In simplest terms, naturalistic evolution means biological change over time. When faced with a museum full of fossils what clear-thinking individual can possibly dispute that life on this planet has changed dramatically over the course of deep time?
What is Naturalistic Evolution?
In more detailed terms, naturalistic evolution is the change in the genetic material of a population of organisms from one generation to the next. Though the changes produced in any one generation are small, differences accumulate with each generation and can, over time, cause substantial changes in the organisms. This process can culminate in the emergence of new species.
To evolutionists, the similarities between organisms suggest that all known species are descended from a common ancestor (or ancestral gene pool) through the process of gradual divergence. Like an ever-growing and branching tree, the entirety of life has thus developed driven by slow natural processes and not by miracles and catastrophes.
Is Creation Science (Intelligent Design) Really Science?
Creation science, recently relabeled Intelligent Design, is an attempt by one sect of creationists to present the tenets of creationism in a more scientific and empirical manner. Proponents of Intelligent Design argue that it is a legitimate scientific theory and seek to redefine science to accept supernatural explanations.
Intelligent Design as science is overwhelmingly rejected by the scientific community on several counts:
1. Its conclusions cannot be falsified. A rigorous interpretation of the scientific method demands that any hypothesis, theory, or conclusion can only be considered tentative truth. As new and contradictory evidence arises the hypothesis, theory, or conclusion must be falsified (rejected). Intelligent Design is based on a literal interpretation of Genesis 1 of the Bible which is regarded as inerrant truth. Thus it cannot be falsified. Courts have agreed with this point time and again consistently relegating Intelligent Design to the status of non-science or pseudo-science.
2. The core beliefs of Intelligent Design are based on a religious text, the Bible, not on natural observations, exacting experimentation, and conclusions that can be empirically verified. Intelligent Design simply makes proclamations based solely on faith.
3. Creation scientists have yet to offer any scientific evidence that advances the case of creationism; their efforts are spent almost entirely in critiquing apparent contradictions within evolution.
4. The scientific credentials of many so-called creation scientists are highly suspect.
“The argument that the literal story of Genesis can qualify as science collapses on three major grounds: the creationists' need to invoke miracles in order to compress the events of the earth's history into the biblical span of a few thousand years; their unwillingness to abandon claims clearly disproved, including the assertion that all fossils are products of Noah's flood; and their reliance upon distortion, misquote, half-quote, and citation out of context to characterize the ideas of their opponents.” (Stephen Jay Gould, "The Verdict on Creationism", The Skeptical Inquirer, Winter 87/88, pg. 186)
Is Evolution Synonymous With Atheism?
Many people are inclined to reject evolution based on the notion perpetuated by religious fundamentalists and scientific creationists (Intelligent Design) that evolution and atheism are linked and intertwined. According to creationists, accepting the evolutionary explanation for the development and diversity of life on Earth logically and necessarily leads a person to become an atheist.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Contrary to what many critics so often claim, naturalistic evolution speaks only to the development of life on Earth. A person can accept evolution as the best explanation for the diversity and development of life on Earth while also believing that the Earth and the life on it were first caused by God. If this vewpoint is adopted, there is no reason why a person cannot be a theist and also accept the process of evolution.
If evolution does not cause a person to necessarily become an atheist, doesn't it at least incline a person to become an atheist? In reality, there seems to be little evidence that this is the case as there are millions and millions of people on the planet that profess theistic beliefs who also accept evolution, including many biologists and even some scientists who are directly involved with research on evolution. Clearly, concluding that accepting the tenets of naturalistic evolution inclines a person to atheism is to accept a false assumption..
Evolutionists reject the notion of Intelligent Design (creation science) being portrayed in the courtroom and classroom as legitimate science. Creationism is based on faith in the truth of the Bible and cannot be falsified nor experimentally tested.
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