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Many people make the point that evolution is
a religion, not science.
This seems to be true to me because of the well-established
term "theistic evolution," in addition to good
arguments favoring evolution as a religion.
Religion is "a set of beliefs concerning the
cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially
when considered as the creation of a superhuman
agency or agencies. . . ." (religion.
Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random
House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion
accessed: February 12, 2011).
The argument that evolution is a religion goes
something like this: Evolution can't be proven
through scientific methods; therefore, it is a
belief system rather than fact. Thus as a belief
system, evolution is a religion.
Perhaps this is best illustrated by the famous
evolutionist, Theodosius Dobzhanksy, whose words
are recorded in a number of publications. Here
is the opening paragraph of the 1977 article written
by Fancisco J. Ayala and published in The Journal
of Heredity, titled "Nothing in biology makes
sense except in the light of evolution" (FRANCISCO
J. AYALA "Nothing in biology makes sense except
in the light of evolution": Theodosius Dobzhansky:
1900-1975 J Hered (1977) 68(1): 3-10).
In 1972, Theodosius Dobzhansky addressed the
convention of the National Association of Biology
Teachers on the theme "Nothing in Biology Makes
Sense Except in the Light of Evolution." The
title of that address (published in The American
Biology Teacher, vol. 35, pp. 125-129) might
serve as an epigram of Dobzhansky's world view
and life, although it is limited in scope, for
Dobzhansky believed and propounded that the
implications of biological evolution reach much
beyond biology into philosophy, sociology, and
even socio-political issues. The place of biological
evolution in human thought was, according to
Dobzhansky, best expressed in a passage that
he often quoted from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:
"[Evolution] is a general postulate to which
all theories, all hypotheses, all systems must
hence forward bow and which they must satisfy
in order to be thinkable and true. Evolution
is a light which illuminates all facts, a trajectory
which all lines of thought must follow -- this
is what evolution is."
Here we have a difference in religious beliefs.
Evolutionists believe that evolution is the
light which illuminates all facts, and that all
theories, all hypotheses, and all systems must
bow to it. But Christians believe that Jesus is
the Light that illuminates all facts, and that
all theories, all hypotheses, and all systems
must bow to Him.
- "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying,
'I am the Light of the world; he who
follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but
will have the Light of life'" (Jn. 8:12).
- "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17).
Thus as Christians, to contend earnestly for
the faith, we need to be acquainted with the false
religious views of evolution.
- "Beloved, while I was making every effort
to write you about our common salvation, I felt
the necessity to write to you appealing that
you contend earnestly for the faith which
was once for all handed down to the saints"
(Jude 1:3).
Conclusion
Evolution is a religion because it's a set of
beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose
of the universe, especially relating to the advent
of man.
Therefore, we should treat evolution as the
false religion that it is, and contend earnestly
for the faith.
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