I’m agnostic…on evolution

As a Christian, I believe God created.  In fact even when I go through periods when my faith is at a low ebb, that remains a fixed point.  But I am agnostic on HOW He created: considering Who we’re talking about, I assume he could do it in 7 days and give it all appearance of being ancient, or he could use the process of evolution, or he could guide the process closely over long ages.  I see no point in restricting the viewpoints Christians may hold as to HOW our Creator created, how long it took, what mechanisms he may have employed, etc.

Some people believe that a faithful reading of the creation accounts in the biblical book of Genesis require us to accept one working theory and reject all others.  In-house this view is called “young earth creationism” and it is what is most often in the cross-hairs when people put down Christians’ beliefs.  I — and many other Christians across the spectrum from conservative to liberal — see several other explanations that are not at odds with Christianity, and don’t agree that Genesis must be read that particular way.

I’m grateful to my middle son for introducing me to the work of Dr. Francis Collins, who heads the Human Genome Project and recently has written and spoken on science and faith as a Christian who believes God created through means of evolution.  Dr. Collins has founded an organization, BioLogos, through which to participate in the “culture war” discussions about science and faith.  They have unveiled a lovely new website and I appreciate what they’re trying to do.