Examining Evolution

I (as TruthAnchor1 on Disqus) have been involved in some lively chats regarding my examining evolution. There is a lot of misunderstanding on both sides of the discussion, so I think it would be a good thing if we start by examining evolution from the very beginning  – the theory of how life originated. That sounds like a pretty basic thing to start with, but if you don’t understand the basics then everything else you think you know will be subject to error and even more misunderstanding! In examining evolution we first need to agree on one thing, and that one thing is this, “What do people mean when they talk about evolution?”

First Things First

The first thing people think of when you mention evolution is that life started as a collection of basic elements in a primordial sea. Somehow, the conditions were just right for these elements to merge, and then merge with other elements, and then these new chemical compounds started copying themselves in ever-increasing complexity. At some point, these compounds then started to become organized into self-replicating proteins, became sheathed in a lipid membrane, and then (as a complete unit) started to produce other units. That process then repeated itself over and over until a living cell formed, which then led to all life on this planet. That process begins with what is called abiogenesis and, in a nutshell, it’s what nearly everyone thinks of when you mention evolution.

Why is it important to understand how people think of evolution? Evolution, for virtually everyone who believes it, stands upon the notion of abiogenesis. It is taught as scientific fact in public schools, beginning in elementary classes and continuing on through secondary education. It is pictured and diagrammed in scientific journals in vivid detail. It is written about in popular fiction (and non-fiction!) as if it were an unquestioned reality.  It’s portrayed in movies and theater as the truth of life’s origin. But the question everyone should ask is, “Is evolution factual from the very beginning, or is it just a theory?”

The Way People Think

If abiogenesis is possible then evolution the way people think of it is possible. If abiogenesis is impossible then evolution the way people think of it is impossible. Examining evolution is how we find out which one of those statements is true, but it all starts before the exam with the way people think.

There are plenty of people I’ve had chats with who think evolution is true, yet they all – to a person – try to separate the word evolution from the meaning of evolution the way people think of it. They try to make the case that evolution is distinct from abiogenesis and sometimes become verbally abusive in doing so, but that is intellectual dishonesty. In virtually all respects and circumstances the two concepts are fused together in everyone’s mind.

Why is it important to understand how people think of evolution? It’s because what you think or believe about something will influence how you receive information about it. If someone has a frame of mind which excludes or alters the facts concerning conflicting information then it is termed confirmation bias. Unfortunately, confirmation (or confirmatory) bias is sometimes held on both sides of the debate.

Confirmation Bias In Action

Some people believe that the Word of God is true simply because they believe it. They don’t know of any evidence that what they believe is true other than the Bible itself. While faith in the Word is appropriate, there are times when a believer is confronted with new information that shakes their faith. Why do those folks have their faith shaken? It’s because their faith doesn’t have any evidence to counter the new information they received. For that reason, many young adults who go to college lose faith in God and turn to evolution as the answer. That is tragic.

Some people believe science has proven beyond all doubt that evolution is real and therefore conclude that there is no God. When presented with information that would seriously challenge that frame of mind they refuse to acknowledge the evidence, shifting to some form of straw man argument (like the ‘distinction’ between evolution and abiogenesis). I have no doubt that they may be sincere, but I have yet to have a conversation with someone who acknowledges the fact that evolution and abiogenesis is inextricably linked together. That is also tragic.

This is Part One of a multi-part series. Keep watch for the next installment!