Does God Exist? How about Evolution?

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.

• 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.

1. 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.
2. 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
 


神存在吗？进化论又如何？
 
基督教信仰是非理性的吗? 答案是否定的。否则我们如何尽意爱上帝呢（马太福音22:37）？让我们来思考一些常见的问题。
 
自然界以外存在智能设计者是合理的吗? 答案是合理的, 原因如下:
 
(a) 思想我们所生存的宇宙
 
•大约140亿年前，一种力量（大爆炸）开始了我们的宇宙, 从此有了时空。
•宇宙具有15个满足简单数学定律精确的物理常数，例如光速和重力常数。如果我们稍微改变其中一个，宇宙就不复存在。
•如此惊人而精确的常数不应该是无中生有的。
 
(b) 人天生具有判断是非对错的感觉（道德法则）。虽然这些法则的细节取决于不同的社会，但它们在所有历代的文明中都存在。
 
有些人解释道德法则和利他主义是为了我们的存在, 例如为了您的家庭和基因得以连续。如果是这样，就应该对外人怀有敌意。但是利他主义者如德兰修女会照顾和自己完全不同的人。 
 
这样的道德法则不应无中生有。基督徒相信它们来自那位创造者。
 
进化论又如何解释呢？
 
上帝的创造可以包括进化。许多不同生物的基因组提供了令人信服的证据，指向一位共同的祖先。在自然选择的驱动下, 随着时间的推移, 一些非常复杂的生物逐渐演变而来。
 
进化为人类提供了有足够神经系统的大脑之后，上帝便赋予人类灵魂和自由意志。那时，人类获得了一种特殊的地位, 他们有了上帝的形象。
 
不幸的是人类用自由意志选择违背道德法则, 背叛上帝, 与祂疏离。对于基督徒来说，耶稣是叛逆的解决方案。
 
创世记1-2章与进化论矛盾吗？
 
阅读创世记1-2章的时候，需要考虑作者的意图和当时的听众。 也许应该将其视为玄妙的或诗意的文件, 而非科学的文件。 如果按字面意思阅读，会发现这里有两个不同的创造故事。在创世记1:9-31中植物的创造比人类早很多，但在创世记2:4-9中,人类被创造后才耕种土壤让植物生长。既然甚至在字面上已经存有矛盾，可能就不应该用科学来分析这两章经文。