Can Christianity and Evolution Be Reconciled: An Overview of the Challenges
There is, in my view, no greater threat to traditional Christian belief than that posed by the Theory of Evolution*. Why? Because evolution, as we currently understand it, seems not only to undermine a literal interpretation of the early chapters of Genesis (as is readily apparent to most), but also challenges the theological conclusions that most Christians draw from the Genesis narrative, even when it is taken as myth, metaphor, or allegory. The problem is particularly acute when dealing with the New Testament's references to Adam and Eve, and is perhaps most problematic in Paul's discussion in Romans 5:12-21, which seems on its face to treat Adam as a literal first human, the father of humanity, and the source of original sin and death that each of his offspring inherited. Traditional Christian Faith Before getting into the challenges evolution presents, I want to lay down the parts of traditional Christian belief that are relevant to the challenges. While not every Christia...