Problems with evolutionary theory

April, 2000- "The Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association affirms that evolution is a basic component of many aspects of anthropology...and is a cornerstone of modern science, being central to biology, geology, and astronomy. The principles of evolution have been tested repeatedly and found to be valid according to scientific criteria."

Proponents of evolutionary theory often sound certain about their proofs that evolution has occurred. They cite established scientific methods as supporting their beliefs.

But there are problems with their proofs. Here are several examples.

1. Evolution fails to provide an explanation of the "ultimate cause." Even if the universe began billions of years ago with a "big bang," who or what made the material that exploded? Evolution can't answer that question.

2. Evolution fails to provide an explanation of the origin of life. Louis Pasteur's experiments in the 1800s showed that existing life can only come from pre-existing life. Until Pasteur's studies people thought "spontaneous generation," that life just happens, was possible. No one has proven Pasteur wrong.

3. Evolution claims that gradual mutation (adaptation) explains how one species can eventually form another. But mutations do not provide a satisfactory explanation. To be believable, the evolutionary theory needs evidence of one species growing out of another species. That evidence doesn't exist. We do know, however, that mutations are generally harmful and lead to degeneration, not evolution.

4. Evolution cannot account for the mutual dependence of the vegetable and animal kingdoms. Animals eat vegetables; vegetables need animals for pollenation and fertilization. How could the one exist without the other for billions of years?

5. Evolution does not explain how humans became rational beings, how they became aware that they exist as unique individuals, where the human sense of moral responsibility came from, why our sense of beauty developed, or why humans have a desire for immorality. Evolution, of course, doesn't want to deal with these concepts because they are all associated with the soul.

Not only are there logical problems with the theory of evolution, there are scientific problems. Evolutionary theory demands that the laws of science at one time were different than they are now. For example,

1. The theory of evolution says inorganic (non-living) matter is the source of organic (living) matter. Evolution insists on the possibility of spontaneous generation even though Pastuer disproved that theory a century ago.

2. The second law of thermodynamics (which proves that matter is in a process of change and this change is always for the worst) contradicts the evolutionary theory. (Notice the difference between the law of thermodynamic and the theory of evolution. One has been proven; the other remains an educated guess.)

3. The geological record contained in fossils does not provide evidence of the gradual evolution of plant and animal life. What fossils do reveal is fully developed organisms which display all of the typical characteristics of the groups to which they belong.

Evolution-trusting scientists raise their own concerns about the possibility of God creating the universe out of nothing. Here are answers to two key objections.

Objection: Creationism is based on blind faith and on acceptance of the Bible as an absolute authority.

Answer: The evolutionary theory is based on blind faith. Evolution is not scientific. It is a philosophy. There is no true scientific evidence to indicate that evolution is a fact. Those who believe in evolution believe in guesses.

Objection: Creationism is invalidated by evidence that the earth is billions of years old.

Answer: All of these so-called evidences are explained by the fact that God created a mature and functioning world. If it would have been possible to see the space our universe occupies on the day before creation, there would have been nothing there. Six days later, the entire universe would have been in place, everything working like it does today. Creation takes away any need to believe in billions of years of evolution.

Scientists, of course, are right in saying that Bible-believing Christians trust God's Word as their absolute authority on all the issues it addresses. In fact, trusting the Bible is at the heart of our Christian faith. Hebrews 11:2 says, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

1. What does this passage teach about the special meaning of the word create in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created..."? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.

2. How does the passage contradict theistic evolution? Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.

3. What does this passage teach about the proper attitude of a Christian toward how the universe came to be? How do we know that the world was created? (For a definition of faith see Hebrews 1:1, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.") Think about that for yourself. Then check this answer.

This article is based on material from a Bible study booklet by Joel C. Gerlach called The Word is Now. It was published by Northwestern Publishing House. This study is reproduced by permission. Copyright restrictions do not allow this article to be copied.