Darwin and the Other Christian Tradition

Abstract

Augustine, and following him some major theologians of the early Christian church, noted the apparent discrepancies between the first two chapters of Genesis and suggested an interpretation for these chapters significantly different from the literal. After examining a selection of the relevant texts, we shall follow the later fortunes of this interpretation in brief outline, figuring in particular an unlikely trio: Suarez, St. George Mivart, and Thomas Henry Huxley. Moral: Darwinian theory might plausibly be construed as implementing, unawares, a suggestion from that other Christian tradition.

The Future of Religion and Science Around the World

“…Thus, not only is rational analysis of the formal arguments needed, but their psychological appeal deserves scrutiny as well (Recker ). Hence, it is useful to consider theological motives in the intelligent design discourse, as done previously in articles on natural theology (De Cruz and De Smedt ) and on blood, sin, and atonement (Rogers ), while it is also important to present more constructive ways of Christian engagement with evolutionary biology (e.g., Deane‐Drummond ; McMullin , , ; Southgate , ).…”

Informed Intellect and Integrity

“…However, the essays and edited volumes—many more than those I had at hand when writing this editorial—provide more than enough food for thought. I find it an honor that in this issue we will have one more contribution by him, on the reception of Darwinism in Christianity—“Darwin and the Other Christian tradition” (McMullin 2011). As a recommendation, I take the liberty to quote Augustine, who according to his autobiography ( Confessiones , the end of Book VIII) at the time of his conversion to Christianity heard a child's voice say "tolle, lege, tolle, lege"—that is, take and read the well informed and intellectually challenging essays by Ernan McMullin.…”

Science and the Religions of the World

“…Over the years Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science has published on the variety of traditions. In recent years there has been a section on the reception of Darwin's ideas in different religious traditions (Brooke 2011; Cherry 2011; Elshakry 2011; Gosling 2011; McMullin 2011; Southgate 2011) and another one in the same issue on Judaism and science (e.g., Artson 2011; Efron 2011; Samuelson 2011).…”