSCF 52.2: 107-117
(6/2000).
Christopher B. Kaiser, "The Creationist Tradition in the History of Science" PSCF 45 (June 1993): 80.
John Henry Newman on Christianity, Science, and Intelligent
Design
PSCF 53.1:
14-23
(3/2001).
Sara
Joan Miles, "From
Being to Becoming: Science and Theology in the Eighteenth
Century,"
PSCF 43 (December
1991): 215.
PSCF
53.3:196-201. (9/2001).
Ronald
L. Numbers, "Creating
Creationism: Meanings and Usage Since the Age
of Agassiz -
Part 3." (web
link).
Woodrow, "Contra
Mundum No. 6 Winter 1993.
Lectures
Dennis Lamoureux, "Beyond the Evolution Creation Debate" (2003)
Scientific Papers
Robert C. Schnedier,
"Seeking the emergence of Created Man and Woman," PSCF
58
(September 2006): 196-215.
(March 2003): 14-21
John
Bracht, Natural
Selection as an Algorithm: Why Darwinian Processes Lack the
Information Necessary to Evolve Complex Life
PSCF
54.4:264-269 (12/2002)
Jerry
Bergman, "The Functions of Introns: From Junk DNA
to Designed DNA," PSCF 53
(September 2001):
170. [HTML]
[PDF]
Glenn R. Morton, "Transitional Forms and the Evolution of Phyla," PSCF 53.1 (March 2001): 42-51.
Intelligent
Design, and Natural History PSCF
52.2:98-107 (6/2000).
Ronald
G. Larson, "Viral
Evolution: Climbing Mount
Molehill?" PSCF 52
(September
2000): 169.
Robert
H. DeHaan, "Paradoxes
of Darwinian Theory Resolved
by a Theory of Macro-Development,"
PSCF
48 (September 1996): 180.
Keith B.
Miller, "The
Precambrian to Cambrian Fossil Record and Transitional
Forms,"
PSCF
49 (December 1997): 264.
J.
Raymond Zimmer "The
Creation of Man
and the Evolutionary Record,"PSCF 48
(March 1996): 16.
Gordon
C. Mills, "A
Design Theory of Progressive Creation." A series
of five papers
from
1995 - 1999 describing Dr. Mills' views.
Peter Rust, "How
Has Life and Diversity Been
Produced?" PSCF 44
(June 1992): 80.
Wilbur
L. Bullock, " The
Origin of Species and the Origins of Disease," PSCF
44
(March
1992): 36.
Biblical/Theological
Papers
(many more articles may be found via Google on our
home
page)
Snoke, David, Why Were Dangerous Animals Created? PSCF 56.2:117-125 (6/2004)
Fischer, Dick, Young-Earth Creationism: A Literal Mistake PSCF 55.4:222-231 (12/2003)
Morton, Glenn R. & Simons, Gordon, Random Worms: Evidence of Random and Nonrandom Processes in the Chromosomal Structure of Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryotes PSCF 55.3:175-184 (9/2003)
Richard Thornhill, "The Panda's Thumb: Design and Optimality from Plato to Endo" PSCF 55 (March 3003): 32-35.
Newman, Robert C., Some Problems for Theistic Evolution PSCF 55.2:117-128 (6/2003).
John
Jefferson Davis, "Is
"Progressive Creation" Still a Helpful Concept?
Reflections
on Creation, Evolution, and Bernard Ramm's Christian View of
Science
and Scripture - A
Generation Later," PSCF
50
(December 1998): 2
Dick Fischer, "In
Search of Historical Adam: Part
1," PSCF 45
(December 1993): 241
Dick
Fischer. "In
Search of Historical Adam: Part 2," PSCF
46
(March 1994): 47
CONRAD
HYERS, "Dinosaur
Religion: On Interpreting and
Misinterpreting the
Creation Texts."
JASA 36 (September
1984): 142-148.
Merideth G. Kline, "Space and Time in
the
Genesis Cosmogony," PSCF
48
(March 1996): 2
Karl Krienke, "Theodicy and Evolution," PSCF 44 (December 1992): 255.
Keith B.
Miller, "Theological
Implications of an Evolving Creation," A
condensation of PSCF
45 (September 1993):
150.
George L. Murphy, "Chiasmic
Cosmology and Creation's Functional
Integrity," PSCF
53
(March 2001):7 - 13.
Peter
Ruest, "Creative Providence in
Biology,"
PSCF 53
(September 2001): 179
. [HTML]
[PDF]
Howard
J. Van Till, . "Basil,
Augustine, and the Doctrine of Creation's Functional
Integrity."
Science & Christian Belief 8,
No. 1 (1996): 21-38.
Davis
Young, "The
Antiquity and the Unity of the Human Race Revisted,"
Christian
Scholar's Review
XXIV:4, 380-396 (May, 1995)
General Books
Keith B. Miller, editor; Perspectives
on an Evolving Creation 2003 Eerdmans. A strong
Christian case for evolutionary theory According to the
authors of this book, who explore evolutionary
theory from
a clear Christian perspective, the common view of
conflict between evolutionary theory
and Christian faith
is mistaken. Written by contributors representing
the natural sciences, philosophy,
theology, and the history
of science, this thought-provoking work is informed by both
solid scientific
knowledge and keen
theological insight.
Weiner,
Jonathan, 1994, The Beak of the Finch, Vintage
Books. An excellent and very entertaining
account of the many years of research on
the evolution of the finches of the Galapagos Islands, as well as other
examples of detailed field work on the evolution of living animal
populations. Gives some
feeling for the
extraordinary amount of detailed work required
to test evolutionary hypotheses in the field, and the tremendous
dedication of the scientists involved.
Charles Darwin, 1859, The Origin of Sprcies an ebook version
Zimmer,
Carl, 1998, At the Water's Edge, Touchstone.
An
thorough and interesting account of some
of the most
exciting fossil discoveries of the past decade -- the walking
whales and the first tetrapods. Shows
examples of fossil transitions
between classes.
Britain.Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001.
Frederick
Gregory, Nature Lost?
Natural Science and the German Theological Traditions
of the Nineteenth Century. MA: Harvard University Press,
1992.
David
Knight, Ronald L. Numbers, Bernard Lightman and Mariko
Ogawa, eds. Nineteenth
Century Books on Evolution and Creation: scientific
and religious debates in the
age
of Darwin
Ronald L. Numbers. The Creationists. New York: Alfred Knopf, 1992.
____. Darwinism Comes to America. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998.Books on Genesis
- Report
of the Creation Study Committee (Presbyterian
Church in America, 2000)
A balanced and thorough examination of Genesis 1-3 by a conservative reformed denomination. - Analytical
Key to the Old Testament: Genesis, by John Joseph Owens
(New York
Harper & Row, 1978) - The Anchor Bible: Genesis, by E.A. Speiser (New York: Doubleday, 1964)
- Ancient Christian
Commentary on Scripture [ACCS], Old Testament I, Genesis I-II
(edited by Andrew Louth, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001) - A Handbook on Genesis
by
William D. Reyburn and Euan McG. Fry (New York: United
Bible Societies, 1997) - (Available at http://www.americanbible.org). An outstanding resource. - The International
Critical Commentary: Genesis, Second Edition, by John Skinner
(Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1910). An excellent historical resource. - The Old Testament
Library: Genesis, Revised Edition, by Gerhard Von Rad
(Philadelphia: Westminster, 1972) - Genesis 1-15 by Gordon J. Wenham (Waco, TX : Word Books, c1987.)
- The Seven Tablets of Creation by Leonard William KingLuzac's Semitic text and translation series. vol. xii-xiii, Luzac and Co. London 1902.
- Gerda De Villiers, "The Epic of Gilgamesh," OTE 19/1 (2006), 2634
All Christians in
the sciences affirm the central role of the Logos
in creating
and maintaining the universe.
In seeking to
describe how the incredible
universe has come to
be,
a variety of
views has emerged especially in
the last two
hundred years as biblical and
scientific scholarship have
enabled deeper understanding of
God's
word and
world. We offer
a range of views on natural history
that have developed out
of a 'Christian' world view. They vary
according to the place of scripture
and science in the telling of the story. The place of direct actions of God and
'so-called' secondary causes are key features of
each story. Vocabulary and
inconsistent use of terms often obscure the category in which
to place a paper. How one reads the Bible, the role of theology, and
the philosophy of science each color
our thinking.
The listing:
Young-earth special creation: God
directly creates all things in six days. (with some qualifications)
A 'literal' reading of Genesis
1- 3 Creation Research Society, Answers in Genesis
Old-earth Creation - Ruin - Reconstruction: Christian Geology Ministry
Old-earth
progressive creation: God's direct role in creation as
consisting of separate creative
acts spread out over several billion years of
time. J. J. Davis, Mills, Morse,
Tooley
Evolving Creation (Theistic
Evolution): God's activity is typically progressive in time,
and
potentially understandable in terms of
cause-and-effect sequences of physical or
historical events.
K. Miller
One
Time Creation: God has created a
universe which depends continually upon God, but
which has been endowed with the
ability to accomplish what God wants it to accomplish without any "corrections" or "interventions." H. van
Till,
Murphy
When Faith and Reason Clash: Evolution and the Bible
A college course with many links to all sides of the discussion (web link)
News and Discussion
PZ Myers, "The
eye as a contingent, diverse, complex product of evolutionary processes,"
Posted on:
November 15, 2006.
earth some 27 million years ago represents a missing link between the oldest known relatives of elephants
and the more recent group from which modern elephants descended, an international team that includes
University of Michigan paleontologist William ... Science Daily
Skulls
Found in Africa and in Europe Challenge Theories of
Human
Origins Scientists are
speaking about the potential of two ancient skulls to
reveal
crucial
insights in the evidence-disadvantaged field of human evolution. JOHN
NOBLE
WILFORD, NY Times
Fossil Hints at How Pterosaur Hunted...Scientific American
Earth's
early battering revealed
Detailed analysis of the
oldest rocks on Earth throws
new
light on
one of our planet's most violent phases. BBC
News
In
the Beginning ... Cosmologists
are beginning to converge on what they call a "standard model" of the
universe that is towering in its ambition. DENNIS
OVERBYE, NY Times
A Fossil Unearthed in Africa Pushes Back
Human Origins
French scientists
digging
in Central
Africa have uncovered a skull, almost seven million years
old, that
belonged to an individual about the size
of a chimpanzee. John Noble Wilford, NY Times.
See
also Toumaï,
face of the deep Nature
and 'Astonishing'
skull unearthed in Africa
BBC
News
AIBS Evolution Page
Darwinia
The
Complete Work of Charles Darwin
This site
currently contains more than
50,000 searchable
text pages and 40,000 images of
both publications and
handwritten manuscripts. There is also the most
comprehensive
Darwin
bibliography ever published and the largest manuscript
catalogue ever assembled.
More than 150 ancillary texts are also included,
ranging from secondary
reference works to contemporary
reviews, obituaries,
published descriptions of
Darwin's Beagle specimens and important related works for understanding
Darwin's context.
Misc.
Robert Schneider has written an up-to-date series of essays on the theme of Creation.
Thanks to P. Rust, P. Garrison, D. Fischer, K. Miller, G. Murphy, R. Miller, D. Campbell, T. Davis, and T. Gray for their helpful advice .
Last entry:
03/26/2008 Return
Comment: haas.john@comcast.net
