Creationism Coexisting with Evolution?
Want to push an emotional button? How about just the mention of creationism? Or Islam? Or Evolution? Or Fundamental Christianity? So I want to really push your buttons by discussing all of them plus throwing in “religion.”
The New York Times’ (Science Section November 3, 2009 title: Creationism without a Young Earth emerges in the Islamic World) discusses a version of creationism rarely discussed–That not all creationism theories are the same!
What do you think of when you hear the word “creationism”? I would wager that most of you would imaging a fundamentalist Christian who believes that our world was created by God 6,000 years ago. This version of creationism is called “young Earth creationism.” So is there another type of creationism? Yes!
Old Earth creationism doesn’t take the bible or religious teachings literal. Many religions believe in some form of creationism yet have no difficulty with evolution theory. As the New York Times article points out even many Muslims do not take the Koran literally but understand the metaphoric tale of creation. Furthermore, depending on which country the Muslim resides in, she or he may also accept evolution.
Before you brand me as siding with Islam, let me state what I said in my book, Healing the Rift–Science and spirituality say the same thing using different metaphors. Here again is an example.
How many of you believe that there was some force (maybe a god) which created the universe which was predestined to have life? And do you believe that once life appeared on Earth evolution is logical? Many of you believe in both of these. Interesting, so do many religions and most people outside of North America and Western Europe.
Bottom line: when we hear the word “creationism” let’s not automatically jump to the conclusion that it must mean the young Earth version. For many, it still is logical to subscribe to the old Earth version accepted by the vast majority of the people of our planet.
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