Must We Choose Either Darwin Or God?

In an article from Scientific American about a geneticist ordained as a Dominican priest, Francisco J. Ayala, we read,

"But Ayala thinks that scientists who attack religion and ridicule the faithful—most notably, Richard Dawkins of the University of Oxford—are making a mistake. It is destructive and gives fodder to the preachers who insist followers must choose either Darwin or God. Often students in Ayala’s introductory biology class tell him that they will answer test questions as he wishes, but in truth they reject evolution because of their Christian beliefs. Then, a couple of years later, when they have learned more science, they decide to abandon their religion. The two, students seem to think, are incompatible."

This question troubles me greatly. I've spoken to many students and scientists who struggle with the issue as well. Is Darwinian evolution compatible with the Christian faith? William Demski, writing in Intelligent Design Uncensored, thinks it is not. I summarize what he writes in a chapter titled "The Poison of Materialism."


Darwinian evolution operates under the principle that the material world is all there is. The so-called process of "natural selection" working by random selection has produced all the species there are on this planet. All that was needed (note: "all") were millions and millions of tiny steps over millions of generations. Natural selection plus random variation does the work of designing every plant, bug or animal there is on Earth. There is no need for God or a Grand Intelligent Designer.


What follows in this materialistic worldview touches us humans as well. We are not made in the image of God. We are not embodied spirits. We are nothing more than highly advanced animals who have evolved from lower forms of life. To quote Demski,

"By undermining belief in God, materialism undercut our view of humans as well. According to materialism, humans aren't made in the image of God. At bottom, humans are just a collection of atoms, a messy bundle of instincts and urges without higher purpose or significance. Ideas like free will, personal responsibility and even the intrinsic value of human life have no place in a materialistic worldview." (Kindle edition location 848-850)

There is a direct link between materialism and the eugenics movement, especially the Nazi worldview. Since we are nothing more than the result of a random selection we have no responsibility to any Creator. All our decisions are ultimately the product of natural forces. The most important thing is the survival of our species. The strong are the master race that must make such decisions. That is the ultimate good. The strongest must decide for the weakest. The flawed, the lower races, the sick, the imperfect, the old and the useless must be eliminated for the good of the master race. This is, after all, the survival of the fittest. There is no God. There is no need for God. Humans are their own god. They define what is good and right, not God.


Professor Ayala, quoted above, thinks that it is possible to reconcile these two worldviews. It is possible to be both a Christian and a materialistic evolutionist. He has written a book recently, Am I A Monkey? - Six Big Questions About Evolution. It is available also in the Kindle edition. I'm reading to see how he answers these questions.


Check back with you later.