An Evolutionary God?

[Greg Crawford]

Having a passionate interest and involvement in astronomy I have little time for the theories of Creationists. Nevertheless, I was interested to read an article in a Seventh Day Adventist magazine sent free to pastors of all denominations called “Ministry”. The magazine contained an article by Norman R. Gulley entitled, “Is the Genesis Creation account literal?”   Gulley raises some points which I easily dismiss as symptoms of Biblical fundamentalism. However, he makes a point about the nature of a God who would create in evolutionary ways. Gully quotes Northwestern University scientist, David Hull, as saying that the evolutionary process is “rife with happenstance, contingency, incredible waste, death, pain and horror. … The God implied by evolutionary theory and the data of natural history … is not a loving God who cares about His productions. He is … careless, indifferent, almost diabolical. He is certainly not the kind of God to whom anyone would be inclined to pray.” Gulley himself later writes, “Why would God use an unjust “survival of the fittest” method to create when justice is the foundation of His throne (Ps. 89:14)?”   From the point of view of science, I would have problems not accepting an evolutionary development over billions of years. However, perhaps Gulley raises an important theological point. So I would be interested in the points of view of list members in response. The view of God as creator which we have is important because redemption “in Christ” is understood as a new creation, another creation ex nihilo, in the New Testament. Greg Crawford http://www.nelsonbay.com/~gc/observatory.htm