QUESTION:
7/18/2009: I have two questions:
What is the Eastern Orthodox position on Theistic Evolution? Does it goes against Scriptures? Many Young Earth Creation advocates a literal interpretation of Genesis 1-2, that the Earth is only 6,000 years, and that God created everything in a literal 6 days with a literal 24 hours period. What is your opinion on all this?
Also, was Adam and Eve the first humans beings according to Orthodoxy? Some believe in a Pre-Adamite world.
In IC.XC,
Ramon |
ANSWER:
Such scientific questions were not addressed by the Councils and the scientific understanding of the writers of various eras reflect - to an extent - the ideas of the times. For a discussion of "compatibilist" and "incompatibilist" views, see http://orthodoxwiki.org/Evolution
Among the fathers, some had a more "literal" view (Basil), and others a more "spiritual" view (Gregory of Nyssa). Likewise, among contemporary Orthodox Christians, the two views coexist and there is a constructive reflection on this complex and possibly divisive issues. In general, one does not see division within Orthodoxy or among Orthodox on this issue.
For a positive view of theistic evolution, see http://www.theisticevolution.org/
It may be sufficient to say that on the one hand, God is certainly capable of creation all things in an instant - or in seven days. However, there are also good reasons to conclude, both biblically and scientifically that the days of creation are very long and that the results of science in the area of cosmological dating are reliable.
Regarding evolution, the consensus is that micro-evolution has been satifactorily documented, but that macro-evolution is an hypothesis. Orthodox Christians are never fearful that verified science will ever be destructive to the Christian faith. There is no doubt that there was a first human couple - the ancestors of the entire human race - and the scriptures calls them Adam (simply meaning Man) and Eve (simply meaning Mother of the Living). |
