Some Remarks on the Theological Interpretation of the Theory of Evolution Cover Image

Some Remarks on the Theological Interpretation of the Theory of Evolution
Some Remarks on the Theological Interpretation of the Theory of Evolution

Author(s): Tadeusz Pabjan
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Comparative Studies of Religion, Pastoral Theology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Papieskiego Jana Pawła II w Krakowie
Keywords: Creation; evolution; creationism; Bible; theory of evolution; evolutionary creationism; God of the gaps; God and evolution

Summary/Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of alleged conflict between the theological idea of the creation of man by God and the scientific theories that explain the origin of the human body referring to the process of evolution. It is argued that there is no contradiction between these two domains and that there is no real conflict between the idea of creation and the theory of evolution. At first, the conception of evolution is introduced. Afterwards, the evolutionary creationism is presented as the theological doctrine which claims that God created man, using for this purpose mechanisms of evolution. It is argued that the Biblical account of creation must not be understood literally and that during the lecture of this account one should respect the interpretative principle of St. Augustine concerning metaphorical sense of some Biblical texts. Finally, a “method” of explaining of the emergence of the human body by a direct action of God (“God of the gaps”) is criticized.

  • Issue Year: 3/2013
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 199-211
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: English