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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Student's Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 8. April 30 1968

[introduction]

Both religion and science are connected with truth and with the practical consequences following directly from the truth. Hence, as truths cannot be mutually contradictory, religion and science cannot be antagonistic. This does not mean that there cannot be an apparent antagonism between religion and science, for obviously there has been for many years. The controversy which followed the publication of Darwin's scientific works. The Origin of the Species (1859), and The Descent of Man (1871), could scarcely be surpassed for the violence and acrimony of both sides.

Perhaps the most serious fault committed by both sides was to take the Bible as a literal historical record and force a choice between science and religion, between this new scientific theory and the truth of the account of creation as given in the Book of Genesis. To many it seemed that one could not be both a scientist favouring evolution and a Christian.

Christian leaders clinging to a literal interpretation of Genesis were lead in some cases to such absurb conclusions as that of Bishop Ussher who declared that creation began on the night preceding Sunday 23 October 4004 B.C.! At the same time many defenders of volution often made sweeping claims and hypotheses that went far beyond the evidence then (or now) available. It was a case of much bad science meeting much had philosophy and bad theology.

Although today scientists are nearly unanimous in accepting evolution, there are still dissenters and still many difficulties, e.g. the very serious gaps in fossil evidence; the difficulties in the formation of complex organs and systems of organs; and because the theory demands such long time periods, there is a lack of direct evidence. The points can be discussed and argued, but no matter what said, the important point here is that the theory of evolution explains the known facts better than any other that has so far been put forward.

For the moment, assuming evolution to be a proven scientific fact, are there any apparent contradictions with Christianity?

Firstly, does evolution contradict the Bible? The Bible, and especially the Book of Genesis has nothing at all to do with the theory of evolution. As Professor J. L. McKenzie in his '"Dictionary of the Bible" says: "This account is neither a scientific explanation of the origin of man. nor a history of the beginning of the race in the proper sense of the word." The first eleven chapters of Genesis (which contain the creation account) do not properly conform to the rules of historical composition used by the great Greek and Latin historians or by the historians of our own lime. Rather they are (pictorial—symbolistic) representations of factual historical events which truly occurred at the beginning of our humanity. Or as Cardinal Suhard says: "The chapters contain, in simple and metaphorical language adapted to the mentality of a people of simple culture . . , a popular description of the origin of the human race."