Evolution? What do you mean by that?

 The term "evolution" has become politically charged. Some Christians have (wrongly, in my opinion) demonized the word and figuratively "blow their top" at the mention of the word. However, the word doesn't always mean the same thing. In this article I will attempt to show three different definitions that the word "evolution" could mean.

Definition one: Evolution could mean, simply, "change over time". I don't think anyone thinking rationally would argue that this type of evolution occurs on a regular basis. For instance, my two sons are different than both me and my wife. In the broadest sense, they have "evolved" from their immediate ancestors. In fact, virtually everything evolves. I have evolved. I did not always look exactly as I do now, or even hold the exact same views as I do now. Cities evolve, the weather evolves... you get the point.

Definition two: Evolution could be used to indicate microevolution, or adaptation. This might also be called "variation within kind". One of the best examples of microevolution is the domesticated dog. From the Great Dane to the Chihuahua, all domesticated dogs share a common ancestor, a wolf-like creature. There is a great amount of variability between the different breeds. However, there are limits. There is only so much plasticity in the dog genome. Firstly, they are all still dogs. In addition, even through the most rigorous selective breeding, it seems that dogs can't be forced to get much smaller than a chihuahua, or much larger than a great dane. Also, these extremes and the selective breeding process have introduced chronic health problems, especially in the extremely small and large breeds, and in those breeds that have been bred to look very different from a "standard" dog (such as english bulldogs).

More examples of microevolution include "Darwin's finches", the various types of finches found on the Galapagos Islands. These finches can have a variety of beak shapes and sizes, based on what the main food source on their particular island is. These variations are observable in nature and uncontroversial.

Definition three: Evolution is sometimes used to indicate macroevolution, or neo-Darwinian evolution (NDE). This usage of the term "evolution" connotates evolution from chemicals interacting in the early stages of the earth all the way up to the amazing variety of plants and animals we see on earth today, including all the extinct plants and animals and mankind. This, according to the theory, is accomplished by natural selection acting on random mutation. This is the definition that most Christians balk at, and with good reasons (even if some of those who balk might not realize those reasons).

One major reason is that NDE assumes abiogenesis, or life from non-life. The naturalistic worldview of those who hold this view requires that life arose from some collection of chemicals on the early earth. However, this is implausible at best, as discussed in three prior articles I wrote, The (Not-So) Simple Life, The Origin of Life: Programming, and The Origin of Life: A Pause for Clarity. There are other gaps in the NDE general theory as well. I hope to be able to flesh out some of these problems with NDE in future articles. 

Here's the bottom line: Christians don't need to be scared of evolution. We should, however, be informed on the subject. Thank you for taking time to read my article and may God bless you.