Evolutionary biology as a link between religion and knowledge

Abstract

It would appear that the epistemological tradition of the West is culminating in the present science-religion debate. The evolutionary model is being used increasingly in different disciplines as a guideline to understand humans and their action in the world. The struggle for explaining the action of God has shifted from the world of history and texts to the invisible level of quantum physics and molecular biology. It seems that levels of indeterminacy in quantum mechanics and autopoietic systems offer space to explain the action of God. On the human level integrity is sought by linking the highest level of consciousness and rationality to the very basic level of molecular and genetic structures. These issues are dealt with and specific attention is given to autopoietic systems and the biological roots of rationality.

Radiokooistofdatering en teoiogiese refleksie

“…Die "natural causal creative nexus of events is itself God's creative action" (Peacocke 1984:66). In soortgelyke gees maak Kaufman ook 'n saak uit om teologie te beoefen binne die raamwerk van kosmiese en biologiese evolusie (1992, 1997; vgl verwante gedagtes by Du Toit 2000). God is die immanente werklikheid, die kosmies toevallige (serendipitous) skeppingsvermoe waarvan die menslike bewussyn 'n "trajek" is.…”