SCIENCE FOR BIBLE BELIEVERS
Evolution
The Theory of Evolution
Now that I have led you through three inaccurate versions of the theory of evolution, you only have to take one more step to reach the true theory. And it is this: The
average of each characteristic in a group of
creatures that can interbreed changes from one generation to the next. Now, if you want to argue that this is not true, you must think that the average height of all of the people in your parents’ generation is exactly the same as the average height of everybody in your generation. You also think that the percentage of people in your parents’ generation that have blue eyes is exactly the same as that percentage in your generation. In addition, in your mind, this must be true for all other eye colors and all blood types. Although I’d have a very hard time proving that this is wrong, I sincerely hope that you don’t need any convincing. Common sense says that the theory of evolution is true.
As you can see, the word “random” is not found in the definition of the theory of evolution. The word “evolution” simply means change. It says that there is change from one generation to the next. But it doesn’t say anything about
how characteristics of
creatures change. There are many ways that this might happen. The theory of evolution allows for the possibility that characteristics change randomly. Or creatures might evolve via genetic mutations. And the theory of evolution doesn’t contradict the possibility that the average height of humans continually decreases by one millimeter from each generation to the next, and eventually people will disappear.
Another way that the changes might occur is by the process of natural selection. Since natural selection is the most popular explanation among scientists, when they talk about the theory of evolution by the process of natural selection, they sometimes abbreviate it as “the theory of evolution”. This is a source of confusion that might cause you to say ridiculous things like, “The theory of evolution is wrong.” So, for clarity, I won’t do that. I’ll always refer to the theory of evolution by the process of natural selection as “the theory of evolution by natural selection” or “evolution by natural selection”, and sometimes I’ll simply call it “
natural selection”.
The point of this chapter was to show you that when you say things like, “The theory of evolution is wrong,” you’re contradicting common sense, which is why
Job laughs at you. What you actually disagree with is the theory of evolution by natural selection, not the theory of evolution in general. So now, let’s talk about
natural selection.