Evolution & Religion

Religious Studies: KS3, topic 2.5.7

Evolution and Religion

Evolution is a challenge to religion. Evolution disagrees with the religious account of creation.

In the account of creation in the Book of Genesis, it says that God made men and women in his own image.
They were created separately from animals and were the high point of creation.
Everything else in creation was created for the benefit of humans. Water to drink, food to eat, the moon and stars to give light and warmth.
Many Christians believe that only human beings are special in having an immortal soul.
And that, when human's bodies die, they enjoy eternal life with God.

But now it appears that God did not create human beings especially.
And that, far from being unique, they are just the most complex of evolved species.
It could be said that a pillar upon which Christianity is based collapsed.
And, that scientific evidence has disproved religious belief.

There are Christians for whom evolution is an impossible problem.
When forced to choose between science and faith, they choose faith and say that science is wrong.
But, there are Christians who say that their beliefs and the science of evolution can agree.
The Catholic Church accepts that humans evolved.
But it also teaches that human beings are still the summit of God’s creation. This is because they are given an immortal soul by God.