Origins of Life Flashcards
Intro
Life has been debated for many years and there are a number of differing views and some compatibility.
P1: Point
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
P1: Explanation
Evolution is when living organisms evolve from earlier, more simple organisms. Charles Darwin (1809–1882) - believes in many small changes overtime.
Relies on natural selection and results in strongest organisms that are best suited for the conditions in which they are living surviving.
Overtime two major groups. Two evolved separately to
become species today. Members of one group were great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, etc).
Other group evolved differently becoming terrestrial, meaning they live on land - humans.
P1: Evidence
St Helena Bay, South Africa, 2010. Archaeologist Andrew Smith at University of Cape Town. The DNA he carries is genetically “older” than ours because mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother. Used to trace how much it has changed and identify branches in human evolution.
This shows importance of fossil record in evolution. The abundance of fossils of extinct species suggests gradual development over time.
Supports evolution, which states that simple life forms gradually evolved into more complex ones.
P1: Link
Evolution, therefore, is the scientific explanation of how life on earth developed. There was a natural process based on the survival of the fittest and natural selection.
P1: Evaluation
I think that this idea of life developing over millions of years is reasonable.
I think that there is no need for a Godlike being suggests not compatible.
There is hard evidence for evolution in the fossil record and DNA whereas, there is no evidence for a Godlike being.
P2: Point
Literal Christians read the Bible.
Consider the Bible to be word of God and should be read as a literal account of how life came into existence.
You cannot pick and choose which parts of the bible are true.
P2: Explanation
Genesis chapter 1 - logical and ordered account to the six days of creation where God speaks things into being. Gradual development from vegetation, to fish, to birds and other animals and humans.
Humans, highest form of life, the ‘Image of God’.
Genesis 2 also describes how God created human life – from the dust of the ground and woman was created last from the rib of the man.
P2: Evidence
John Whitcomb “What God recorded in Genesis is absolutely perfect!” Shows that he supports the 6 literal days as the way life was created.
For literal Christian’s they hold a literal interpretation of Genesis by rejecting scientific explanations - God planted the evidence to test people’s faith.
For example, the age of the rock strata is seen to be irrelevant.
There in no mention of evolution in the bible so Darwin’s theory and natural selection would not be true to them.
P2: Link
Literal Christians, see no compatibility with the scientific views.
Prof Whitcomb also stated “there is no 67th book of divinely inspired revelation, namely, modern science, to tell us how God really created the world! Such thinking threatens the entire Word of God.”
P2: Evaluation
I think this is a weak response to science because there is so much evidence for evolution - you cannot simply refute it without reason. Therefore, the creationist response to evolution is not compatible.
P3: Point
William Paley’s argument of God as a cosmic designer.
P3: Explanation
Paley compares a watch with the universe.
The world is very complex – weather, gravity, etc. So are its organisms, perfectly suited to their environments.
Such complexity and harmony could not have just appeared randomly.
There had to be an intelligent ‘world-maker’ who designed this universe and all life with a
purpose in mind.
Must be God, as God is the only being out-with the universe, and is the only intelligent, powerful and loving creator.
P3: Evidence
William Paley’s Teleological Argument
“You would examine it and see that it is very complex – glass, cogs, a chain, etc. You would conclude that such an object could not have just appeared randomly, or have just existed forever, but that someone must have made it.” This suggests
P3: Link
This suggests there is little compatibility as God is put forward as the sole designer with little room for the evolutionary process.
P3: Evaluation
I think this is flawed to attempt to seek a find a Godlike being as the sole reason for life.
David Hume wrote 23 years prior, from his perspective, the argument produces what can only be considered a very limited God. The fact that the world has so many imperfectionists points to an ‘infant deity’, rather than a superior designer.
It can take many people to design and build something that is sophisticated in its operation. Why should we not also conclude that there are many gods?
P3: Conclusion
In conclusion, we can see that there is some compatibility on the origins of life, but the idea of God as sole creator is flawed.
I would suggest the views are based on two separate questions. Science asks How did life occur? and Religion asks Why is their life?
Naturally there are different answers to their different questions and perhaps we will never know for certain which view is correct or whether both theories show a different aspect of the origins of life.
