Deborah B. Haarsma &
Loren D. Haarsma,
Physics & Astronomy Dept.,
Calvin College
2007 October 12
Faith Alive Christian
Resources
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The publishing ministry
of the Christian
Reformed Church
We assisted with
Fossils and Faith by
Rev. Thea Leunk,
Sunday school or
Christian school
supplemental material
for high-school age.
Please write a book on creation,
design, and evolution…
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For the “person in the pew,”
Could be used for small-group
discussions,
Part of a new series, “A Reformed Look
At ___________,”
And yes, talk about human origins.
Writing a book on
weekends
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Writing as co-authors
Writing for many audiences
Advice from many experts and lay
people
Cutting it down to size
(www.faithaliveresources.org/origins)
Introduction
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Science-without-God
OR God-without-science ?
There are more than two options
– Example. What causes rain:
evaporation & condensation
OR “God’s storehouses”
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Our personal stories
Ch.1 God’s Word and
God’s World
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What Christians agree about.
Range of Christian disagreements
about origins.
The importance of listening both to
God’s Word and God’s world.
Ch.2 Worldviews and
Science
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Christian beliefs as a foundation for
doing science.
God governs events we can explain
scientifically as well as those we
cannot.
 “god of the gaps”
God governs events which are, from a
scientific perspective, random.
Ch.3 Science: A Process for
Studying God’s World
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Experimental, observational, and
historical science (and their
interrelation).
The laws of nature don’t appear to
have changed during the history of the
universe.
Scientific knowledge is not the only
kind of knowledge.
Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s World in Conflict?
God
Nature
Science
Philosophy, Politics
No
Conflict
Potential
Conflict
Scripture
Biblical Studies
Theology, Church
Tradition
Ch.4 God’s Word and God’s
World in Conflict?
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Good principles of biblical
interpretation
The example of Galileo
Ch.5 Genesis: Concordist
Interpretations
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Geological evidence for an old earth
Interpretations of Genesis: youngearth, gap, day-age, appearance of age
Order of creation in Genesis 1 & 2
History of modern young-earth
creationism and a sample YEC
argument
Ch.6 Genesis: Non-Concordist
Interpretations
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Interpretations of Genesis: visionary
days, proclamation days, creation
poem, kingdom-covenant, ancient Near
East cosmology
Message of Genesis 1 in all
interpretations
Egyptian cosmology
sky goddess Nut
sun god Re
sun god Re
air
god
Shu
earth god Geb
Osiris,
god of
the dead
From The Symbolism of the Biblical World: Ancient Near Eastern Iconography and the
Book of Psalms by Othmar Keel (New York: Crossroad, 1985)
Ch.7 An Ancient and
Dynamic Universe
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The universe is vast
– How we measure great distances
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The universe is old
– Evidences for a long history
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The universe had a beginning
– Evidences for the Big Bang
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The Big Bang and Christianity
Ch.8 Competing Views on
Evolution
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The story of Jennifer...
“Evolution” means:
– microevolution
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pattern of change over time
common ancestry
theory of evolution
evolutionism
Young earth creationism; progressive
creationism; evolutionary creationism
What all creationists agree about
Ch.9 Plant and Animal
Evolution
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Evidence: fossils, comparative anatomy,
biogeography, genetic similarities among
species (including introns, pseudogenes),
genetic diversity within species
The evidence strongly supports common
ancestry and is consistent with the theory
of evolution
Ch.10 Intelligent Design
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I.D. arguments vs. I.D. movement
Fine-tuning argument
– Is it proof of God?
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Biological complexity argument
– Is the evolution of complexity improbable?
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Both evolution and design
I.D. and the “god of the gaps” danger
Public debate over I.D.
Ch.11 Scientific and Theological
Issues on Human Origins
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Three options: special creation, miraculous
modification, evolutionary creation
Scientific evidence: fossils, genetic similarity
to animals, genetic diversity among humans
Theological issues:
– Created in God’s image (3 views)
– The soul (3 theories)
– Original sin: the situation, transmission (3 views),
and historical origins
– Death before the fall: animals; humans (3 views)
Ch.12 Adam and Eve
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5 scenarios:
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recent ancestors
recent representatives
ancient ancestors
a group of ancient representatives
symbolic
Scientific and theological pros and cons
of each scenario
What all scenarios agree about
Not satisfied with any of the scenarios?
Ch.13 But What About…?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Scripture
Since the Bible tells us how God made the world, why do we need to listen to science?
Haven’t Christians always believed in a young earth and a six-day creation?
Is it ever appropriate to change one’s interpretation of Scripture to match science?
Isn’t a non-literal interpretation of Genesis 1 just a slippery slope to denying the resurrection?
If Genesis 1 should be understood literally, what is the “firmament” created on day two?
Why didn’t God just tell us about the Big Bang and evolution in Genesis?
Is it better if we can make the events of Genesis 1 line up with what science says, or if the
message of Genesis 1 is independent of what science says?
Questions Christians Ask Regarding Interpreting Nature
8. How strong is the evidence for an old earth? For evolution?
9. Are the Big Bang and evolution just beliefs promoted by atheists to get around God?
10. Are scientists biased against religion and against God?
11. How can scientists be sure about the Big Bang and evolution if no one was there to see
them?
12. Is there any scientific evidence for a young earth?
13. Could God have created the earth recently and made it appear old?
14. Can the scientific evidence for an old earth also be made to fit a young earth model?
Ch.13 But What About…?
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Questions Christians Ask Regarding the Goodness and Fall of Creation
An old earth would mean millions of years of animal pain and species extinction. Didn’t God
create the world perfect at the beginning?
How could God call creation good if it included destruction, pain, and extinction?
Does evolution reward selfishness?
Did death exist before the Fall?
Does a non-literal view of Adam and Eve deny important doctrines about original sin and
salvation?
Questions Christians Ask Regarding How God Works in Nature
Why would God use such a long, slow process when he could have created everything
instantly?
How could it have all happened by chance?
If evolution is true, doesn’t God seem weak and uninvolved?
Does evolution imply that God doesn’t do miracles?
Shouldn’t there be some sort of proof in nature that God created it?
Would humans be less significant if God created us through common ancestry with animals
rather than through special miracles?
How do I worship God if God used slow natural processes instead of miracles to create
each animal and plant?
Book is now available
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Calvin bookstore
Faith Alive Christian Resources
– 1-800-333-8300
– http://www.faithaliveresources.org (search on
“Haarsma”)
– Denominational building
Pick up a flyer for
– Your friends, family
– Pastor, church library, book club, youth group leader
– Christian school teachers, home schoolers, Christian
college science profs