CREATION OR EVOLUTION.

August 2005 article by Jonathan Thompson.

An article in a Sunday Newspaper caught my eye recently. A special report from Kansas by Peter Hitchens in the Mail on Sunday (21.8.2005), concerning Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. “Intelligent Design” is the expression many scientists are using now in contrast to the often revised theory of Charles Darwin. Supporters of Intelligent Design state that evidence (yes, the very substance that Dawin’s supporters have really lacked these 134 years) is piling up that the belief that the huge variety of species can be accounted for by the gradual, accidental evolutionary change – simply doesn’t fit the facts now available. Anxious not to be labelled as hillbillies who believe in the Genesis account, they go a little further than that. They say there is strong evidence in the fossil record and in the structure of cells and DNA. Here are some of their key points:

· Even amongst very ancient fossils, there are incredibly complex organisms; including some with eyes, which appear suddenly. In fact the fossil record shows more in the way of sudden appearances and disappearances of species than gradual change.

· They do not deny micro-evolution which is proven by research, but they say minor adaptations are not evidence of the huge transformations alleged by Darwinism, which nobody has ever observed or recorded.

· Perhaps most important of all is the recent theory of “irreducible complexity” put forward by Michael Behe. He says we now know much more about biology than Darwin did, and that things such as blood clotting – which involves at least 20 proteins all acting at once – are too ingenious to have come about by accident.

· Dr Milton Wainwright, a molecular biologist at the University of Sheffield, urged that the ideas behind intelligent design should not be dismissed because they have been hijacked by creationists.

· For over 10 years now a lobby has grown in the US to get Intelligent Design taught alongside Evolution, where American Christians who believe the earth was formed 10,000 years ago and who in reality believe the Intelligent Design advocates to be a bunch of half baked wimps, but have grasped the opportunity of an alliance with science.

· President George Bush is also paying attention and recently said that evolution and intelligent design should be taught side by side. There are campaigns growing for this to happen in 40 of the 50 states, with Kansas in the lead.

Christadelphians, who strictly accept the whole Bible as God’s inspired word, are and always have been, creationists. Christadelphians look for consistency in their approach and cannot be associated with other Christians, so called, who want to accept some parts scripture and not others, because it is more convenient for them that way. And so Christadelphians smile knowingly when science turns the corner and begins to acknowledge that a half baked theory that has no undeniable proof, despite the catalogue of fossil evidence uncovered over the past 100 years or so, is now seen as an early and elementary idea. That this theory of Darwin’s in reality allowed man the excuse to turn his back on God, to look for other ideas, as human nature always does and to be relieved of the responsibility of serving God in the way in which he demands. Man’s ego was boosted that he was the commander of his own destiny and master of the planet. And yet now, with the fine micro knowledge of science casting not just doubt, but offering proof as to the lies and falsehood of evolution - man must think again.

If man did not evolve from the apes, then how we explain, understand and know, that such a magnificent and complex, efficient machine with the fantastic array of human senses, that dictates his life from waking to sleep, has been designed by an architect or a creator…because when we face the facts, nothing else is possible!

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26) - God said to his angels - as that spark portrayed by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling became a reality in history, when Adam breathed the first breath of life divinely granted life. And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. (Gen 1:31)

Evolutionists were wrong. Scientists advocating Intelligent Design are nearly right and are certainly on the right track. When they come full circle and appreciate the source of the design, what will they be called? Well, just like Christadelphians…believers, with faith!