Evolutionary mechanism GOOD??

Mark Phillips (mark@ist.flinders.edu.au)
Tue, 05 Jan 1999 17:26:05 +1030

If one accepts the Evolutionary Creationist position that life as we
know it was created by God through evolution, one must also accept the
mechanisms involved as being good. In Genesis 1 we see that God was
very pleased with his creation process, observing how good it was all
the way through.

It doesn't take very much zoological study to realize that the life we
see is very much reliant on death and suffering. The entire food
chain is based on the death of animals lower down on the chain to
provide nourishment for animals higher up the chain. In order for the
lion to live, she must devour the deer - a painful and horrific
experience for the deer.

Not only is this death and suffering a necessary part of the status
quo of life today, it was also necessary in the very development of
life. The reason the deer is so quick on its feet today is that less
quick ancient relatives were devoured.

We also observe human suffering today which is the direct result of
the mechanisms of genetics. Genetics is responsible for quite a bit
of variation of offspring. Sometimes this results in people with big
noses or eyes which are two close together etc etc. These people are
viewed as less attractive and thus are less likely to find a mate.
The more extreme the abnormality, the more unattractive they appear
and the greater the chance that they won't breed. This mechanism
ensures that the human race stays relatively healthy and functional,
but it comes at a cost. How many people have suffered great pain
because the variation of genetics dealt them a body which was not
attractive?

It is one thing to say that all this pain and suffering we observe is
the result of the fall. It is quite another thing to say that this
"life", and the creation of it, is precisely what God refered to as
"good".

Would anyone with a Evolutionary Creationist perspective care to
answer the above objection?

Thanks,

Mark.

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"They told me I was gullible ... and I believed them!"