Scientist believes in evolution, God
BY BOB REEVES
Lincoln Journal Star
As a cell biologist at Brown University, Kenneth Miller emphasizes the
theory of evolution in his freshman biology classes.
Students always ask if he believes in God -- and he acknowledges that he
does.
Then they ask him if he believes evolution is wrong.
"I say, "No, I believe in God because I think evolution is right,'"
Miller said in a lecture Wednesday at the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
Miller is the author of "Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for
Common Ground Between God and Evolution." In the book, he uses
scientific evidence to refute creationism, but also argues that the
theory of evolution supports a belief in God.
Surveys show that 45 percent of Americans reject the theory of
evolution, but only 18 percent consider themselves biblical literalists.
The widespread opposition to evolution comes largely from the fact that
many scientists claim the theory leaves no place for God, Miller said..
The process of gradual change from one species to another, in response
to changes in the environment, coupled with modern physics' discovery
that the behavior of specific particles is unpredictable, fits perfectly
with the belief in a Creator who gave his creatures free will, Miller
said.
Many creationists describe a world in which species are unchangeable and
the entire system seems to be determined in advance, he said.
"The only way we can have free will is a system that leaves the future
open," he told the audience of more than 300 at the Nebraska Union.
He noted that even the medieval philosopher Thomas Aquinas claimed that
in order for the Deity to create a world independent of himself, he must
have allowed the possibility of random variations.
"If nothing happened by chance, the world wouldn't be distinct from
God," Miller said.
Evolution depends on the "survival of the fittest," a process many
religious critics consider cruel, Miller said. But he noted that the
process produces creatures of great beauty and wondrous complexity.
"Far from finding evolution cruel, I find it remarkable, creative and
redeeming," he said.
Miller described himself as "a believer and a Christian, but not a
biblical literalist." He noted that the first chapter of the book of
Genesis states that "God commanded the earth to bring forth plants, and
commanded the water to bring forth life," he said.
"That's a brilliantly poetic description of evolution." In a
question-and-answer session, someone asked Miller to predict what human
beings will look like after 100,000 more years of evolution. He refused,
saying that although the processes of biological change are well-known,
the specific changes that will occur can't be predicted.
But today's human beings, unlike those of the past, are unique in
knowing about their own evolution.
"Now that we're conscious of the process ... we're in a position to
control it," he said. "It's not clear to me how successful or wise we'll
be in managing our evolution." Miller's lecture was the second in a
series on "Teaching Evolution: Views from Science" sponsored by the
Math/Science Education Initiative in the UNL College of Arts and
Sciences. The final lecture, by Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of
the National Center for Science, will be at 4 p.m. April 17 in the
Nebraska Union, 14th and R streets.
Bob Reeves can be reached at breeves@journalstar.com or 473-7212.
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