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Exploring the Intersection of Evolution and Theology: Diverse Perspectives and Doctrines

This work delves into the complex relationship between evolution and theology, presenting four main views: Creationism, Intelligent Design, Theistic Evolution, and Evolutionary Naturalism. Each perspective articulates differing beliefs about divine action, the role of natural laws, and the interpretation of biblical texts regarding creation. Key theological doctrines such as inerrancy and infallibility are examined, highlighting the implications of each view on understanding God's role in the natural world. Ultimately, the text emphasizes the ongoing dialogue between faith and science.

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Exploring the Intersection of Evolution and Theology: Diverse Perspectives and Doctrines

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  1. Evolution and Theology James A. Van Slyke Azusa Pacific University

  2. Evolution and Theism • Four Views • Creationism • Intelligent Design • Theistic Evolution • Evolutionary Naturalism • Disagreement over the involvement of natural law and Divine action

  3. Important Theological Doctrines • Forms of Divine Action • Cooperative – God works in, with, and through the natural world • Immanent in nature • Special – God goes beyond the natural laws and processes; accomplishes what nature can not do • Miracles

  4. Important Theological Doctrines • Biblical Interpretation • Inerrancy • Free from error in all aspects • Theological • Historical • Scientific • Infallibility • Theological truth is free from error • Other truths interpreted contextually

  5. Creationism • Basic Principles • Sudden creation of the cosmos from nothing but Divine action • Insufficiency of evolution to explain development of all living beings • Changes occur only within fixed limits of originally created kinds of plants and animals

  6. Creationism • Basic Principles • No common descent; apes and humans have separate ancestry • Earth’s geology is explained by catastrophism, including a worldwide flood

  7. Intelligent Design • Follows many of the basic principles of evolution • But, macroevolution is ascribed to special divine action in natural history • Evolutionary theory provides an incomplete picture • Evolution leads to a Naturalistic philosophy

  8. Evolutionary Naturalism • All of life can be explained through evolutionary theory • Evolutionary theory unites the sciences under one major theoretical premise • Human behavior is a set of traits that are genetically based and subject to natural selection

  9. Evolutionary Naturalism • Evolutionary Science proves that God does not exist • Evolutionary science leads to a materialist philosophy • All of life can be explained through natural processes • Thus, there is no need to postulate the existence of a God

  10. Theistic Evolution • Evolution and Natural selection are theories that have sufficient evidence to be accepted • Progressive research program • Involves several areas of science and explanation of data

  11. Theistic Evolution • Scientific Creationism and Intelligent Design fail as theories of science • Insufficient support for their theories • Many views based on bad science or incorrect assumptions • Yet, the reasons for opposing Evolution as a philosophy are valid

  12. Theistic Evolution • Evolutionary Naturalism assumes a materialist philosophy that is not supported by the evidence • Evolutionary theory can be understood within a Christian theological framework • Theology becomes the metaphysics that helps to inform science and answers certain questions

  13. Theistic Evolution • Evolution is the way in which God chose to create life in the universe and on this planet • Evolutionary history is like an epic novel with human consciousness being the present chapter – Arthur Peacocke • Evolutionary history created the possibility for free will and was ultimately what God intended all along

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