Original Research - Special Collection: South African Science and Religion Forum

What do religion and natural science each have to say about origins, creation and evolution?

Mark Pretorius, Daniel T. Lioy
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 77, No 3 | a6188 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v77i3.6188 | © 2021 Mark Pretorius, Dan T. Lioy | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 04 June 2020 | Published: 09 March 2021

About the author(s)

Mark Pretorius, Department of Systematic Theology, Faculty of New Testament, South African Theological Seminary, Johannesburg, South Africa; and, Department of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa
Daniel T. Lioy, Department of Systematic Theology, Faculty of New Testament, South African Theological Seminary, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to put forward an acceptable scriptural stance with respect to an evolutionary worldview. The authors posit that a theologically orthodox position can best be substantiated when the moral ideal embodied in Christ is the starting point for all deliberations. In light of this premise, the authors consider the following topics: the great divide between science and religion; the various theoretical shifts taking place on both sides of the science and religion arena concerning the veracity of evolution a substantive consideration of Darwin’s evolutionary theory; the issue of whether Genesis is only a myth or a narration of literal, historical events and the profound implications of evolutionary theory for religious belief. The authors conclude that a choice does not have to be made between evolution and religion but between good and bad evolutionary theory and good and bad religious beliefs.

Contribution: The article’s challenge is to not only show that science and theology are not in conflict, but also that ascribing to an evolutionary worldview when discussing God’s creative acts, is also not in conflict with God’s Word.


Keywords

creation and evolution; Darwin; Genesis; science and religion; fossils

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