[asa] Historical Theology and Current Theology re: Original Sin & Monogenism

I'm trying to understand more deeply the development of monogenism in the
Christian tradition, the link between monogenism and original sin, and
contemporary and other efforts to understand original sin without
monogenism. To me, this is the most difficult theological obstacle to a
consistent evolutionary creation perspective. I'm struggling because I have
to admit the evidence for human evolution seems more compelling than
alternative explanations, and yet theologically this seems to me like a
steep slide away from orthodox faith. The willingness to consider
polygenism feels to me like denying something fundamental about the faith.

I have George Murphy's recent PSCF article; Robin Collins' essay in
"Perspectives on an Evolving Creation"; Bernard Ramm's "Offense to Reason"
(excellent, BTW); John Stott's Commentary on Romans; Derek Kidner's
Commentary on Genesis; and a talk by David Livingstone at Regent College
titled "Adam's Ancestors: Five Centuries of Christian Thinking About Human
Origins" (really interesting stuff: http://tinyurl.com/2rudhc)

I also have Henri Blocher's "Original Sin: Illuminating the Riddle," which
presupposes monogenism but doesn't seem overly wedded to it; and various
commentaries and systematic theology volumes that either presuppose or seem
to require monogenism. Finally, I have a number of Roman Catholic
documents, including Humani Generis (requiring monogenism:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html),
John Paul II's Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (
http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Inside/01-97/creat2.html); a good
Wiki on Catholicism and monogenism suggesting some flexibility in current
views (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_and_the_Roman_Catholic_Church#Polygenism);
and a blog post from a Catholic apologist discussing different
understandings of the Church's position with various apologetic
possibilities:
http://jimmyakin.typepad.com/defensor_fidei/2006/10/monogenism_scie.html

Any other references to books, articles, etc. would be much appreciated.

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Fri Nov 23 12:28:52 2007