Evolution, Theology, and Method - Part 1: Outline and Limits of Scientific Methodology

During the last 150 years, evolutionary theory has become the standard theoretical explanation for the origins of life and the center of a new cosmology that other sciences dogmatically assume when developing research methods and interpretations of reality. Christian theology, as a scientific enterprise, is no exception to this rule. Evolution dismisses divine creation as nonscientific myth. To avoid this charge, theologians have proposed various versions of theistic evolution and harmonization. Thus, the challenge theologians must contend with is whether the only choices available to them are mythological faith or scientific truth. Further, it is necessary to consider whether a belief in creation necessarily entails a sacrifice of the intellect. The creation-evolution debate, including the theological attempt at harmonization, generally takes place at the level of conclusion without taking into account the nature of the processes through which theologians and scientists arrive at their respective beliefs. This indicates that the problem is not about faith (i.e., religious experience) and science, but about the differences between two scientific enterprises-Christian theology and the empirical sciences. The process through which science arrives at its conclusions is complex. This article will attempt to present a brief discussion of the main structures and characteristics of science and theology in order to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and to help the church gain a realistic perspective of the present intellectual situation. Therefore, this article will not be an analysis of the teachings of evolution and creation, but rather the rational processes that led to their formu1ations.l My goals in part 1 of this series are to examine how human beings arrive at conclusions and at truth and to examine in what way the Bible serves as the foundation of truth.' This will be done by providing