In the beginning God created man. and God created every creature. So when i say evolution what is the first thing you think of? [allow for comments] So maybe you think of apes, and man coming from apes. Maybe you think of amoebas and single cell organisms. Maybe you think that it is all bogus. Maybe you think that some of it might be possible. According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary evolution is defined as a process of continuous change from a lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex, or better state. Today i am going to talk to you about two different types of evolution: macro evolution, and micro evolution, then I'm going to discuss both of their relationships to God.
MacroEvolution
Let's start by talking about macro evolution. For those of you who don't know exactly what that is, let me explain. Macroevolution generally refers to evolution above the species level. Something that involves one species evolving into another. For example, the idea that apes evolved into man over the course of time. According to trueauthority.com, a site dedicated to finding the truth within science, Macroevolution is the change of one kind of animal to another kind, like reptile to bird.
Now that we've looked at exactly what macroevolution is, lets talk about what microevolution is.
MicroEvolution
merriam-webster's online dictionary defines microevolution as comparatively minor evolutionary change involving the accumulation of variations in populations usually below the species level. That means minor changes like over time giraffes having longer necks. One baby giraffe has a longer neck and therefore gets more food, and makes more, hence passing on his gene for longer necks, soon the shorter neck giraffes die out because they don't get enough food or mates to pass on their genes, and all that is left are long necked giraffes. Again according to trueauthority.com, Microevolution is basically variation within a kind, like wolves, dogs, and coyotes, they are all different species, but the same "kind"
So now that you know a little bit about both macro and micro evolution, let's move on to talking about how both are related to God and creation.
Relationship to God
Christians believe that God created man, and the animals. In Genesis 1:24 it says, "And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so." If we look at the word kind within that scripture, it seems to prove that micro evolution is possible. As for macroevolution, it does not seem to prove it is possible as much. David Van Biema, director of the national human genome research institute says, "I see no conflict in what the Bible tells me about God and what science tells me about nature.Like St. Augustine in A.D. 400, I do not find the wording of Genesis 1 and 2 to suggest a scientific textbook but a powerful and poetic description of God's intentions in creating the universe. The mechanism of creation is left unspecified."
Conclusion
Today i have told you a little about what macro and micro evolution are and what how God and evolution are connected. I hope that in learning a bit more about this topic that you will be able to decide for yourself what your beliefs are on evolution and God. Can you believe in God and evolution?
"Definition: What is Macroevolution." Evolution 101: Macroevolution. 2006. UC Berkley. 7 Nov 2007
"Micoevolution." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2006. Merriam-Webster. 7 Nov 2007
"Micro vs. Macro evolution: objections against creation." trueauthority.com. 2004. TrueAuthority. 7 Nov 2007
Van Biema, David. "Can You Believe in God and Evolution?." TIME. 2005. TIME Magazine. 7 Nov 2007
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