Difference between revisions of "Evolution"

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==Books==
 
==Books==
 
* Bouteneff, Peter, ''Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives.'' Baker Academic, 2008. Provides Scriptural and patristic background for discussions of the doctrine of creation. Bouteneff is Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]]. [[Andrew Louth]] writes: "Bouteneff presents a carefully researched and scholarly reading of early Christian readings of the creation account in Genesis. What emerges is a range of interlocking insights into God's creative purpose and the human place in the cosmos. Genesis 1–3 is seen as neither a myth nor an outdated scientific account, but a poem of creation, yielding deeper meanings upon closer ponderings. Bouteneff unveils the often surprising riches of our patristic inheritance witha  rare intelligence and passion." ISBN 0801032332
 
* Bouteneff, Peter, ''Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives.'' Baker Academic, 2008. Provides Scriptural and patristic background for discussions of the doctrine of creation. Bouteneff is Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]]. [[Andrew Louth]] writes: "Bouteneff presents a carefully researched and scholarly reading of early Christian readings of the creation account in Genesis. What emerges is a range of interlocking insights into God's creative purpose and the human place in the cosmos. Genesis 1–3 is seen as neither a myth nor an outdated scientific account, but a poem of creation, yielding deeper meanings upon closer ponderings. Bouteneff unveils the often surprising riches of our patristic inheritance witha  rare intelligence and passion." ISBN 0801032332
 +
* Farley, Fr Lawrence, ''In the Beginning: The True Message of the Genesis Origin Stories.'' Ancient Faith Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781944967390. '''Compatibilist'''
 
* [[Patrick Henry Reardon|Reardon, Fr. Patrick Henry]], ''Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis.''  Conciliar Press, 2008. ISBN 9781888212969   
 
* [[Patrick Henry Reardon|Reardon, Fr. Patrick Henry]], ''Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis.''  Conciliar Press, 2008. ISBN 9781888212969   
 
:— According to the review by Fr. Hans Jacobse, editor of OrthodoxyToday.org, the author  writes that the structures of philosophical materialism (evolutionary theory and its flip-side, scientific creationism), both miss the point; that Genesis reveals that the creation is ''logo-centric'' -- it was created by the Word of God, and it is held together by the Word of God's power. The word of Scripture, then, is primarily a literary text, not history (itself a narrative) or a scientific tract.  
 
:— According to the review by Fr. Hans Jacobse, editor of OrthodoxyToday.org, the author  writes that the structures of philosophical materialism (evolutionary theory and its flip-side, scientific creationism), both miss the point; that Genesis reveals that the creation is ''logo-centric'' -- it was created by the Word of God, and it is held together by the Word of God's power. The word of Scripture, then, is primarily a literary text, not history (itself a narrative) or a scientific tract.  
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*[[George Metallinos|Metallinos]], V. Rev. Prof. Dr. George, [http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/patrology/metallinos_faith_and_science.htm "Faith and Science in Orthodox Gnosiology and Methodology"] Very briefly mentions evolution, but overall states the traditional Orthodox position of separation between divine and earthly knowledge.
 
*[[George Metallinos|Metallinos]], V. Rev. Prof. Dr. George, [http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/patrology/metallinos_faith_and_science.htm "Faith and Science in Orthodox Gnosiology and Methodology"] Very briefly mentions evolution, but overall states the traditional Orthodox position of separation between divine and earthly knowledge.
 
*Mileant, [[Alexander (Mileant) of Buenos Aires|Bishop Alexander of Buenos Aires]] and South America (ROCOR). ''[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/creation_man_a_mileant_e.htm The Origins of the World and Mankind: An Attempt to Reconcile the Biblical Account with Scientific Discoveries]''. Transl. by Karyn and Michael Grigoriev. Ed. by Natalia Semyanko. Holy Trinity Orthodox Mission, La Canada, California, 2004.  
 
*Mileant, [[Alexander (Mileant) of Buenos Aires|Bishop Alexander of Buenos Aires]] and South America (ROCOR). ''[http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/creation_man_a_mileant_e.htm The Origins of the World and Mankind: An Attempt to Reconcile the Biblical Account with Scientific Discoveries]''. Transl. by Karyn and Michael Grigoriev. Ed. by Natalia Semyanko. Holy Trinity Orthodox Mission, La Canada, California, 2004.  
 +
* Metropolitan Nicholas of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki, [http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2014/01/orthodox-bishop-answers-4-questions-on.html "An Orthodox Bishop Answers Four Questions on Science and the Theory of Evolution"] From the book ''Αν υπάρχει ζωή, θέλω να ζήσω'' (''If Life Exists, I Want To Live''). Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
 
*Nicozisin, Fr. George, [http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/dogmatics/nicozisin_creationism.htm "Creationism versus Evolution"]
 
*Nicozisin, Fr. George, [http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/dogmatics/nicozisin_creationism.htm "Creationism versus Evolution"]
 
*Smith, Allyne, [[H. Tristram Engelhardt|H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.]], Edward Hughes, and J. Henry, "Orthodoxy", in ''The History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition'' (2000): 268-273.
 
*Smith, Allyne, [[H. Tristram Engelhardt|H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.]], Edward Hughes, and J. Henry, "Orthodoxy", in ''The History of Science and Religion in the Western Tradition'' (2000): 268-273.
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*Bufeev, S. V, [http://www.creatio.orthodoxy.ru/sbornik/sbufeev_whynot_english.html "Why an Orthodox Christian cannot be an evolutionist"]
 
*Bufeev, S. V, [http://www.creatio.orthodoxy.ru/sbornik/sbufeev_whynot_english.html "Why an Orthodox Christian cannot be an evolutionist"]
 
*Christensen, Fr. Damascene, [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/enarticles/060222155510 "Interview with Fr. Damascene"] Hieromonk Damascene speaks about creation with reference to patristic literature.
 
*Christensen, Fr. Damascene, [http://www.pravoslavie.ru/enarticles/060222155510 "Interview with Fr. Damascene"] Hieromonk Damascene speaks about creation with reference to patristic literature.
* Dominick, Jesse [https://www.academia.edu/6326926/A_Patristic_Perspective_on_a_Crucified_Mind_Fr._Seraphim_Rose_and_the_Doctrine_of_Creation "A Patristic Perspective on a Crucified Mind: Fr. Seraphim Rose and the Doctrine of Creation"], A St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary M. Div. thesis conducted under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Veniamin, D. Phil., in which is discussed the theological and spiritual method of obedience of Fr. Seraphim Rose, as especially exemplified in his posthumous work "Genesis, Creation, and Early Man: The Orthodox Christian Vision." The author is a contributor to this OrthodoxWiki article.
+
* Dominick, Jesse [https://www.academia.edu/6326926/A_Patristic_Perspective_on_a_Crucified_Mind_Fr._Seraphim_Rose_and_the_Doctrine_of_Creation "A Patristic Perspective on a Crucified Mind: Fr. Seraphim Rose and the Doctrine of Creation"], A St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary M. Div. thesis in which is discussed the theological and spiritual method of obedience of Fr. Seraphim Rose, as especially exemplified in his posthumous work "Genesis, Creation, and Early Man: The Orthodox Christian Vision." The author is a contributor to this OrthodoxWiki article.
 
* Dominick, Jesse [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/orthodoxy-and-creationism/ Orthodoxy and Creationism], a compilation of Patristic and modern quotes about evolution and Genesis; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/36/ Genesis, Creation, and Early Man], George and Elizabeth Theokritoff's review, linked above, with the blogger's critical comments interpolated in bold; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/the-entire-creation-was-created-incorrupt/ The Entire Creation was Created Incorrupt], a compilation of patristic quotes; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/adam-and-eve-were-literally-the-first-people-and-were-created-uniquely-from-all-other-creatures-and-subsequent-people/ Adam and Eve were literally the first people and were created uniquely from all other creatures and subsequent people], a compilation of patristic quotes; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/no-plant-death-before-the-fall/ No Plant Death Before the Fall], a compilation of Patristic quotes about the state of plants in Paradise. The author is a contributor to this OrthodoxWiki article.
 
* Dominick, Jesse [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/orthodoxy-and-creationism/ Orthodoxy and Creationism], a compilation of Patristic and modern quotes about evolution and Genesis; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/36/ Genesis, Creation, and Early Man], George and Elizabeth Theokritoff's review, linked above, with the blogger's critical comments interpolated in bold; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/the-entire-creation-was-created-incorrupt/ The Entire Creation was Created Incorrupt], a compilation of patristic quotes; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/adam-and-eve-were-literally-the-first-people-and-were-created-uniquely-from-all-other-creatures-and-subsequent-people/ Adam and Eve were literally the first people and were created uniquely from all other creatures and subsequent people], a compilation of patristic quotes; [http://oldbelieving.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/no-plant-death-before-the-fall/ No Plant Death Before the Fall], a compilation of Patristic quotes about the state of plants in Paradise. The author is a contributor to this OrthodoxWiki article.
 
*Gascoigne, Fr. Serafim [http://orthodoxnorth.net/evolution_new_fundamentalism_pt_1.htm "Evolution" A New Fundamentalism"] from OrthodoxNorth.net
 
*Gascoigne, Fr. Serafim [http://orthodoxnorth.net/evolution_new_fundamentalism_pt_1.htm "Evolution" A New Fundamentalism"] from OrthodoxNorth.net

Latest revision as of 16:07, May 16, 2018

Evolution is the popular name for a set of scientific theories which aim to explain the apparent similarity of different species and the appearance of complex species later in the fossil record. In short, evolution means that all life on earth shares a common ancestry which can traced back to a single species. Orthodox Christians have divergent views on how to react to this development in science.

In general Orthodox responses can be grouped into two large categories, which we might label Compatibilism and Incompatibilism.

Compatibilists hold that science and theology are compatible and view them as complementary revelations of God. As God is the source of both his specific revelation of himself in the Christian faith and the source of the general revelation of himself in nature, the findings of science and theology cannot really contradict; the contradictions must be merely apparent and a resolution possible which is faithful to the truth of God's revelation.

Incompatibilists hold that science can be incompatible with faith. They usually argue either that science is philosophically based on a kind of naturalism or that God's specific revelation is infallible and therefore trumps the findings of human reason in the case of any conflict between them. This is often based on a suspicion of human reason to arrive at reliable conclusions in the first place.

The development of modern science dates to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, so no ecumenical council has ever addressed how to integrate it with divine revelation in a coherent and consistent worldview. As a result, there is not a dogmatic treatment examining how to resolve conflicts, whether apparent or real, when scientific findings appear to contradict divine revelation. Many early fathers were happy to use the primitive science of their day to divine purposes, perhaps suggesting to modern Christians a compatibilist resolution to the question. Other fathers, however, clearly see conflicts and contradictions which they resolve in favor of their understanding of Christian revelation.

Fathers of the Church

Books

  • Bouteneff, Peter, Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives. Baker Academic, 2008. Provides Scriptural and patristic background for discussions of the doctrine of creation. Bouteneff is Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. Andrew Louth writes: "Bouteneff presents a carefully researched and scholarly reading of early Christian readings of the creation account in Genesis. What emerges is a range of interlocking insights into God's creative purpose and the human place in the cosmos. Genesis 1–3 is seen as neither a myth nor an outdated scientific account, but a poem of creation, yielding deeper meanings upon closer ponderings. Bouteneff unveils the often surprising riches of our patristic inheritance witha rare intelligence and passion." ISBN 0801032332
  • Farley, Fr Lawrence, In the Beginning: The True Message of the Genesis Origin Stories. Ancient Faith Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781944967390. Compatibilist
  • Reardon, Fr. Patrick Henry, Creation and the Patriarchal Histories: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Book of Genesis. Conciliar Press, 2008. ISBN 9781888212969
— According to the review by Fr. Hans Jacobse, editor of OrthodoxyToday.org, the author writes that the structures of philosophical materialism (evolutionary theory and its flip-side, scientific creationism), both miss the point; that Genesis reveals that the creation is logo-centric -- it was created by the Word of God, and it is held together by the Word of God's power. The word of Scripture, then, is primarily a literary text, not history (itself a narrative) or a scientific tract.
  • Rose, Fr Seraphim, Genesis, Creation, and Early Man — Contains a detailed examination of Patristic cosmology and anthropology as contrasted to the theory of evolution. Incompatibilist
  • Woloschak, Gayle, Beauty and Unity in Creation: The evolution of life. (Minneapolis: Light and Life, 1996) — Primer on the relationship between evolutionary biology and Orthodoxy by a scientist. ISBN 1880971275 Compatibilist

Articles

Compatibilist

Incompatibilist

See also

External links

Orthodox

Non-Orthodox