Extract

T he intent of this chapter is to consider an evolutionary creationist process for the origin of humanity.* As the analysis unfolds, a number of broadly interrelated issues are explored in an inte- grated, synthesized manner. A major premise is that a fundamental con- gruity exists between what the Lord has revealed in nature (i.e. the book of God’s work) and in Scripture (i.e. the book of God’s Word; cf. Bube 1971:124–125; Carlson and Longman 2010:132; Ciobotea 2008:7; Driscoll and Breshears 2010:80, 103; Ingram 1965:73; MacKay 1974:226, 236, 242; McMullin 1993:304, 328–329; Polkinghorne 2009:173; Rhodes 1965:45– 46; Schaab 2008:10–11; Sprinkle 2010:5; Tracy 2008:108). A corollary sup- position is that “faith in God as Creator can be consistent with an evolutionary understanding of the history of the universe and particu- larly life on Earth” (Baker and Miller 2006:169). The preceding postu- lates are the basis for considering an evolutionary creationist process for the origin of humanity that is in agreement with both the biblical and scientific data (cf. Attfield 2006:115, 121, 210; Day 2009:118–120; Rana and Ross 2005:43–51, 247–250). Concededly, this is being done from the perspective of a specialist in biblical and theological studies, whose treatment of the subject will tend to be exploratory and provi- sional in nature. That said, it is possible for even a non-scientist to make a useful and pertinent contribution to the present...