Science and Jesus (8): The Great Confusion!

‘Irrational, infantile, idiotic and primitive’; this is how the New Atheists have described the Christian belief system. Man like Dawkins and Sam Harris claim that ‘following an ancient book called the bible is absolutely irrational’. Harris goes as far as to say that anybody espousing a faith in a irrational God should be murdered (see Why God won’t go away for more).

The massive stumbling block for the New Atheists like Richard Dawkins is the interpretation of Genesis 1. If God created the world 6 000 years ago, in six days like Genesis 1 appears to do, then how could anyone trust this document. The major problem with this view, in my humble opinion is that Genesis 1 is not articulating the mechanism and the fine details of the process by which God created the universe, as I have explained in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this series, but rather, that one all powerful and eternal being named God, created the world with a purpose and for relationship.

A huge problem arises when we try to make the bible say something that it is not. It creates great problems, which in the case of Genesis 1 and creation, leads to mistrust that is unwarranted. This is what leading Christian preacher, Phillip Jensen has to say about Genesis 1, creation and evolution:

This leads me to another issue, most people who discredit and scorn at the bible have never actually read it for themselves. I experienced this when chatting to a friend, who espouses an Atheistic worldview. He made a heap of claims that weren’t even true, like the bible clearly says that the world is 6 000 years old. “Okay”, I said to him, “where in the bible does it say this”? The answer is absolutely no where. My friend was going off inaccurate second hand information. So I say to you now, below is a link to Genesis chapter 1 to chapter 3:

These are the first three chapters of the Christian bible.
Genesis 1 – 3 (ESV)

I hope this helps answer a few of your questions pertaining to a faith in Jesus and science. I will continue with a few more post on Jesus and Science, then move onto Jesus and History. Stay posted and check out for yourself the real Jesus.

Resource Review: Why God won’t go Away – Engaging with the New Atheism

To order this product:
Click Here

I recently purchased a bundle of books from Koorong Book Store. One of those books is Alister McGrath’s new book ‘Why God won’t go Away’. I must confess that this book is actually rather difficult to put down. I recommend this book to anyone who has question regarding faith and science, Atheism vs Christianity and rationality vs irrationality. I love this book and so will you.

The recent rise of the New Atheism has aroused great general interest, thrown up questions of fundamental importance, and started a fascinating conversation. Why God Won't Go Away invites us to join in.

The volume opens with a survey of the main ideas of the New Atheism, as expressed in the works of Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. We then examine the core views of the movement closely, making due reference to its 'virtual community' of websites and blogs. Subjects explored include:
• whether religion is delusional and evil
• the belief that human beings are fundamentally good
• whether we should have faith only in what can be proved through reason and science
• the idea that the best hope for humanity is a 'New Enlightenment'

The result is a lively and highly thought-provoking volume that poses a number of interesting questions.

Why is religion experiencing a resurgence in the twenty-first century, when we are meant to have grown out of such a primitive fixation?

Has the New Atheism's fascination with rationality led to a fatal underestimation of the longing of the human heart to adore?

And if, as Christopher Hitchens writes in exasperation, religion is 'ineradicable', doesn't this tiresome fact suggest that dismissing belief in God as irrational and unscientific might just be a waste of time?

Paperback, 128 pages
Price: Approx. $14.95 (Koorong)
Price: Approx. $8.95 (Amazon)

Science and Jesus (7): Is the Darwinian Axe at the Throat of Christianity?

Science and a faith in Jesus, according to the New Atheists, are absolutely incompatible. This is the bell that Professor’s Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett are slamming. The New Atheists, armed with a version of Darwinian Theory, aim at dismantling and destroying humanities belief in any sort of god!

Over the last six posts, I have endeavoured to demonstrate that the claims of the New Atheists are not only false, but the ways in which these men argue their case is misleading and unfaithful. Additionally, the evidence provided in the past six posts (see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6) has articulated the strong compatibility of Science and a faith in Jesus.

Today, after a great deal of research, I will strive to tackle the issue of “Evolution”. I will confess that I am by no means an expert on this matter, both scientifically and theologically. However, I do believe that I have a fairly good grasp on both, enough to write an article on the matter (please correct me in the comment section if you feel I am incorrect in any way). Additionally, I will state, at the time of publishing, that I have not placed my foot in the Creationist, Intelligent Design or BioLogos camp (I will define these terms in this article). I guess, you could call this article an informal discussion.

Evolution by natural selection

Evolution by means of natural selection is a theory developed by the late Charles Darwin. It was and is considered a major breakthrough in the field of biology, due to the theories ability at defining the reasons for the rich diversity of life found on earth. This theory has been received with a mix reception. For most atheists see this theory as an end to the belief in God. Alternatively, some Christians see this theory as an attack on the teachings of the scriptures. However, not all Christians feel this way as some Christians subscribe to Darwinian Theory (see Part 1, Part 2 and Part 4).

For the sake of this argument, I will break evolution into two categories, microevolution and macroevolution. It has been proven that life on earth is evolving but to what extent. Basically all life has the ability to adapt to its environment. This is called microevolution. Additionally, the principles of microevolution are then applied to what’s called macroevolution, which is the understanding that over long periods of time, life can adapt and evolve into a new species (speciation). According to most leading Christian Scientists, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence for macroevolution.

Life, according to this theory began a couple of billions of years ago. It appeared as one replicating cell, which over a great deal of time, evolved into different forms of life. According to the biology experts, humans are related to modern day Chimpanzees, as we share a common ancestor with them, which is the result of thousands of years of evolution.

What about how the bible describes Creation in Genesis?

The first thing we need to ask ourselves when reading Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 is what are the main point / s of this text? Is this text detailing the mechanisms, processes and duration by which God created the world or is it addressing other issues? According to Longman and Dillard (2006), the text is not at all concerned with the process of creation, but rather, it is describing how God is the sole cause behind the creation of the universe and humankind. Additionally, they argue that Genesis 1 and 2 demonstrates how humanity is dependent on God and how God created everything from nothing, which the theologians term creation ex nihilo.

Both Longman and Dillard (2006) and Dickson (see Part 4) emphasis how we must read Genesis 1 and 2 in its historical context and further analysis of this will reveal the apologetic nature of the text (for more on Genesis’ interaction with Enuma Elish, see Part 4). This view is echoed by a great many Christian theologians!

How do Christians believe God created the life?

There are currently three schools of thought amongst Christians today about creation. These are the Creationists, Intelligent Designers and BioLogists. Simply put:

• Creationists view Genesis 1 as detailing the order, processes and duration God used to create the world. Some creationists would insist on a young earth theory, generally ranging between 6 000 to 10 000 years old (see Answers in Genesis for more).

• Intelligent Designers (not limited to Christianity) holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection (see Explaining the Science behind Intelligent Design for more).

• BioLogos, also known as Theistic Evolution (not limited to Christianity), holds that God used Evolution by natural selection as the mechanism to create life on earth. BioLogists will insist that natural selection is not unguided, but that God was behind this process (see The BioLogos Forum for more).

There seems at times, to me at least, to be a slight overlap between Intelligent Design and BioLogos. Check out the links for more information as these descriptions are very brief and simple.

What’s the verdict?

I think in light of the evidence, Evolution by natural selection does not pose a threat to Christianity or the Doctrine of Creation, as the New Atheists would put it. Scientists like Francis Collins and Alister McGrath, both BioLogists, are emphatic in pointing out that through this science, we can see the hand of God. Either way, God is sovereign over the world, his word will last forever and science will continue to show humanity the processes and mechanisms by which God achieved his creative works (Isaiah 40:8; Romans 1:19-21).

The absolute lynch pin for me and many others is the resurrection of Jesus. Professor Simon Conway Morris, a Christian, a Palaeontologist and a BioLogist, explains how his faith rests in the resurrection of his Lord Jesus (see Real Scientist Real Faith). The evidence pointing towards the resurrection is overwhelming and those who dare point to the contrary are left short.

Jesus, who is God the Son, came and lived a sinless life and died a sinner’s death on a Roman cross. He did this to offer those who put their trust in him, new and eternal life (John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-10). I encourage you to not believe everything you hear but to investigate for yourself the truth. The evidence pointing to Jesus as the eternal God, resurrected Messiah and King of the Universe is overwhelming. As Jesus said, search and you will find (Luke 11:9).