- PROMINENT CHRISTIAN EVOLUTIONISTS
- CHRISTIAN WEBSITES THAT DEFEND EVOLUTION (aside from the massive new premier site, BIOLOGOS
- E-MAILS FROM PROFESSORS WHO ARE CHRISTIAN EVOLUTIONISTS
- HUMAN EVOLUTION (CREATIONISTS MAKE ADMISSIONS)
1) PROMINENT CHRISTIAN EVOLUTIONISTS
DR. RICHARD G. COLLING
Dr. Colling is a fundamentalist Christian and chair of Biology at a fundamentalist Christian college, and also author of Random Designer: Created From Chaos To Connect With Creator. According to Dr. Colling, "It pains me to suggest that my religious brothers are telling falsehoods" when they say evolutionary theory is "in crisis" and claim that there is widespread skepticism about it among scientists. "Such statements are blatantly untrue," he argues. "Evolution has stood the test of time and considerable scrutiny... What the designer designed is the random-design process," or Darwinian evolution, Colling says. "God devised these natural laws, and uses evolution to accomplish his goals." ["Teaching Evolution at Christian College" by Sharon Begley, The Wall Street Journal (December 31, 2004)]
DR. DENIS O. LAMOUREUX
Dr. Lamoureux is a biologist/evolutionist and Evangelical Christian.
He was involved in a written debate with Phillip E. Johnson, the lawyer and advocate of the "Intelligent Design hypothesis," which was published in book form as Darwinism Defeated? A debate between Phillip E. Johnson and Denis O. Lamoureux.
DR. KEITH B. MILLER
Dr. Miller is professor of geology at Kansas State Univ (not to be confused with Dr. Kenneth Miller, below) Dr. Keith Miller's website.
He edited, Perspectives on an Evolving Creation, (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003) that included essays by the following Christians:
Terry Gray (Colorado State)
James Hurd (Bethel College)
Ted Davis (Messiah College)
Robin Collins (Messiah College)
David Wilcox (Eastern College)
Mark Noll (Wheaton College)
Jeff Greenberg (Wheaton College)
Laurie Braaten (Judson College)
John Munday, Jr. (Regent Univ.)
Loren Haarsma (Calvin College)
Howard Van Till (Calvin College)
Deborah Haarsma (Calvin College)
Warren Brown (Fuller Theological)
David Campbell (University of Alabama)
Jennifer Wiseman (Johns Hopkins Univ.)
Conrad Hyers (Gustavus Adolphus College)
George Murphy (Trinity Lutheran Seminary)
Bob Russell (Center for Theology and Natural Sciences)
DR. DAVID N. LIVINGSTONE
Dr. Livingstone is the author of, Darwin's Forgotten Defenders: The Encounter between Evangelical Theology and Evolutionary Thought (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987)
DR. HOWARD J. VAN TILL
Dr. Van Till is a Professor of Astronomy at Calvin College, and is the author of
1) The Fourth Day: What the Bible and the Heavens Are Telling Us about the Creation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986)
2) Science Held Hostage
3) "The Creation: Intelligently Designed or Optimally Equipped?" Theology Today 55 (1998): 344-364
DR. DAVID L. WILCOX
Dr. Wilcox has a Ph.D. in Population Genetics, and is Professor of Biology at Eastern College, St. David's, PA. He is the author of God and Evolution (Nov. 2004)
LARRY ARNHARDT
Larry Arnhart is a Christian and also Professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University. He is the author of Darwinian Natural Right: The Biological Ethics of Human Nature; and, Darwinian Conservatism (2005), whose blurb reads, "The Left has traditionally assumed that human nature is so malleable, so perfectible, that it can be shaped in almost any direction. Conservatives object, arguing that social order arises not from rational planning but from the spontaneous order of instincts and habits. Darwinian biology sustains conservative social thought by showing how the human capacity for spontaneous order arises from social instincts and a moral sense shaped by natural selection in human evolutionary history." Arnhardt has also debated I.D.ists at their conferences
DR. KENNETH MILLER
In a court case in Cob country, Georgia in which the school board lost their battle to insert "Evolution is only a theory" stickers inside a biology text, the "offending" book in question was written by a Christian, Dr. Kenneth Miller. How ironic. Besides having authored a widely used biology textbook, Miller is also the author of Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution.More on Dr. Miller at Christianity Today's website:
"A Somewhat Higher Opinion of God": A conversation with biologist Ken Miller. Interview by Karl W. Giberson
"Finding Darwin's God: A conversation with biologist Ken Miller."
Interview by Karl W. Giberson
DR. FRANCIS COLLINS
Dr. Francis Collins is Director of the Human Genome Project. Collins has stated: "I am unaware of any irreconcilable conflict between scientific knowledge about evolution and the idea of a creator God; why couldn't God have used the mechanism of evolution to create?...In my field, biology, because of the creationists the standard assumption is that anyone who has faith has gone soft in the head. When scientists like me admit they are believers, the reaction from colleagues is 'How did this guy get tenure?'" (Gregg Easterbrook, "Science and God: A Warming Trend?" Science, Vol. 277, No. 5328, Aug. 15 1997, p. 890-893)More on Dr. Collins at Christianity Today's website:
"The Genome Doctor: The director of the National Human Genome Research Institute answers questions about the morality of his work" by Francis Collins
DR. JOHN POLKINGHORNE
Dr. Polkinghorne is an ordained Anglican priest, former Cambridge professor of theoretical physics.
He is also the author of
1) Quarks, Chaos, and Christianity: Questions to Science and Christianity (New York: Crossroad, 1994)
2) Science and Theology: An Introduction (London: SPCK, 1998)
3) The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001) A book of essays by assorted theistic evolutionists that explores the Biblical concept of kenosis (self-emptying) and the doctrine of creation in light of evolutionary thought.
DR. DONALD NIELD
Dr. Nield is Professor of Engineering Science at Auckland University, and author of God Created the Heavens and The Earth.
DR. GRAEME FINLAY
DR. Finlay is a Cell Biologist who lectures in General Pathology in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at Auckland University, and is the author of
1) A Seamless Web: Science and Faith; Evolving Creation
2) God's Books: Genetics and Genesis.
DR. DENIS EDWARDS
Dr. Edwards is the author of
1) The God of Evolution: A Trinitarian Theology (New York: Paulist, 1999)
2) Jesus and the Cosmos (New York: Paulist, 1991)
DR. JOHN F. HAUGHT
Dr. Haught is the author of
1) Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect for Religion in the Age of Evolution (Boulder, CO: Westview, 2003)
2) God After Darwin: A Theology of Evolution (Boulder, CO: Westview, 2000).
DR. STANLEY L. JAKI
Dr. Jaki is a Benedictine priest with doctorates in both theology and physics, and the author of
1) Cosmos and Creator (Scottish Academic Press, l979; Regnery Gateway, 1980), An analysis of the bearing of modern cosmological theories on the Christian dogma of the creation of the universe, followed by the history of that dogma, its philosophical presuppositions, and its relation to evolutionary theories of man
2) Genesis 1 Through the Ages (London: Thomas More Press, 1992) with illustrations. A history of the interpretations of Genesis 1 from biblical times to the present day, with an emphasis on the ever-present lures of concordism. Eight lectures delivered April 25- May 9, 1992, in New York on behalf of Wethersfield Institute
3) Bible and Science (Front Royal, VA: Christendom Press, 1996) An analysis of the biblical world view and basic Biblical propositions
insofar as they relate to science and to its history.2) CHRISTIAN WEBSITES THAT DEFEND EVOLUTION
John Polkinghorne's web site with helpful links.
Darwin's Forgotten Christian Defenders
Three Cheers For Christian Evolutionists
From Abandoning Geocentrism To Accepting Evolution: A "Liberal Trend" Among Evangelical Christians?
Evolving Interpretations of the Bible's "Cosmological Teachings"--Or--Does the Bible "Teach Science?"
DWISE1'S Creation/Evolution Page
(On the Danger of Losing One's Faith Due to Fallacious Creationist Arguments, and why Christians must remain open to theistic evolution)Christian Evolutionists (and lots of old-earth arguments, including testimonies of former Young-Earthers)
Dr. Robert J. Schneider's Science and Faith essays
Dr. Anthony Garrett (former atheist and member of Australia's skeptic society who became a Christian evolutionist)
John D. Callahan (aithor of Science and Christianity, and his debate with YEC Kent Hovind is on the web)
ChristiansForEvolution newsgroup
The Pope's Message On Evolution
Fine-Tuners Who Reject I.D. Arguments
Howard J. Van Till (Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy at Calvin College)
Christian Evolutionism at the ASA website (American Scientific Association, an organization of Evangelical Christians who are scientists,includes both old-earth creationists and theistic evolutionists)
or see Glenn's pieces here
Stephen Meyers's websiteWebpage that features the article, "I.D. For I.Dummies"
Zygon (journal)
Voices For Evolution: Statements From Religious Organizations
3) E-MAILS FROM PROFESSORS WHO ARE CHRISTIAN EVOLUTIONISTS
Ed,
You might add to your List of Prominent Christian Evolutionists the following names: Peter Dodson (dinosaurs) and Simon Conway Morris (Cambrian). Apparently Sean Carroll, the 'evo-devo' guru is a Catholic who thinks God is real - thus, I presumes fits the bill. My guess is we have about 5000+ "theistic evolutionists" of various stripes teaching science at the 100-odd schools of the "Council on Christian Colleges and Universities"--but most of us keep our heads down--hoping to 'pass' as "real" Christians (in lieu of our fellow brethrens' suspicions to the contrary).
David L Wilcox
Ed -
Thanks for the list. I am honored and pleased to be included on your list among such august company as Dr. Kenneth Miller, Rev. Dr. John Polkinghorne, Glenn Morton, and Dr. Francis Collins! You have the majority of my favorites already listed. I have a section on "Theistic Evolution" on my References page that has a few of yours.
Go there and search for "Theistic Evolution" and you'll find my shorter list.
Consider adding Michael Dowd and his Great Story.
Dowd comes across as kind of "New Age"-y, but in his presentation I could not find anything that contradicts the Bible. There is also the Nebraska Religious Coalition for Science Education.
One promiment name I did not find on your list is that of Rev. Dr. Francisco Ayala, an ordained priest and scientist.
You might contact him to verify that it's the right guy, and that he is an ordained priest.
When I started my web site in 2000 there were very few sites on the Internet that had anything positive to say about theistic evolution. Now there are plenty that advocate the view that God can (and did) create through the process of evolution. Francis Collins in particular can be paraphrased as saying, "What's the problem?"
I think Chistians like me have woken up to the fact that young-earth creationism won't go away just by ignoring it. We have also realized that the bogus claims of creationism have turned many people away from accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior! Arguing about scientific theories is one thing, but distorting the Gospel (or adding to it) is quite another thing entirely! See Galatians 1:8-9 for details.
Lest anyone write off us TE people as a bunch of liberal compromisers, I am a member of the Anglican Mission in America. Although I dislike political labels, the AMiA is generally considered to be a conservative offshoot of the Episcopal Church. So although there may be a correlation, it's not true that only liberal Christians accept evolution.
If you're interested in my credentials, I'm currently sweating through the second semester of Atmospheric Dynamics on my way to earning a Master's Degree in Atmospheric Science. Theistic meteorology can be a useful analogy! When I graduate I'll feel free to call myself a scientist, but for now I'm a software engineer working with meteorological data. And trying to clear the path to Jesus, despite the obstacles that others would put in the way.
In Christ's service,
Carl Drews
Ed
You might want to say John Polkinghorne is "author of many books including:" and add that he is a winner of the Templeton Prize and the founding President of ISSAT
You could also add Arthur Peacocke, Prof Simon Conway Morris FRS and Dennis Alexander (author of Rebuilding the Matrix)
YIC
Nicholas
I recommend the following:
All the works of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
All the works of Karl Schmitz-Moormann, Especially his Theology of Creation in an Evolutionary World.Good luck,
Philip Hefner
Please feel free to add me to the list of Christian evolutionists.
I direct the course on the "Epic of Creation" at the Zygon Center for Religion and Science at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. I am an Orthodox Christian, and I wrote the book "Beauty and Unity in Creation: The Evolution of Life", Light and Life Publishers, 1996. I have also attached my CV which lists my scientific accomplishments.Nevertheless, if this does not fit with the format of information you are posting, please feel free to disregard this email. Zygon thought I should supply you with the needed information.
Best wishes in your endeavors,
GayleGayle E. Woloschak, Ph. D.
Professor, Department of Radiology
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Dear Ed
Thank you for your very informative email listing many Christians who are committed to the God who is sovereign over natural process. And I wish you well in your efforts against the spread of 'Creationism'.
In New Zealand, where I live, American 'Creationism' has got an almost total hold on the evangelical public. However, here and in Australia too, evangelical theologians and Christians who are scientists (in universities and government research institutes) are solidly behind mainstream science.
Very useful contacts in the UK would be geneticists Dr Caroline Berry and her husband Prof. Sam Berry. They represent Christians in Science, the UK-based organisation of evangelicals with an interest in science.
In New Zealand, one notable contact would be Prof Gareth Jones, who is a structural biologist who has written extensively on Christianity and science themes.
The evangelical organisation in Australia which has sought to withstand the 'Creationist' onslaught is ISCAST, for whom a contact man is their Administrator Mr Richard Gijsbers. He could put you in touch with many highly ranked scientists who are Christians.
I submit some websites (listed in my booklets which you have presented in your email) which should give useful contacts in various countries. Christians in Science (CiS).
The above two organizations publish the journal Science and Christian Belief. Scibel
Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology (ISCAST)
American Scientific Affiliation (ASA)
The ASA publishes the journal Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith.
Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation (CSCA)
Affiliation of Christian Geologists (ACG)
I can provide you with other contacts if you would like them! I attached an article that I and some fellow Christians published last year. You may find it interesting.
If you can suggest how my booklets can be distributed in the USA, I would be very glad to hear any suggestions. Keep up your good work.
Yours sincerely in Christ
Graeme Finlay
PhDP.S., Humans and chimps share an extensive collection of particular genetic markers. [For example, our DNA shares with that of other primates a vast catalogue of genetic parasites--several million in number, comprising 50% of the human genome--that provide a consistent outline of primate evolutionary relationships. Remarkable studies using the 'Alu' genetic parasite as an evolutionary marker have been done by Salem A-H, Ray DA, Xing J et al (2003). Alu elements and hominid phylogenetics. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100, 12787; Xing JC, Salem AH, Hedges DJ et al (2003). Comprehensive analysis of two Alu Yd subfamilies. J Mol Evol 57 Suppl 1, S76.] The shared history to which such common markers testify establishes conclusively that human and chimp genomes have been copied from the same line of ancestors. It is a conclusion that we must live with. And when the details of the chimp genome are published with great fanfare in the scientific literature and the popular media, it is a conclusion for which we must give a Christian interpretation.
For a discussion of evolutionary genetics from a Christian perspective see Rolston H (1999). Genes, Genesis and God. (Cambridge: CUP).
For a discussion of the compatibility between evolutionary and religious perspectives, see and Conway Morris S (2003). Life's Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe (Cambridge: CUP).
The dangers inherent in Christians making the wrong choices are well expressed by the evangelical historian Noll MA (1994). The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, and Leicester: IVP).
Graeme Finlay PhD is a cell biologist who lectures in scientific pathology at the University of Auckland, and should be addressed in any correspondence.
Warren Judd PhD lectured in molecular biology for several years in the University of Auckland, and is currently editor of the NZ Geographic Graham O'Brien PhD is a molecular geneticist who is training for the ministry. He is a member of the Inter-Cchurch Bioethics Council Ross Prestidge PhD, a biochemist, is a Senior Staff Scientist at the Genesis Research and Development Corporation Ltd., Auckland. Andrew Shelling PhD a molecular biologist, lectures in Reproductive Science at the University of Auckland, and is currently President of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (NZ Branch).4) HUMAN EVOLUTION (CREATIONISTS MAKE ADMISSIONS)
Two quotations from creationists:`I was surprised to find that instead of enough fossils barely to fit into a coffin, as one evolutionist once stated [in 1982], there were over 4,000 hominid fossils as of 1976. Over 200 specimens have been classified as Neandertal and about one hundred as Homo erectus. More of these fossils have been found since 1976.
--Michael J. Oard [creationist], in his review of the book, Bones of Contention -- A Creationist Assessment of Human Fossils, in the Creation Research Society Quarterly, Vol. 30, March 1994, p. 222`The current figures [circa 1994] are even more impressive: over 220 Homo erectus fossil individuals discovered to date, possibly as many as 80 archaic Homo sapiens fossil individuals discovered to date, and well over 300 Neandertal fossil individuals discovered to date.
Marvin L. Lubenow [creationist], author of Bones of Contention -- A Creationist Assessment of Human Fossils, in a letter to the editor of the Creation Research Society Quarterly, Vol. 31, Sept. 1994, p. 70"Transitional Fossils of Hominid Skulls" by Carl Drews, a Christian evolutionist, "By 2000 enough pre-human fossils had been recently discovered to form a clearer picture of human ancestry, something that was difficult 20 years earlier. This web page contains an illustration of those skulls, displayed in a lineup so that you can compare them and see if they look like transitional fossils or not. I have provided my own commentary, but feel free to analyze them yourself and draw your own conclusions."
Arguments We Think Creationists Should Not Use (A must read article at the Young-Earth Creationist site, Answers in Genesis)
CHRISTIAN EVOLUTION RESOURCE LIST (UPDATED 10/9/2016)
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