Reflections on the nature and social implications of the theory of evolution

Abstract

Die Suid-Afrikaanse staat skryf die evolusionisme in openbare skole voor, wat verstaanbaar is, aangesien die evolusieteorie as wetenskaplik bewese feit verkondig en grootliks so aanvaar word. In hierdie artikel word daar bemoeienis gemaak met die implikasies wat die evolusieteorie vir die Christengeloof in besonder en vir die samelewing in die algemeen het. Drie take word in hierdie artikel onderneem. Die eerste is om aandag te skenk aan die vraag of die aanvaarding van die evolusieteorie, dit is, makroevolusie as skeppingsmetode, nie ? saak van geloof is nie soos wat dit met die aanvaarding van goddelike skepping is. Die tweede taak ontstaan vanuit die feit dat die outeur ? Christen is en dit belangrik ag om evolusie as skeppingsmetode op te weeg teen die eienskappe van die God van die Christen, soos Hy Homself in die Bybel openbaar. Die derde en finale taak is die onderneming van ? analitiese bespreking van algemene sosiale implikasies wat vanuit die evolusionisme logies voortvloei.

The South African state prescribes evolutionism in public schools, which is understandable, because the theory of evolution is promulgated, and widely accepted, as scientifically proven fact. This article is concerned with the implications that the theory of evolution has for the Christian faith in particular and for society in general. Three tasks are undertaken in this article. The first is the task of addressing the question whether acceptance of the theory of evolution, that is, macroevolution as creative method, is not a matter of faith as is the acceptance of divine creation. The second task flows from the fact that the author is a Christian and therefore feels it important to weigh evolution as a method of creation against the attributes of the God of the Christian as He reveals Himself in the Bible. The third and final task is an analytical discussion of general social implications that issue forth logically from evolutionism.