Religious Responses to Evolution
This page summarizes the widely-ranging responses to evolution found in various religious communities. Where possible, I have used official web pages, and have looked for official statements from the various religious groups. In some cases, I have referenced commentaries by individuals, which may or may not represent the official (or even predominate) position of their religion. I have made an effort to include the world's major faiths, as well as the largest religious organizations in the United States, as listed by Adherents.com. Based on what I read from the internet sources, I have listed some general classifications:
This is a rough classification, and it should not be assumed that the groups listed in the same category have precisely the same views, or that all members of a given group have the same point of view. In some cases, the classification was a judgment call. The nuances of some statements may be important. Many groups make a distinction between biological evolution per se, and "naturalistic" evolution which ignores or excludes a creator. You are encouraged to read the source material and draw your own conclusions. Also, please keep in mind that the content of some web pages may have changed since I read them.
Religious groups more or less open to evolution:
I have included in this category groups whose web pages include positive responses to evolution, even if some members or clergy have differing viewpoints. Groups in this category do not generally "believe in" evolution as a matter of faith, but they (or many of their members) do express some openness to evolution as a possible mechanism of creation.
The Anglican Communion
In an interview, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams stated his opposition to teaching of creationism in school and stated that in his view, science is compatible with religion. The Archbishop is the leader of the Church of England and of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion consists of more than 40 Episcopal and Anglican denominations worldwide, including the Episcopal Church, USA. In the interview, the Archbishop said, "I think creationism is, in a sense, a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory like other theories. "Whatever the biblical account of creation is, it's not a theory alongside theories. It's not as if the writer of Genesis or whatever sat down and said, 'Well, how am I going to explain all this?'. . . For most of the history of Christianity, there's been an awareness that a belief that everything depends on the creative act of God is quite compatible with a degree of uncertainty or latitude about how precisely that unfolds in creative time" The Baha'i Faith
Baha'i teachings on the unity of religion and science indicate that Baha'is would be open to scientific explanations. A web page on the "Destiny of Mankind" appears to take human evolution as a given. The writings of 'Abdu'l Baha include extensive commentary on science and religion. Buddhism
A web page entitled, "Buddhism, evolution, and 'Intelligent design'" states, "There is no conflict between the Buddha's teachings and the scientific view of how the world has evolved. On the other hand, there is a blatant conflict between the doctrine of ``creationism'' that is espoused by some Christian sects that fear to be exposed to scientific truth, on the one hand, and the teachings of the Buddha, on the other." Another web pates states, "Buddhist philosophy is evolutionary and thus agrees with the scientists rather than the [creationist] theologians. Buddha taught that all things are impermanent, constantly arising, becoming, changing and fading." Church of England
According to this article in the New York Times, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, is opposed to teaching creationism in schools. The Archbishop stated, "I think creationism is, in a sense, a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory like other theories. "Whatever the biblical account of creation is, it's not a theory alongside theories. It's not as if the writer of Genesis or whatever sat down and said, 'Well, how am I going to explain all this?'. . . For most of the history of Christianity, there's been an awareness that a belief that everything depends on the creative act of God is quite compatible with a degree of uncertainty or latitude about how precisely that unfolds in creative time" Conservative Judaism
A search of the web page of the Jewish Theological Seminary revealed an article by Chancellor Ismar Schorsch which states that, "The Torah's story of creation is not intended as a scientific treatise, worthy of equal time with Darwin's theory of evolution in the curriculum of our public schools." The Episcopal Church, USA
The Episcopal Catechism of Creation has extensive commentary on science and evolution and how they fit with Christian theology. The following are excerpts from the catechism: “Theories are not mere guesses or hypotheses, as people often suppose. When enough evidence supports a hypothesis that has been created to explain some facts of nature, it becomes a theory. A theory is a well-established concept that is confirmed by further scientific discoveries and is able to predict new discoveries. . . Biological evolution is a web of theories strongly supported by observations and experiments. It fits in with what we know about the physical evolution of the universe, and has been confirmed by evidence gathered from the remains of extinct species and from the forms and environments of living species.” “Clergy and scientists from both the Catholic and Evangelical traditions in Anglicanism have accepted evolution from Darwin’s time to the present.” “Many Christians have been taught to believe that evolution is opposed to creation, and that a believer cannot accept evolution and also believe in God. Neither of these assertions is true.” A statement by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold is open to the idea of evolution. The statement concludes, "The divine creativity can be equally proclaimed in both the creation stories and the theory of evolution." Another page on the Episcopal website includes differing points of view by a member of the clergy, and an official at an Episcopal seminary. Their comments are followed by commentary by readers. The Rev. Franklin Vilas (a member of the national church's Working Group on Science, Technology and Faith), says, "Is it possible to believe in God as creator and also to accept the scientific findings about the life process expressed in the theory of evolution?" To this question I would answer with a resounding "yes!" David Mills, director of publishing at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, is less enthusiastic. Mills responds to the question, "Are evolution and creationism equally valid beliefs?" by stating that "the answer to the question is: maybe". A 1982 resolution of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church states: "that the 67th General Convention affirm the glorious ability of God to create in any manner, whether men understand it or not, and in this affirmation reject the limited insight and rigid dogmatism of the "Creationist" movement...and ... that the Presiding Bishop appoint a Committee to organize Episcopalians and to cooperate with all Episcopalians to encourage actively their state legislators not to be persuaded by arguments and pressures of the "Creationists" into legislating any form of "balanced treatment" laws or any law requiring the teaching of "Creation-science."" The Archbishop of Canterbury, worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion has stated his opposition to teaching creationism in schools. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The ELCA web page FAQ indicates that the church has no official position, but that, "God created the universe and all that is therein, only not necessarily in six 24-hour days, and that he may actually have used evolution in the process of creation." An article from the Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church takes a generally neutral position. The Encyclopedia is a publication of the Lutheran World Federation. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
In response to recent discussions regarding the teaching of evolution in public schools, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has placed on their web page a 1969 Theological Statement on the issue, indicating that, "Neither Scripture, our Confession of Faith, nor our Catechisms, teach the Creation of man by the direct and immediate acts of God so as to exclude the possibility of evolution as a scientific theory...Some form of evolutionary theory is accepted by the majority of modern scientists...We conclude that the true relation between the evolutionary theory and the Bible is that of non-contradiction" The 214th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), meeting in June 2002 approved a statement that "Reaffirms that God is Creator, in accordance with the witness of Scripture," and that "a natural explanation of the history of nature is fully compatible with the affirmation of God as Creator." The United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. [now part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)] issued statements in 1982 and 1983 opposing the teaching of creationism in public schools. A survey of Presbyterians indicated that a majority of church members, especially clergy, are "open to the possibility of evolution, at least in a general way." A more detailed explanation of the same survey discusses a number of scientific issues. Reform Judaism
The web page of the Union for Reform Judaism includes an article by Rabbi Richard Jacobs who states the following: "I [believe] the Genesis account of creation to be true, [and] I also [believe] the scientific theory of evolution to be true...Science is one of humanity's great truth traditions, and religion is another. The two have threatened each other since well before the theories of Charles Darwin were formulated. But they needn't be engaged in such a heated rivalry because their goals are so different. "Science can help us understand how the world was created, but it can't tell us why it was created. And religion has no business telling us how the world was created, but we desperately need it to help us understand why we're here." Resolutions passed by the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the American Jewish Congress oppose the teaching of creationism in public schools Roman Catholic Church
In a message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope John Paul II stated the following: "Before offering you several reflections that more specifically concern the subject of the origin of life and its evolution, I would like to remind you that the magisterium of the Church has already made pronouncements on these matters within the framework of her own competence...In his Encyclical Humani generis (1950), my predecessor Pius XII had already stated that there was no opposition between evolution and the doctrine of the faith about man and his vocation, on condition that one did not lose sight of several indisputable points... "Today, almost half a century after the publication of the encyclical, new knowledge has led to the recognition of the theory of evolution as more than a hypothesis. It is indeed remarkable that this theory has been progressively accepted by researchers, following a series of discoveries in various fields of knowledge. The convergence, neither sought nor fabricated, of the results of work that was conducted independently is in itself a significant argument in favor of this theory." The Pope's statement is discussed in an article by Mark Brumley and in an article by Stephen Jay Gould. A 2006 article in the Vatican newspaper states that “Intelligent design is not science and should not be taught as a scientific theory in schools alongside Darwinian evolution.” The Catholic Answers website has an article that states: "Concerning biological evolution, the Church does not have an official position on whether various life forms developed over the course of time. However, it says that, if they did develop, then they did so under the impetus and guidance of God, and their ultimate creation must be ascribed to him. Pope Benedict XVI has been asked to clarify the church’s position on evolution after comments critical of evolution by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna. Father George Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory has recently stated that “Evolution is not only compatible with Catholicism but also "reveals a God who made a universe that has within it a certain dynamism and thus participates in the very creativity of God” Dr. Kenneth R. Miller of Brown University, a Catholic professor of biology also responds to Cardinal Schönborn’s remarks. An article by George Sim Johnston discusses evolution from a Catholic perspective. Numerous other pertinent websites can be found by through a general search of the internet. Unitarian Universalist Association
Resolutions passed in 1977 and 1982 oppose the teaching of creationism in public schools. United Church of Christ
A UCC Minister is quoted as approving of the actions of a school board that rejected a plan to introduce creationism into the curriculum. United Methodist Church
In his response to the Draft Report of the Task Force on Science and Theology to the 2004 General Conference, W. Richard Turner states, "Evolution is a scientific fact, not someone's opinion or belief. Why cannot evolution be a part of an intelligent design? Wouldn't evolution be an extremely elegant and subtle way for God to accomplish God's purposes?" Rev. Phil Wogaman asks, "Did life evolve from one-celled organisms, as most scientists believe? Probably...Do the school children of Kansas and other states need to be spared exposure to the well-founded scientific theory of evolution? That theory is not inconsistent with the religious doctrine of creation. It is not about whether God created the world, but about how." (It is stated that Rev. Wogaman's commentary does not necessarily represent the official view of the United Methodist Church.) In 1984, the Iowa Annual Conference passed a resolution opposing "efforts to introduce 'Scientific' creationism into the science curriculum of the public schools." Methodist internet resources on evolution can be found at this web page, and a search of the Church web site will give a a variety of materials. Other Clergy and Groups
More than 10,000 Christian clergy have signed An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science, supporting evolution as a “foundational scientific truth.” The text of the letter follows: “Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts. “We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as “one theory among others” is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children. We believe that among God’s good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator. To argue that God’s loving plan of salvation for humanity precludes the full employment of the God-given faculty of reason is to attempt to limit God, an act of hubris. We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge. We ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.” More than 75 articles and sermons from clergy supporting evolution can be found |
