SITEMAP for ORIGINS   
Theology of Creation,
Scientific Evidence,
and Education

Biological Evolution:
Principles & Questions

Ideas about evolution are in three main areas:  science (in this page), theology (METHODS OF CREATION), and philosophy (DESIGN IN SCIENCE).   In this science-page the views will span a wide range, from strong arguments for evolution through moderate questions to strong criticism.
 


 
     
Principles of Neo-Darwinian Evolution

      Evolution 101 is a good way to learn the principles of evolution, to understand the modern synthesis of ideas in current theories of neo-Darwinian evolution.  It has 53 pages plus optional sidetrips, with a Table of Contents you can use as a sitemap.  It's part of a larger website developed by the University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education.  (78 k of total text, plus graphics that often include text)
      Another useful introduction, evolution and the fossil record, is from the American Geological Institute and the Paleontological Society.  (12 pages with 43 k of text, plus graphics)
      Robert Schneider offers evolution for Christians to summarize the basic scientific principles (36 k) because — as he explains in the introduction (8 k) — evolution (the science) is not evolutionism (atheistic philosophy) and "most Christians know little about the scientific details of evolution. ... This is true both of Christians [like Schneider] who accept evolution and support teaching it in the public schools... and those who reject it and oppose its teaching."

      Also, PBS has a vast website — constructed as an extension of their 8-hour "Evolution" series in 2001 — including a 9-page FAQ (38 k) and a wide variety of multimedia resources you can explore from their homepage or sitemap.
 


 
      Questions about Neo-Darwinian Evolution

      Most scientists accept the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution, although they sometimes debate the details.  But some scientists, especially proponents of Intelligent Design, think neo-Darwinism cannot explain the development of all the complex systems we observe.
      To learn the basics of intelligent design — what it is and isn't, and why some people think it is credible (in terms of science, theology, philosophy, education,...) while others don't agree — you can explore DESIGN IN SCIENCE.  The rest of this page looks at scientific questions about design and evolution:  general questions   irreducible complexity   information analysis   fossil record & rates of evolution   common descent   human evolution.

 
I.O.U. — This page will have more content (overviews & links) by the beginning of August 2008.

 
General Questions
Principles for Logical Evaluation of Evolutions explains why, instead of evaluating "evolution" we should evaluate four (or more) types of evolution: micro-E & minor macro-E, old-earth fossil E, full common descent, and a 100%-natural development of all biocomplexity;  by Craig Rusbult  (15 k +11k)
Mark Hartwig — in an FAQ about ID for the Access Research Network — answers questions about scientific evidence for biological design in pages 2 through 10, from "How can you tell if something is designed?" through "What about the evidence from homology?"  (28 k total in 9 pages, plus references)
Talk Origins has many "totally pro-evolution" arguments, as do the websites above in Principles of Evolution.
This is just a rough beginning, and later there will be more here.

 

Irreducible Complexity (the claims of Michael Behe)
Later, there will be more content here.  For now, here are some links-pages that range along a continuum from all-for to all-against:  =====

 

Information Analysis
Does the "information" in biological organisms indicate design?
There will be resources later.  This is related to young-earth claims about thermodynamics (Second Law, entropy,...) and evolution (astronomical, chemical, and biological) but is basically different.

 

The Fossil Record and Rates of Evolution
These sections (fossils & rates) are related, with overlaps, and genetic evidence (clocks,...) may also be included here.

 

Common Descent
There will be introductory overviews and arguments for-and-against.

 

Human Evolution
By July 2008 there will be more resources in a page about HUMAN EVOLUTION that combines science and theology, featuring ideas from a number of ASA people (David Wilcox, John Bloom, Davis Young, Dick Fischer, Glenn Morton, Roy Clouser,...) plus others including YECs and secular scientists, to provide a full range of views.
 
 




 
A DISCLAIMER:
In this page you'll find links to resource-pages expressing a wide range of views, which don't necessarily represent the views of the American Scientific Affiliation.  Therefore, linking to a page does not imply an endorsement by ASA.  We encourage you to use your own critical thinking to evaluate everything you read.
 
THREE TYPES OF LINKS in this website for Whole-Person Education:
 An ITALICIZED LINK keeps you inside a page, moving you to another part of it. 
 Above, a NON-ITALICIZED LINK is page-adding, opening a new page in a new window
 Below, a NON-ITALICIZED LINK is page-replacing, opening a new page in this window

This page, written by Craig Rusbult (editor of ASA Science Ed Website), is
http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/origins/bioe.htm
and was revised May 9, 2008
( all links were checked-and-fixed on July 3, 2006 )

EVALUATIONS OF EVOLUTIONS:
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