The Orthodoxy Of Evolution

There is an exhortation in scripture that is appropriate for all people of all ages seeking truth on any subject: "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord..." (Isaiah 1:18).  Truth does not need to fear examination.  Indeed, genuine truth shines all the brighter under the microscope of scrutiny.  The apostle Peter instructed to "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meelness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

As to any basic philosophy of life people need to not only know what they believe, but they also need to know why they believe it.  They need to have a clear uinderstanding of the compelling reasons upon which their belief is based.  This can be called clarity of belief.  For no one is this more critical than for a Christrian.

There are individuals who resent having their belief system questioned.  Some create a defense mechanism that simply disallows any meaningful scrutiny.  Anyone who dares ask questions that might challenge their belief is viewed variously as ignorant, antagonistic, fanatical, narrow minded, dangerous, untrustworthy, even an enemy...

The recent film that examines the tactics of many who espouse the philosophy of evolution, and the controversy generated by the film, brings to light this very defense mechanism.  There was a time when proponents of the theory of evoluation charged those who believe that the earth, and all life thereon, was created by God, as trying to shut them down.  They claimed that creationists called evolutionists mean, degrading names.  The charge was that creationists wanted to basically prohibit altogether the teaching of the principles of evolution, even as a possibility.  There was some truth to their protests.

But the worm has turned.  Many evolutionists now see themselves as the orthodoxy, though they would likely disdain the use of that term.  Now, they see themselves as the keepers of the truth, and they are now the ones who resort to degrading language against people who dare challenge the orthodoxy of evolution.  They have become every bit as emotionally charged, angry, mean spirited, unreasonable and intimidating toward people who question the soundness of evolutionary theory, even people who do not claim to be creationists, as they once charged creationists of being toward them.  The precious theory cannot be challenged!  In their eyes, it's a proven, unquestionably true fact.  That in spite of the term theory still attached to it.  That in spite of a myriad of breathtaking problems with the fundamental principles and mechanics of the theory.  That in spite of the fact that the most fundamental question of all, "How did life begin?", they cannot answer.

 Science and religion are not at odds.  They are not mutually exclusive.  They need not fear one another.  True science does not contradict true religious teaching.  Once again, truth need not fear examination, even critical examination.  In fact, that is a fundamental principle upon which science is based.  Those in the field of science who criticize people of faith as having an outmoded belief system would do well to remember the multitude of beliefs in the field of science that have been discarded over the centuries, having been found after further examination to be false!  It takes as least as much pure faith to believe in the theory of evolution as evolutionists claim it takes to believe in a divine creator...