Understanding how the theory of evolution works and building a foundation upon a biblical worldview is vital to the Christian's life. In apologetic terms, the Christian should be aware of the dangers of the theory of evolution and how it cannot be tied into Christianity, against what the cult of Christian Science would believe. We'll examine what makes up a biblical worldview as well as breaking apart the different areas of the worldview assessment. To complete the worldview assessment for yourself, the link has been provided below.
Biblical Foundations for A Comprehensive Worldview
The Biblical Worldview Indicator©, a worldview assessment by Kendall Hunt Publishing, displayed a biblical worldview upon taking the exam. Ideologies encompassing the resulted worldview are interconnected along a figurative wheel. The categories include ontology, cosmology, eschatology, axiology, praxeology, and epistemology.
Breaking Apart the Worldview Assessment Categories: Ontology and Praxeology
Ontology is the study of reality, primarily concerned with how humans cognitively understand the world in the physical and social aspects. [1] The disposition of reality in the social and physical aspects of the world is corrupted by depravity, a clear mark of sin. Sin corrupted nature, but it did not alter processes already ordained by God.
“So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate . . .” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Genesis 3:6).
The erosion of goodness due to sin is contrasted in the same chapter, verse 17:
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Genesis 3:17).
The mark of sin had weaved itself into all of creation and thus everything was corrupted in its nature. Axiology, therefore, is a study of the nature of good and evil [2] and the perception of these two ideas:
“And we thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of god, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but at what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
This passage shows that humanity can be spared spiritually from God’s wrath and eternal punishment due to corruption, being justified to God first and then sanctified with God. This sanctification process reveals depravity due to sin.
Praxeology is a study based on the function of morality and the implications of actions based on values and ethics [3]. The common issue all secular ethical theories have in common is the lack of specificity of the origin of sin and goodness. Ethical relativism, virtue ethics, natural law ethics, ethical egoism, utilitarianism, and duty ethics do not make the distinction that because of sin humanity tries to reason away from God. Breaking Apart the Worldview Assessment Categories: Cosmology
Cosmology, likewise, is the study of origin both scientifically and non-scientifically relating to human existence and the formation of the universe[1]. Historical evidence in the Bible regarding the origin of the universe and humanity permeates into the following studies of cosmology, eschatology, axiology, praxeology, and epistemology:
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Genesis 1:26).
The origin story of creation and sin need to be understood which will lead to realizing common issues regarding morality and ethics if the gaps left by secular ethical theories are to be closed indefinitely. This research exposes holes in the widely accepted Darwinian evolution theory. Evolution is a “scientific theory that holds that present life forms have developed from a preexisting species through a series of modifications governed by laws of natural selection and diversification of species” (George, Kelly, & Piferi, 2014, p. 45).
Evolution and Creationism: The Debate On the Origin of Species
Evolution and Creationism with the authority of scripture will never be able to thrive in the same belief system. The account of creation strips evolution of any scientific integrity in just Genesis 1:11-12, 20-22, 24-26 alone by the mention of God creating vegetation and animals according to their own kind. Likewise, humans do not give birth to animals, and each species of vegetation and animal does not replicate any other kind other than itself.
Although the definition of evolution is stripped of integrity, this passage of scripture shows that species can adapt into species like its own kind and illustrates that through the process of genetics there can be mutations aided by the process of natural selection For example, if a breed of short-haired dog was put into a cold environment it will either die or begin to form characteristics that will enable it to thrive in its different environment. The difference here is that this process does not support evolution, but rather devolution.
David Gelernter, Professor of Computer Science at Yale University mentioned in his article regarding evolution that math works against the evolution theory:
“the odds against blind Darwinian chance having turned up even one mutation with the potential to push evolution forward are x (1/)— tries, where your odds of success each time are 1 in 1077—which equals 1 in 1037. In practical terms, those odds are still zero. . .” (George, Kelly, & Piferi, 2014, p. 46).
Evolution cannot be conducted using the scientific process as the results cannot be replicated in nature and therefore evolution does not equate to a wholesome scientific theory.
Breaking Apart the Worldview Assessment Categories: Eschatology and Epistemology
Eschatology is a study concerned with the direction of the human species and the universe[1]. Those who die in body who have not been made spiritually alive in Christ will be separated from Him in eternity:
“But nothing unclean will ever enter into it (heaven), nor anyone whose does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the lamb’s book of life” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Revelation 21:27)
Finally, epistemology is a study geared toward proving the validity of human logic and reason of which is used to understand society and the universe[2]. “Epistemology is the theory of knowledge; it deals with how we know things and questions related to belief and truth” (Jones, 2017, p. 94). The constructs of these ideological studies form the basis of a worldview, with higher results showing a biblical worldview and lower results showing a secular worldview.
The Biblical Worldview Assessment Indicator Sphere Regarding a Biblical Worldview
Understanding the world and human nature filtered through both a biblical and scientific lens ensures not only validity, but reliability in research due to the removal of research and editorial bias. Deconstructing the Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment© into smaller term portion allows the investigation of common secular debate pertaining to reality, origins, future predictions of the human species, good and evil, morality and actions, and reason. In short, origins and reality explained without an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, objectively moral Creator leaves reality, origins of humanity and the universe, as well as morality and reason in not only disarray but merely the result of chaotic processes with no intelligent design. The latter has been beyond adequately proven to be false and is not plausible.
For more articles like this one, please see the below publications:
The God of Perfect Holiness
Mirrored Touch Synesthesia
Attributes of God: Omnipotent Creator
Finding Biblical Purpose
The Account of the Exodus
The Myth Complex Part 2
Footnotes:
[1] “Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment” by Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021, p.3. Used with Permission
[2] Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment” by Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021, p.6. Used with Permission
[1] Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment” by Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021, p.2. Used with Permission
[1] “Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment” by Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021, p.1. Used with Permission
[2] “Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment” by Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021, p.4. Used with Permission
[3] Biblical Worldview Indicator Assessment” by Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2021, p.5. Used with Permission