Difference between revisions of "Creation or Evolution (For Teens)"
From 2Timothy2.org
(Created page with "=Objectives= *Students will have an informed understanding of what evolution actually entails. *Students will be able to accurately critique evolution based on the Bible. *Stu...") |
|||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| − | + | =Introduction= | |
*What does the term evolution mean to you? | *What does the term evolution mean to you? | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
Answer in Genesis defines evolution to be <blockquote>Evolution is the supposed process by which the first cell evolved into the diversity of life we see today. Natural selection and mutations are considered its driving force. However, evolution has never been observed and natural selection and mutations cannot add the information necessary to change one kind into another.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/evolution/</ref> </blockquote> | Answer in Genesis defines evolution to be <blockquote>Evolution is the supposed process by which the first cell evolved into the diversity of life we see today. Natural selection and mutations are considered its driving force. However, evolution has never been observed and natural selection and mutations cannot add the information necessary to change one kind into another.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/evolution/</ref> </blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Implicit in this definition are several key components that we can tackle from a biblical perspective. | ||
| + | *Abiogensis | ||
| + | *Macro-evolution | ||
| + | *Transitional Forms | ||
| + | *Reducible Complexity | ||
| + | |||
| + | =Main Body= | ||
| + | ==Abiogenesis== | ||
| + | Abiogenesis is the view that life could naturally spontaneously emerge from non-life. The second law of thermodynamics holds that the amount of usable energy in any system decreases over time (note: it is not that the amount of energy decreases but the usable energy decreases.). Applied to evolution the this law says that things are not moving to greater complexity but actually less complexity. As scientific knowledge advances the likelihood of abiogenesis has decreased. However, we are not just critiquing evolution. We are looking at the Bible. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *How does the Genesis 1:1 deal with the notion of abiogenesis. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Genesis 1:1 shows the God created ex-nihlo. In other words from nothing God developed everything. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Macro-evolution== | ||
| + | All animals experience small changes in natural processes such as breading. For example, some dogs have short legs, other dogs have long legs. Some dogs are bread to hunt, others are bread to be hypoallergenic. These small changes within a species are often called micro-evolution. It is worth noting that creationists don't actually dispute these minor variations. These are smalls observable changes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to macro evolution, new structures and organs can be the result of mutations. The ultimate result of macro-evolution is the development of new species through the process of gradual evolution. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Does the Bible indicate that macro-evolution is false? | ||
| + | |||
| + | **In Genesis 1:20-25 the word kind provides a taxonomic classification. God uses this word in the same place where he commands the creatures to be fruitful and multiply. In other words, God intended for creation to have micro-variations, but never cross-species variation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Transitional Forms== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Reducible Complexity== | ||
Revision as of 15:22, 17 September 2018
Contents
Objectives
- Students will have an informed understanding of what evolution actually entails.
- Students will be able to accurately critique evolution based on the Bible.
- Student will recognize that a creator is a reasonable perspective on origins but also recognize that faith is still necessary.
Introduction
- What does the term evolution mean to you?
- Evolution is a hot topic in fundamental circles and we need to have a strong apologetic for creation. However, a strong apologetic also means we must actually know what evolution teaches. No qualified biologists believe that monkeys are currently turning into humans or anything of this form. Evolution is a well-reasoned, but flawed perspective to which some very intelligent people subscribe. All too often we fight evolution with straw-man arguments. Those are arguments in which we build up a ridiculous perspective and then celebrate the ease with which we burn it down. If we are to defend creation, we must reject straw man arguments and focus on the fundamentals.
Evolution is the supposed process by which the first cell evolved into the diversity of life we see today. Natural selection and mutations are considered its driving force. However, evolution has never been observed and natural selection and mutations cannot add the information necessary to change one kind into another.[1]
Implicit in this definition are several key components that we can tackle from a biblical perspective.
- Abiogensis
- Macro-evolution
- Transitional Forms
- Reducible Complexity
Main Body
Abiogenesis
Abiogenesis is the view that life could naturally spontaneously emerge from non-life. The second law of thermodynamics holds that the amount of usable energy in any system decreases over time (note: it is not that the amount of energy decreases but the usable energy decreases.). Applied to evolution the this law says that things are not moving to greater complexity but actually less complexity. As scientific knowledge advances the likelihood of abiogenesis has decreased. However, we are not just critiquing evolution. We are looking at the Bible.
- How does the Genesis 1:1 deal with the notion of abiogenesis.
- Genesis 1:1 shows the God created ex-nihlo. In other words from nothing God developed everything.
Macro-evolution
All animals experience small changes in natural processes such as breading. For example, some dogs have short legs, other dogs have long legs. Some dogs are bread to hunt, others are bread to be hypoallergenic. These small changes within a species are often called micro-evolution. It is worth noting that creationists don't actually dispute these minor variations. These are smalls observable changes.
According to macro evolution, new structures and organs can be the result of mutations. The ultimate result of macro-evolution is the development of new species through the process of gradual evolution.
- Does the Bible indicate that macro-evolution is false?
- In Genesis 1:20-25 the word kind provides a taxonomic classification. God uses this word in the same place where he commands the creatures to be fruitful and multiply. In other words, God intended for creation to have micro-variations, but never cross-species variation.
