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> Evolutionist versus Theist
EVOLUTIONIST VERSUS THEIST
By evolutionist is meant one who embraces the theory that man is evolved from lower life forms, and who also accepts the accompanying ideas associated with evolution, such as the uniformity of natural causes in a closed system and the survival of the fittest. Additionally, any religious view that an individual may have are of no consideration, or at least of secondary importance, and are decidedly subjective.
By Theist is meant one who is a Christian and accepts the God of the Bible and His Revelation of Himself, His will, and His works; the God of the Theist is Trinitarian and Sovereign (see: God). Therefore, in all his investigations, deliberations, and conclusions Revelation is superior to reason (see: Revelation).
These are opposing perspectives that cannot be reconciled, because at every point they take conflicting positions. The evolutionist thinks in terms of man, while the Theist thinks in terms of God.
Evolutionist – the beginning of everything is a matter of science not religion
Theist – the beginning of everything is a matter of Revelation not science
Evolutionist – in a consistent evolutionist position, God is not needed
Theist – in a consistent Theism, evolution is not accepted
Evolutionist – Theistic evolution is a hybrid position that is inconsistent
Theist – Theistic evolution is a hybrid position that is inconsistent
Evolutionist – emphasis on the reason of man; faith in reason with no Revelation
Theist – emphasis on the Revelation of God; faith in Revelation using reason
Evolutionist – Bible is a myth; science can discover the facts and give truth
Theist – evolution is a theory; Bible is God’s Revelation of the Truth
Evolutionist – matter is eternal; or something came from nothing
Theist – matter had a beginning; something came from Someone
Evolutionist – reality is explained by “an infinite chain of non-primary causes”
Theist – reality is explained by “an uncaused primary Cause of all causes”
(H. Morris, The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, 36)
Evolutionist – chance or randomness produced order; chaos produced cosmos
Theist – order and complexity of the cosmos come from the infinite God
Evolutionist – uniformity of natural causes in a closed system; no miracles
Theist – an open system with Supernatural intervention; possibility of miracles
Evolutionist – cosmos exists because of chance, with no purpose or plan
Theist – cosmos exists because of God’s purpose and serves His plan
Evolutionist – universe began with a burst of light, the Big Bang
Theist – universe began in darkness, brought into existence by God
Evolutionist – initially the earth’s surface was a molten mass
Theist – initially the earth’s surface was a semi-liquid, semi-solid mixture
Evolutionist – posits billions of years for the current state of reality
Theist – posits a young earth, with God accomplishing His work in six days
Evolutionist – natural processes plus time produced the present order
Theist – Supernatural act of creation produced the present order
Evolutionist – the present is the key to the past
Theist – the present is not the key to the past
Evolutionist – stars and sun formed before the earth appeared
Theist – earth was created before the sun, moon, and stars appeared
Evolutionist – sun was before plant life
Theist – plant life was before the sun
Evolutionist – first life was in the water, microscopic
Theist – first life was on the land—plants
Evolutionist – all life evolved from common ancestor
Theist – all life was created to reproduce after its kind
Evolutionist – insects appeared before reptiles, birds, and mammals
Theist – insects appeared after fish and birds; simultaneously with man
Evolutionist – fish appeared before plant life
Theist – plant life appeared before fish, birds, and animals
Evolutionist – similarities of creatures require common source
Theist – similarities of creatures suggest a common Designer
Evolutionist – requires spontaneous generation of life; life from non-life
Theist – God created life; life from Life
Evolutionist – first life was microscopic, single cell
Theist – first life comprised plants, birds, fish, and animals; created fully functioning
Evolutionist – fish appeared, then land animals, birds developed from reptiles
Theist – fish and birds appeared simultaneously; animals the next day
Evolutionist – man evolved from lower life forms, a process
Theist – man was made from dirt, an act
Evolutionist – man slowly developed into his present form; a progression
Theist – instantly man was created in his present form; a deed
Evolutionist – man and woman evolved together
Theist – man appeared first, and woman came from man
Evolutionist – intelligence evolved from non-intelligent matter, mind from matter
Theist – intelligence came from Intelligence, mind from Mind, man from God
Evolutionist – man slowly developed his reasoning and speaking abilities
Theist – man was created fully functioning in mind and speech
Evolutionist – man is descended from the animals and is like them
Theist – man is distinct from the animals, being made in the image of God
Evolutionist – the survival of the species meant death before man appeared
Theist – there was no death until after the first man sinned
Evolutionist – man is simply matter evolved into a complex form; no real value
Theist – man has value because he is the mirror of God, created in God’s image
Evolutionist – creation is a theory that cannot be proven in a laboratory
Theist – creation is a truth that cannot be disproven in a laboratory
Evolutionist – evolution destroys the need for worship
Theist – creation establishes the need for worship
Evolutionist – death is the end
Theist – death is the door into God’s eternity
QUOTES
Return to: Question of Evolution; Next Article: Interpretation of Genesis
For overview of THEOLOGY, see: Site Map - Theology
EVOLUTIONIST VERSUS THEIST
By evolutionist is meant one who embraces the theory that man is evolved from lower life forms, and who also accepts the accompanying ideas associated with evolution, such as the uniformity of natural causes in a closed system and the survival of the fittest. Additionally, any religious view that an individual may have are of no consideration, or at least of secondary importance, and are decidedly subjective.
By Theist is meant one who is a Christian and accepts the God of the Bible and His Revelation of Himself, His will, and His works; the God of the Theist is Trinitarian and Sovereign (see: God). Therefore, in all his investigations, deliberations, and conclusions Revelation is superior to reason (see: Revelation).
These are opposing perspectives that cannot be reconciled, because at every point they take conflicting positions. The evolutionist thinks in terms of man, while the Theist thinks in terms of God.
Evolutionist – the beginning of everything is a matter of science not religion
Theist – the beginning of everything is a matter of Revelation not science
Evolutionist – in a consistent evolutionist position, God is not needed
Theist – in a consistent Theism, evolution is not accepted
Evolutionist – Theistic evolution is a hybrid position that is inconsistent
Theist – Theistic evolution is a hybrid position that is inconsistent
Evolutionist – emphasis on the reason of man; faith in reason with no Revelation
Theist – emphasis on the Revelation of God; faith in Revelation using reason
Evolutionist – Bible is a myth; science can discover the facts and give truth
Theist – evolution is a theory; Bible is God’s Revelation of the Truth
Evolutionist – matter is eternal; or something came from nothing
Theist – matter had a beginning; something came from Someone
Evolutionist – reality is explained by “an infinite chain of non-primary causes”
Theist – reality is explained by “an uncaused primary Cause of all causes”
(H. Morris, The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, 36)
Evolutionist – chance or randomness produced order; chaos produced cosmos
Theist – order and complexity of the cosmos come from the infinite God
Evolutionist – uniformity of natural causes in a closed system; no miracles
Theist – an open system with Supernatural intervention; possibility of miracles
Evolutionist – cosmos exists because of chance, with no purpose or plan
Theist – cosmos exists because of God’s purpose and serves His plan
Evolutionist – universe began with a burst of light, the Big Bang
Theist – universe began in darkness, brought into existence by God
Evolutionist – initially the earth’s surface was a molten mass
Theist – initially the earth’s surface was a semi-liquid, semi-solid mixture
Evolutionist – posits billions of years for the current state of reality
Theist – posits a young earth, with God accomplishing His work in six days
Evolutionist – natural processes plus time produced the present order
Theist – Supernatural act of creation produced the present order
Evolutionist – the present is the key to the past
Theist – the present is not the key to the past
Evolutionist – stars and sun formed before the earth appeared
Theist – earth was created before the sun, moon, and stars appeared
Evolutionist – sun was before plant life
Theist – plant life was before the sun
Evolutionist – first life was in the water, microscopic
Theist – first life was on the land—plants
Evolutionist – all life evolved from common ancestor
Theist – all life was created to reproduce after its kind
Evolutionist – insects appeared before reptiles, birds, and mammals
Theist – insects appeared after fish and birds; simultaneously with man
Evolutionist – fish appeared before plant life
Theist – plant life appeared before fish, birds, and animals
Evolutionist – similarities of creatures require common source
Theist – similarities of creatures suggest a common Designer
Evolutionist – requires spontaneous generation of life; life from non-life
Theist – God created life; life from Life
Evolutionist – first life was microscopic, single cell
Theist – first life comprised plants, birds, fish, and animals; created fully functioning
Evolutionist – fish appeared, then land animals, birds developed from reptiles
Theist – fish and birds appeared simultaneously; animals the next day
Evolutionist – man evolved from lower life forms, a process
Theist – man was made from dirt, an act
Evolutionist – man slowly developed into his present form; a progression
Theist – instantly man was created in his present form; a deed
Evolutionist – man and woman evolved together
Theist – man appeared first, and woman came from man
Evolutionist – intelligence evolved from non-intelligent matter, mind from matter
Theist – intelligence came from Intelligence, mind from Mind, man from God
Evolutionist – man slowly developed his reasoning and speaking abilities
Theist – man was created fully functioning in mind and speech
Evolutionist – man is descended from the animals and is like them
Theist – man is distinct from the animals, being made in the image of God
Evolutionist – the survival of the species meant death before man appeared
Theist – there was no death until after the first man sinned
Evolutionist – man is simply matter evolved into a complex form; no real value
Theist – man has value because he is the mirror of God, created in God’s image
Evolutionist – creation is a theory that cannot be proven in a laboratory
Theist – creation is a truth that cannot be disproven in a laboratory
Evolutionist – evolution destroys the need for worship
Theist – creation establishes the need for worship
Evolutionist – death is the end
Theist – death is the door into God’s eternity
QUOTES
“Thus, to the consistent evolutionist, self-existent and
self-organizing matter, operating by random natural processes over
eternal eons of time, has replaced God as ultimate reality” (H.
Morris, The Biblical Basis for Modern Science,
153).
“The Bible describes a Universe created by God, maintained by him, and intimately and constantly directed by him, while science describes a Universe in which it is not necessary to postulate the existence of God at all” (Isaac Asimov, In the Beginning, 13).
“The Bible describes a Universe created by God, maintained by him, and intimately and constantly directed by him, while science describes a Universe in which it is not necessary to postulate the existence of God at all” (Isaac Asimov, In the Beginning, 13).
Return to: Question of Evolution; Next Article: Interpretation of Genesis
For overview of THEOLOGY, see: Site Map - Theology