In Theory

I always encourage people to read and listen to both sides of any story. An informed discussion is always better than an ignorant one. Though I don’t take Darwin’s view, I wonder if he would still hold to his theory had he the benefit of the last 100 years of scientific discovery from scientists like Drs. Dean Kenyon (who literally wrote the book on chemical evolution), Jonathan Wells and Jed Macosko.

Though most scientists still believe in evolutionary theory, a growing number are increasingly dissatisfied with the clear lapses in the theory. This is even true in the marine sciences department at OCC. The standard textbook, written by an OCC professor of marine sciences, presents the theory that the world is such an amazingly complex and dynamic system, many are now talking about the “Gaia” (named after the goddess of the Earth Gaia) theory, the theory that the Earth is really a living organism.

So, while I won’t be purchasing the book as a stocking stuffer, I won’t discourage people from reading it.

Ric Olsen

Lead Pastor

The Beacon

Yes! Parishioners here have studied “The Bible and Science,” “Christian Darwinism,” evolving creation, biological evolution and creationism. From Darwin’s time to the present, clergy and scientists from both the Catholic and Evangelical traditions in Anglicanism have accepted evolution; and the Episcopal Church has affirmed the ability of God to create in any form and fashion, including evolution. Anglicans and Episcopalians, some of whom are both theologians and scientists, are contributing to developing understandings of God’s evolving creation.

Divine love (1 John 4:8) frees life to develop using all divinely given powers and capacities. This universe, as Augustine of Hippo said in the fourth century, is “God’s love song.” Because God’s love is poured out within the creation, God is present to every creature in its being and becoming. This certainly includes the agnostic naturalist Charles Darwin.

(The Very Rev’d Canon) Peter D. Haynes

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

A book recently brought to my attention is “The Doctrine on Genesis 1-11,” written by Father Victor Warkulwiz. The author draws on his scientific background to demonstrate compatibility between the account of creation presented in the early chapters of the book of Genesis and the understanding of the Church Fathers and modern-day observations of natural science.

I am concerned that young people in public schools are being taught theories that at their base are atheistic and have no room for “intelligent design” principles. Since admittedly the Catholic church does not have a well-developed theology of creation, Warkulwiz’s book is not only timely, but long overdue. Suffice it to say that I will forgo purchasing Darwin’s book and will refrain from recommending it to my parishioners.

Father Stephen Doktorczyk

St. Joachim Church

Costa Mesa

Of course not. Why would I recommend my congregation read Charles Darwin’s “theory” on the origin of species when they could read God’s authoritative eye-witness account of creation found in the book of Genesis?

Darwin’s theories will not make my holiday shopping list, and if they did I would not choose the holiday recognizing the birth of my Savior. Check back with me around Halloween or April Fools’ day: I might recommend his writings on one of those holidays.

Pastor Dwight Tomlinson

Liberty Baptist Church of Newport Beach

Our common experience is to wonder about our origins. Why am I? Who am I? Why am I here? Who are we? Why are we? Where did we come from? These questions are not only about science, but about meaning. Ultimately they are about God. If we desire scientific answers to questions regarding origins and evolution, we best turn to the natural sciences. If we seek deeper penetration into meaning, we turn to religion.

The Bible is a book of faith, not of science. The Book of Genesis represents the search of a people for meaning and purpose. It asserts the eternal existence of the God who is the cause of all that is, the God who is the uncaused cause. All creation is sacred, especially man and woman, for we are God’s finest work of creation. We are made responsible for the conduct of our lives and for the stewardship of creation.

Could we have come into being by evolution? Why not? This is a question for science, not for religion. The overwhelming scientific evidence favors evolution. This should pose no difficulty for the religious person, for whatever possibilities there are in created matter are there because of the richness of God’s creative act.

The Genesis story is very pictorial, almost like a screenplay. It does not attempt to answer today’s scientific questions. As long as science does not exceed its proper field of inquiry by making theological claims, there should not be any conflict between science and religion.

Of course, that same requirement should apply to religion, meaning that we should not make scientific assertions based on Bible texts that were not composed in response to those questions.

Msgr. Wilbur Davis

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach

The official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Darwin’s legacy is clear: It doesn’t have one. While individual Latter-day Saints are free to form their own opinions, the Encyclopedia of Mormonism says, “The scriptures tell us why man was created, but it doesn’t tell us how.” Leaders further state, from an official declaration in 1931, “Leave geology, biology, archaeology and anthropology, no one of which has to do with the salvation of the souls of man, to scientific research.”

In a 1911 editorial, the then-Prophet of the Church stated: “The Church itself has no philosophy about the modus operandi employed by the Lord in his creation of the world.”

Brigham Young University teaches a “solid rigorous evolution course… without modification of Darwin’s theories.” One professor said, “We need to be careful not to think that we understand everything, both from a science and religious perspective. It’s OK not to have all the answers.”

In my personal faith journey, I emphasize my relationship with Jesus Christ as my Savior and advocate with the Father, and concern myself with being a better servant, son, father, grandfather, husband, citizen and neighbor. Issues yet to be answered go on my “problem shelf,” where they remain, to be reexamined or removed as my understanding expands. While I am not an unquestioning devotee, I honor him as a great scientist.

Tom Thorkelson

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Do you think there is a book on how to wrap gifts using string theory?

Evolution is a scientific observation; creationism is a leap of faith. In my book, “The Secret According to Jesus: No One is Left Behind,” I say science in competition with the supernatural is a house divided against itself.

The emotional crossfire created by this controversy tests loyalty, faith and doctrine in an invisible civil war whose wounds are seen in those who want to be healed, not codependent upon drugs, or doctrine.

The problem is not with Darwin; the problem is with one’s faith in God’s power to heal. Many scientists believe in both.

Dr. Jim Turrell

Center for Spiritual Living Newport-Mesa

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