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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Theistic human evolution


One of the challenges for theistic evolution is how to reconcile theistic evolution with the competence and benevolence of God. According to evolution (i.e. macroevolution, universal common descent), Cromagnon man is the end-result (thus far, at least) of earlier hominids. Some represent linear ancestors of Cromagnon man, while others represent independent offshoots, where we and they branched off from a common ancestor. Divergent evolution. Earlier hominids became extinct. In some cases, Cro-Magnon man replaced them. 

From a theistic evolutionary perspective, this is strikingly like those science fiction stories in which a cyberneticist experiments with model androids until he is able to perfect his design. Once they outlive their usefulness, the earlier models are deactivated and destroyed. This calls into question both the competence and benevolence of the deity postulated by theistic evolution

In addition, it's far from clear why modern man would represent the final stage in human evolution. Logically, we'd be just another stepping stone, another temporary phase, in human evolution–to be replaced by a superior model down the line. 

3 comments:

  1. This also means that Christ's incarnation gave him a nature that is presumably inferior to future evolutionary forms from homo sapiens. Of course we know He will not change his present resurrected human status into some reincarnated form and start a new plan of redemption for future more advanced creatures.

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  2. Somehow you have to deal with evolution, because it is a scientific fact that humans evolved from other animals.

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    1. Hi Bernie Dehler,

      Well, we have done a lot of posts on the topic. For example, see here and here. Or did you have a specific objection in mind?

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