4.3 - origins and values of human life

• darwins theory of evolution

  • after earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago, combination of gases made life forms
  • genetic structure of offspring contained some mutations which better adapted them to live in environment, more likely to survive (survival of the fittest)
  • this led to vegetation, invertebrate animals, vertebrate animals, humans

  this was called natural selection
• evidence for eevolution

  • fossil records found by paleontologists
  • genetics showing connections between dinosaurs and crocodiles
  • genetics show a connection between humans and vegetables
• why evolution causes issues for christians

  • challenges authority of the bible (if evolution is right, genesis is wrong)
  • if humans weren't created by god, purpose of life is for humans to decide not god (no sanctity of life)
  • if evolution is true, there was no such thing as original sin (no need for salvation or atonement in death of jesus)
  • christians believe that humans have a soul because they were made in the image of god, but its impossible if evolution happened
• how christians respond to evolution

  • creationists reject evolution - fossils are remains of animal life from noah's flood
  • life is too complex to have evolved naturally - needed help from someone with power, divine help
  • god made the universe in a way which evolution could happen
  • catholics have no opposition with evolution