Why this website?
In 1859 an Anglican naturalist Charles Darwin, published a book which challenged the traditional Christian convictions about the origin of species. Within a few decades Christian communities produced several answers to the Darwinian theory of evolution, including what is now called progressive creation PC is the idea that God created species separately within a long time. The timeline of creative events PC adopts from standard science.(PCPC is the idea that God created species separately within a long time. The timeline of creative events PC adopts from standard science.), young earth creationismYEC - is the idea that God created species separately within short time - six natural days. (YECYEC - is the idea that God created species separately within short time - six natural days.) and theistic evolutionTE is the idea that God used secondary causes, such as evolution, to produce all animal and plant species. (TE). Of these, the largest following today has theistic evolutionTE is the idea that God used secondary causes, such as evolution, to produce all animal and plant species.. Early on, the debate over Darwin’s theory – at least in the Christian circles – was framed as a conflict between YECYEC - is the idea that God created species separately within short time - six natural days. and TETE is the idea that God used secondary causes, such as evolution, to produce all animal and plant species.. However, in the early 1990s the landscape of the discussion was changed. A new player entered the scene: the theory of intelligent designID is a scientific theory which maintains that at least some biological structures must have been produced by an intelligent cause rather than by an interaction of chance and necessity alone. (IDID is a scientific theory which maintains that at least some biological structures must have been produced by an intelligent cause rather than by an interaction of chance and necessity alone.). According to IDID is a scientific theory which maintains that at least some biological structures must have been produced by an intelligent cause rather than by an interaction of chance and necessity alone., the science of biology by itself, regardless of any Biblical teaching, challenges the core Darwinian claim that all biodiversity was produced by the interplay of random mutations and natural selection. IDID is a scientific theory which maintains that at least some biological structures must have been produced by an intelligent cause rather than by an interaction of chance and necessity alone. created a new platform for the debate. It helped to separate the scientific debate over the mechanism of evolution Evolution, depending on the context, may mean microevolution, macroevolution or just any biological change. In the hot debate over evolution the word refers to the idea that all species descended from one or a few organisms via natural generation combined with random change and selection.from the religious debate over a correct interpretation of Genesis.
This website is designed for a twofold purpose:
- To show the incompatibility of Thomistic philosophy with theistic evolutionTE is the idea that God used secondary causes, such as evolution, to produce all animal and plant species..
- To show the compatibility of Thomistic philosophy with the theory of intelligent designID is a scientific theory which maintains that at least some biological structures must have been produced by an intelligent cause rather than by an interaction of chance and necessity alone..
This website has a general and introductory character. Many of the arguments relevant to the debate over Thomistic philosophy and evolution Evolution, depending on the context, may mean microevolution, macroevolution or just any biological change. In the hot debate over evolution the word refers to the idea that all species descended from one or a few organisms via natural generation combined with random change and selection.are merely indicated here. Many of the relevant issues are not even mentioned. Some arguments have been presented in a generic form just to suggest the direction of the Thomistic answer to theistic evolutionTE is the idea that God used secondary causes, such as evolution, to produce all animal and plant species.. We also left out references to the works of Thomistic evolutionists. The reader will find the fully stated arguments, as well as the references to the different sources, in a companion book to this website –Aquinas and Evolution
Thomas Aquinas believed that all our natural knowledge about God is derived by analogy from what we see in creatures. The beauty, order and design of the universe testify to the greatness of its Author. This Thomistic principle is independently confirmed in the Bible (Rom 1:20; Wis 13:1–9). But if this is the case, shouldn’t the progress of science bring more rather than less evidence for the existence and workings of the Divine intellect in the universe? Should not the Bible be confirmed rather than disproved by the discoveries of modern science? As a Christian scholar I am convinced that no modern data contradict the traditional interpretation of creation. I also believe that the progress of science enables us to discover new evidence for design in the universe – the type of evidence that was unavailable to any ancient or medieval scholar. This type of evidence is the basis of the modern theory of intelligent designID is a scientific theory which maintains that at least some biological structures must have been produced by an intelligent cause rather than by an interaction of chance and necessity alone.. And since “truth cannot contradict truth” the new evidence does not exclude or diminish any of the older arguments such as those presented by the great medieval teacher and saint, Thomas Aquinas.