On Faith blogger Brad Hirschfield argues that the terms of engagement in the creation/evolution battle need to change:
We can start with the phrase “believe in evolution,” commonly used by so many including those reporting about the recent survey in England. Using the same word to describe faith in God and support for a scientific theory strikes me as foolish and pernicious. It’s bad for both science and faith, creating a false dichotomy between the two positions—one which serves nobody but a small group of culture warriors dedicated to making our public culture as stupid and ugly as possible.
How can one use identical language to describe the decision to follow a particular spiritual path which is necessarily beyond scientific testing, and the decision to rely on a theory which is the product of such ongoing testing? We may use the same word, but are they really the same kind of belief?
The theory of evolution is just that: the best possible explanation possessed by science after years of testing and inquiry, which explains the process of biological development and differentiation. It makes no claims about the meaning or purpose of that process and represents no necessary threat to faith in God or in the eternal truth of a revealed scripture, if that happens to be one’s belief.
Like all scientific theories, and unlike religious faith, those who support the theory of evolution are prepared to dump it for something better at any moment. In fact, scientific breakthroughs occur when past theories are disproved more than when they are confirmed. It’s the exact opposite of religious truth, which is premised on immutable truths which can/must not give way.
Read his full post here.