CREATIONISTS, EVOLUTIONISTS SHOULD HAVE SOME MUTUAL RESPECT

Periodically, there are outbreaks of furious controversy between the proponents of creationism and evolution. The question concerning the origin of the human species will never be resolved by the biased argumentation of creationists and evolutionists. There is an underlying agenda that prevents a resolution or even an impasse of the questions as to whether man came into existence by the act of a Creator God or by a process of evolution from a lower form of animal life.

Unique circumstances cause us to conclude that the question cannot be resolved. It is crucial that one be aware that persons who hold for the creation of man by God base their argument on the Jewish Scripture where, in fact, two accounts of creation are found. One is attributed to the Levitical priests. The other is a popular version of creation as the people understood it and taught it to their children. Creationists claim divine authority for the account of creation found in Scripture. Of course, this claim means nothing to someone who rejects the existence of a personal God. We can assume that what we call creationism was not seriously challenged until the Age of Enlightenment, a philosophical (not religious) movement in the 18th century. Science and religion became immersed in violent confrontation, which still exists, although more often as time passes true religion and accurate science are seen as not contradictory.

The Enlightenment was a time in which the natural sciences became prominent. Until this time, questions of the origin of man and the universe were understood in the light of religion, especially as it was taught in the renowned Catholic universities of Europe. Once scientific data were discovered and taught, those who perceived themselves as scientists of the Enlightenment felt it necessary to reject whatever knowledge was rooted in religion. There were many who went so far as to deny the existence of God. It was simpler to deny the existence of a personal God than to discredit the ideas of religionists. We recall the fate of Galileo and his teachings in the 17th century. The scientists of the Enlightenment were not content to advance scientific knowledge as they found it in the context of religion, but set out not only to discredit scientific knowledge rooted in religious belief, but to deny the existence of God. The secularism of that era is still with us today. However, in growing numbers scientists and especially space scientists insist that the wisdom of God and human knowledge are mutually supportive and enlightening. Several movements and associations of scientists attest to this development.

People who have religious faith are offended when their perception of creation by God as the origin of the human species is denied and ridiculed on the basis of secular scientific data. There is no possibility of dialogue between creationists and evolutionists, because one speaks out of the context of religious faith, and the other on the basis of the data of secular science. There are some even today who maintain that one cannot be a good scientist and also a sincere Jew or Christian.

Creationists are convinced that their understanding of the origin of man is more credible, because it is based on the wisdom of God in revelation. Evolutionists like to exalt the capabilities of human reason. Re recall, however, demonstrations of the fallibility of human reasoning when scientists became aware, for example, of how mistake they were about much that they had proclaimed about the planet Jupiter. Also, scientists are continually adjusting or even abandoning what they thought they knew about science. Understandably.

The answer to the question as to whether creationism or evolutionism should be taught in our schools is: Both should be taught, creationism being an expression of faith in divine revelation, and evolution as a theory based on human research of how man may have evolved from a lower form of animal life. The two positions cannot be truly debated. One is accepted by faith, the other by reason. It is possible, however, that persons who put aside extraneous considerations might be able to dialogue for the purpose of mutual enlightenment and tolerance. This alone would be a lesson worth teaching to students of every age.

Monsignor Joseph E. Gosche of Cape Girardeau is a retired Roman Catholic priest who served as pastor of St. Mary Cathedral.