Counsel #10 — Theistic Evolution (TE)

Picture: Counsel #10 — Theistic Evolution (Te)CSe 35.1

There is another type of creation story preferred by people who are hesitant to move so far away from the conventional understanding of earth history. Different versions of this story exist, but they share confidence in the radiometric dating method, accepted within the naturalistic philosophy. Theistic evolution (TE) is a common version of this viewpoint. According to this theory God used the evolutionary process to gradually form types of animals and plants over the 540-million-year span of time since the beginning of the Cambrian period — humans being the last species to evolve. Although TE doesn’t require so much dependence on chance, it does explain pre-historic evidence essentially the same as naturalistic evolution theory. It differs only in allowing God to be involved in the process. It is still the conventional evolution theory, but with God helping it along.^{[34]https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1992/01/theistic-evolution}CSe 35.2

“It is important for you to understand what will happen in the last days. People will laugh at you. They will live following the evil they want to do. They will say, “Jesus promised to come again. Where is he? Our fathers have died, but the world continues the way it has been since it was made.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4 ERVCSe 35.3

“Inferences erroneously drawn from facts observed in nature have, however, led to supposed conflict between science and revelation; and in the effort to restore harmony, interpretations of Scripture have been adopted that undermine and destroy the force of the word of God. Ellen White in Education, p. 128.2CSe 35.4

Reflect: Do you think lack of faith in God’s Word plays a role in TE supporters’ conclusions?CSe 35.5