As the principal of a Christian School within the independent sector, I am often contacted by the media. One of the issues that regularly crops up is their request for me to become involved in the ongoing debate about evolution and creation. Unsurprisingly, even Richard Dawkins spent time grilling us on our views for his documentary "The Root of All Evil". During the times when myself and the school are not sought out by the media, we rarely think about Darwin or evolution.
From what I know of Darwin he was a good family man, doing interesting research; however what is very important to me is what people really think about who they are. We are still in the realms of theory as to how and why. Today some people tend to be more dogmatic and totally convinced, as is Richard Dawkins, when maybe we ought not to be so proud of our certainties.
My opinion is if the Bible is correct, (and I believe it to be so) then our thoughts are the things that mould us and make us, as we think in our hearts so we are - Proverbs 23:7 - our thinking is that which generates the way we act. So, if we think that the universe is some mechanical process, then we tend to treat people like a machine; if we think that we are just an animal then, we tend to treat each other like animals.
It seems to me that Hitler believed that Darwin's view of how life worked was correct and much more than theory. From this belief he decided, "well then, let me speed up the process and create an evolutionary jump and make the master race." We know the results!
If, on the other hand, we believe that there is a mind behind our universe, and that we are created in the image of God then surely that thinking would encourage us to treat one another with dignity and respect. Richard Dawkins' argument with me on TV was that he was more honourable than me as he did not need a God to stop him from pillaging and raping; his implication being that I did! My problem with that argument is that one person cannot negate what is going on in the world; the great swathes of destruction and man's inhumanity to man. Our thinking that we can play God, and our devaluation of each other, is a daily fact whatever Mr. Dawkins may think.
So what do I think of Darwin? Interesting theories; but believing them to be totally correct without criticism and debate will lead to dangerous thought.
As the principal of a Christian School within the independent sector, I am often contacted by the media. One of the issues that regularly crops up is their request for me to become involved in the ongoing debate about evolution and creation. Unsurprisingly, even Richard Dawkins spent time grilling us on our views for his documentary "The Root of All Evil". During the times when myself and the school are not sought out by the media, we rarely think about Darwin or evolution.
From what I know of Darwin he was a good family man, doing interesting research; however what is very important to me is what people really think about who they are. We are still in the realms of theory as to how and why. Today some people tend to be more dogmatic and totally convinced, as is Richard Dawkins, when maybe we ought not to be so proud of our certainties.
My opinion is if the Bible is correct, (and I believe it to be so) then our thoughts are the things that mould us and make us, as we think in our hearts so we are - Proverbs 23:7 - our thinking is that which generates the way we act. So, if we think that the universe is some mechanical process, then we tend to treat people like a machine; if we think that we are just an animal then, we tend to treat each other like animals.
It seems to me that Hitler believed that Darwin's view of how life worked was correct and much more than theory. From this belief he decided, "well then, let me speed up the process and create an evolutionary jump and make the master race." We know the results!
If, on the other hand, we believe that there is a mind behind our universe, and that we are created in the image of God then surely that thinking would encourage us to treat one another with dignity and respect. Richard Dawkins' argument with me on TV was that he was more honourable than me as he did not need a God to stop him from pillaging and raping; his implication being that I did! My problem with that argument is that one person cannot negate what is going on in the world; the great swathes of destruction and man's inhumanity to man. Our thinking that we can play God, and our devaluation of each other, is a daily fact whatever Mr. Dawkins may think.
So what do I think of Darwin? Interesting theories; but believing them to be totally correct without criticism and debate will lead to dangerous thought.
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