Does God Exist? How About Evolution?
A Francis Collins Sermon Summary
Is Christian faith irrational? No. Otherwise, how can we love God with our whole mind? (Matthew 22:37). Let’s look at a few common questions.
Is the concept of an intelligent designer, with power beyond nature, reasonable? Yes, because:
(a) Look at our universe.
(b) Humans are born with a sense of right and wrong (moral laws). Such laws exist throughout all civilizations, though details depend on the society.
How about evolution?
God’s creation could include evolution. Many creatures’ genomes provide compelling evidence of their shared ancestry. Complex designs were formed through gradual changes over time, driven by natural selection.
Perhaps, after evolution had prepared humans with sufficient neurological brains, God gifted humanity with a soul and the ability to choose, making humans in His image. Unfortunately, we choose to disobey God and violate the moral laws, estranging ourselves from Him. For Christians, Jesus is the solution to our rebellion.
Do Genesis chapters 1 and 2 contradict evolution?
Regarding the first two chapters, we need to consider the author’s intent and the audience. Maybe they should be read as mystical or poetic documents, but not as scientific documents. Just reading them literally, one finds two different creation stories in the two chapters. In Genesis 1:9-31, plants came much earlier before humans. But in Genesis 2:4-9, humans came before plants and farmed the soil for plants to grow. Since even on their face there are contradictions, we may not want to use science to explain them.
Summarized from a talk by Francis Collins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGu_VtbpWhE&feature=youtu.be
Is the concept of an intelligent designer, with power beyond nature, reasonable? Yes, because:
(a) Look at our universe.
- About 14 billion years ago, a force (the Big Bang) started our universe, together with space and time.
- Satisfying simple mathematical laws, this universe has 15 precise physical constants, such as the speed of light and the gravitational constant. Change them even so slightly, and the universe would not exist.
- Something so amazing and precise cannot come from nothing.
(b) Humans are born with a sense of right and wrong (moral laws). Such laws exist throughout all civilizations, though details depend on the society.
- Some explain the moral laws and altruism are for our existence. For example, we want our family, our genes, to continue. If so, we should be hostile towards outsiders, but altruistic people take care of those totally different from them, such as Mother Teresa.
- Such moral laws must come from somewhere. Christians believe they come from our Creator.
How about evolution?
God’s creation could include evolution. Many creatures’ genomes provide compelling evidence of their shared ancestry. Complex designs were formed through gradual changes over time, driven by natural selection.
Perhaps, after evolution had prepared humans with sufficient neurological brains, God gifted humanity with a soul and the ability to choose, making humans in His image. Unfortunately, we choose to disobey God and violate the moral laws, estranging ourselves from Him. For Christians, Jesus is the solution to our rebellion.
Do Genesis chapters 1 and 2 contradict evolution?
Regarding the first two chapters, we need to consider the author’s intent and the audience. Maybe they should be read as mystical or poetic documents, but not as scientific documents. Just reading them literally, one finds two different creation stories in the two chapters. In Genesis 1:9-31, plants came much earlier before humans. But in Genesis 2:4-9, humans came before plants and farmed the soil for plants to grow. Since even on their face there are contradictions, we may not want to use science to explain them.
Summarized from a talk by Francis Collins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGu_VtbpWhE&feature=youtu.be