Doug Velting
Before we attempt to answer that question, we need to define the word science. According to the 1983 Merriam – Webster dictionary science is defined as “the state of knowing: knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding: knowledge covering general truths or the operations of general laws as obtained and tested through scientific method.”
Then we need to define the term evolution. Again we look at the Merriam – Webster dictionary. Evolution is “the historical development of a biological group (as a race or species): a theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations.” Let us break down the term evolution even more. There are two terms used; macro evolution and micro evolution. Macro evolution is one form of life changing into another form; a fish changing into an amphibian. Micro evolution is differing species of the same kind of animal; Polar Bear, Black Bear and Brown Bear. Another name for micro evolution is natural selection and this type of evolution is based on true observational science. We see numerous species of bears, but they are all 100% bears.
Macro evolution is not based on science because nobody can see one form of animal changing (evolving) into another form. Because evolution is not observable or testable and because it has happened in the past, we cannot call it science.
There are several other reasons evolution can’t be called science. First, it breaks certain scientific laws. Evolution breaks the law of biogenesis. Bio means life and genesis means beginning. Biogenesis is one of the most basic universal laws of science; life comes from life. Evolution requires that we break that most basic scientific law. If you go back far enough evolution demands that life came from non-life.
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy and mass cannot come from nothing. Energy and mass had to be created, had to have a beginning. Second Law of Thermodynamics simply states that everything breaks down in time. From a rotting apple sitting on the kitchen counter to a bike rusting in the garage, everything breaks down. The universe is wearing out.
They (stars in the heavens) will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. – Psalm 102:26
Evolution demands that everything increases in complexity but what we see is everything breaking down.
The second reason why evolution is not and cannot be observed and tested is information. Every gene contains DNA that has an incredible amount of information that makes each one of us who we are. Evolution cannot work because new genetic information is needed whenever a higher form of life appears. In order for a fish to grow legs, new information must be encoded into the DNA. For a reptile to grow feathers, new information must be encoded into the DNA. For an ape to evolve into a human, new information must be encoded into the DNA. This new information must be added or replace old information with new instructions to grow legs, feathers, or human traits. Information has to come from information and science cannot give an example of information not coming from information. Nowhere in science can new information arise by itself. God has to be the creator, there is no other option.
Let’s ask the question again. Is evolution science? The answer is no. Evolution cannot be observed, cannot be tested and is not even possible. It can only be a theory, plain and simple.
If evolution is not possible in the area of true observational science, then why do so many people believe it?
Three reasons:
First – We are all sinful from birth; it is in our hearts to not want God. Simply put, we don’t want a holy God telling us what to do. A belief in evolution allows mankind to choose what is right and wrong.
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. – Romans 1:18 -20
Second reason – When people come and talk about origins and the history of man they approach the subject with a set of beliefs, a worldview. A worldview is a foundational belief system about what is factual and true. Your worldview is your starting point on what you believe and thus how you interpret the facts that you see. Here is a good example: earlier in this article you read about the massive amount of information in our DNA. If you have a Biblical worldview and believe that God created and the Biblical account of creation is true, you are going to praise God for His wondrous creation. If, however, you have a secular humanistic worldview which states that there is not even the slightest chance of a creator God and that everything there is came about naturally through evolution, you are in awe that the massive amounts of information in our DNA could come about naturally without a creator God. People with opposing worldviews will see the same DNA and have the same understanding about information, yet come to a different conclusion as to how that information came to be. A person with a Biblical worldview would make the correct statement that only God could encode information in the DNA. A person with a secular humanistic worldview would counter that claim and insist that since there is no God, information can and did encode in the DNA through the process of evolution.
People who believe in evolution and those who believe in a Creator God all have the same evidence that they use to strengthen their positions. Everybody has the same rock layers, fossils and biology. What our worldview is will determine how we look at those fossils, rock layers and biology. We as Christians can explain those evidences to a non-Christian, but if that person has a strong secular humanistic worldview he will hear what you’re saying but come to the conclusion that your explanation is either in error or a lie.
Third reason – Look at the beginning of this article and read again the definition of science from the Merriam – Webster dictionary. That was written in 1983. This is the definition of science from a 2018 Merriam – Webster : “the state of knowing: knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.” With that definition you can make the claim that evolution is science. Did you catch the difference in definitions? The 2018 wording left out this phrase: “knowledge covering general truths or the operations of general laws as obtained and tested through scientific method.” The term scientific method is observation and testing. Do you understand what happened? The secular humanist adjusted the meaning of the word science so that evolution could be called science.
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. – Romans 8:7
Unless the Holy Spirit opens a willing heart, people will seek another answer for how the universe began and how life came to be here on earth.
[Taken from lesson 2 of easycreationlessons.com]
All scripture is from the New International Version – Zondervan Publishing
Doug:
Interesting article. You said “Another name for micro evolution is natural selection…” I might have stated that differently. Perhaps say that microevolution can occur through the mechanism of natural selection. So the two are not the same thing. One occurs through the action of the other. There are other factors which control microevolution. In fact, I have stopped using the term microevolution because it gives a certain level of credence to macroevolution. I use speciation instead of microevolution
Another thing I would suggest is to use the term “falsifiable” instead of “testable”. This lines up better with the scientific method and how science tries to disprove by experiment. Clearly evolution can’t be falsified by experiment for the reasons you state.
Last point is about the 2nd law. You said “Second Law of Thermodynamics simply states that everything breaks down in time. From a rotting apple sitting on the kitchen counter to a bike rusting in the garage, everything breaks down.” I suppose I could argue that the formation of sugar crystals is producing order from disorder so that breaks your definition of the 2nd law. A tree growing from a seed breaks your definition of the 2nd law. Better definition would say that the entropy of the universe is increasing (delta S >0). So you can get pockets of order happening. So order can happen at the expense of the universe getting more disordered.
Anyway, just a few thoughts from me to clean up some variance in your understanding. Keep up the good work for Christ and applying the points I’ve made into your thinking will shore up your credibility with hostile believers in evolution. After all, they are looking for any chink in your reasoning to discredit you. Why give them such obvious gimmes to attack you?