In the same week The Passion of the Christ and the evolution/creation debate arrived in my inbox. I hadn’t given much thought to either topic lately, primarily because I’m relatively content in my agnosticism, and my sense that evolution has won the debate, even if it has yet to win the hearts (or at leas the minds) of people.
All this makes a link like the one a friend of mine sent me amusing in an unintended way; it simultaneously misses and makes the key point. The creationist/intelligent design movement doesn’t seek to have ANY evolutionary theory taught. They specifically want their view taught and to discredit the scientific theory. And for, in my view, an entirely credible reason.
All religions inherently derive their power and influence by providing an explanation for the origin of man. If a higher power created us, then we, in turn, must respect the wishes of that power or face the consequences. To deny that God was not involved, in any way, in our creation, as evolution does, is to deny religion its legitamcy. The consequences of defying a God who didn’t create you are significantly smaller.
Which in turn leads me to agree that the two concepts are fundamentally opposed, and that I’ve long since made my decision about which one I accept.