Evolutionism
Template:Stub Evolutionism is the belief in the theory that life on Earth is simply the result of random, natural processes (see Naturalism, Biological evolution).[1]
It ultimately attempts to explain the existence of humans by means other than divine creation. (Compare Creationism.)
Therefore one who believes in or supports a theory of evolution[2] would be referred to as an evolutionist.
Evolutionism is the general sense of the word and encompasses any type of biological evolutionist. Broken down into two categories, "Evolutionism" and "Evolutionists" usually involve Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists (evolution without God) and Theistic Evolutionists (evolution with God). Those categories can be further broken down, but they are the main two.
The word is used differently in different circles of thought. Generally Young Earth Creationists use it as a reference to what they believe is the worldview or presupposition aspect of the scientific theory of evolution. The term is not necessarily used as a worldview unto itself, but is more based off of and is possibly an extension of a variety of other worldviews including Materialism, Naturalism[3], and Humanism in its broadest sense. Many that hold to the theory of evolution have been known to be atheists as well, but this does not represent the entirety or whole.
- "Evolutionism is a world-view, which seeks to explain every aspect of this world in which we live. It encompasses a wide variety of topics, from astronomy to chemistry to biology. At its core, it teaches that there were different stages in the evolution of our universe..."[4]
Contents
Theistic Evolution
Theistic Evolutionists believe that God created the universe and did not intervene directly in the evolutionary process. In general, theistic evolutionists accept the
Foundational question/starting point
All the viewpoints take a step of faith as some might refer to it. In other words, there is a common starting point or foundational question (it's a God-related question) that each one asks, and then forms their conclusions around.
According to biblical Creationists (Young Earth)
God exists (worldview) > Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact" > Thus science is altered based on the "God exists" idea
Creationism comes before the Scientific Theory of Creation. The theory is based on the worldview.
According to Atheistic Evolutionists
Some proponents of the scientific theory of evolution reject the idea of a philosophy or worldview that guides their conclusions in scientific experimentation.
There is no God (worldview) > Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact" > Thus science is altered based on the "no God" idea
Evolutionism comes before the Scientific Theory of Evolution. The theory is based on the worldview.
Comparison
The various viewpoints can be compared in general ways as they all have some sort of starting point. The general Creationist starting point is God, which then all the universe is based on including that of science. Some Theistic Evolutionists hold to a similar God idea, yet emphasize a somewhat secondary origin[5] in the evolutionary process. Atheistic evolutionists say that we must prove God by science, therefore their intellectual starting point is science itself.
Controversy
Offensive Terminology
Some Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists say that the term Evolutionism is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. They disagree that the theory of evolution is based on a philosophy or worldview. They say that the perception finds no grounding in reality, other than as a rhetorical dramatization. However, according to creationists, this disagreement arises from a misunderstanding of terms. Biblical Young Earth Creationists hold both terms in philosophically equal light, up to a certain point. They would say that the term "Evolutionism" has the same or very similar meaning to "Creationism" as it relates to a supposed philosophical/foundational starting point or question (does God exist?). They say the term "Evolutionism" refers to a subset of a combination of worldviews, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the Evolutionist presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective worldview behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with biblical Young Earth Creationism.
Religion and Evolutionism
Some Creationists point out that they see various religious aspects, not in the theory of evolution itself (although they don't exclude that necessarily), but in the Evolutionists themselves. Some will say how Evolutionists have a religious fervor over what Creationists believe is false science. Some Evolutionists have historically misunderstood this for Creationists labeling science itself as a religion. M. Green, a Creationist, put it this way in his Faith of Darwinism (emphasis added).
- "Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with religious fervor, and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith." [6]
Evolution has been a recent source of controversy in the United States[Citation Needed]. Some prominent Americans seriously question evolution[Citation Needed], based on a feeling that it conflicts with religious beliefs. However, according to Evolutionists, at least one aspect of religion and evolution is not mutually exclusive. Some deeply religious evolutionists believe that God set evolution into effect, which is no detraction to His majesty. This is referring to the theory of Theistic Evolution.
Biblical Young Earth Creationist's problem with a Biblical Old Earth
See also
External links
Notes
- Affirmative websites that are pro-theory of evolution.
- Critical websites that hold the position that the scientific theory of evolution requires faith and belief just like any other religious system.
| Affirmative | Critical |
|---|---|
|
TalkOrigins
EvoWiki |
DrDino Creationists.org Northwest Creation Network Answers in Genesis CreationWiki
Institute for Creation Research |
Other
Uses of the term Evolutionism on the Internet
<ref> tag;
no text was provided for refs named mgreen