Evolution theory as hypothesized by Darwin was a breathtaking relapse to the Christian community. However, the book “Christian and Science” gives an in-depth analysis of Darwin’s, and other theorists’ thesis’s about the evolution of man and survival tactics from a theological approach. One of the key questions that Haught is trying to ask is whether the nature of natural selection is self-sustaining as Darwin claims. Why the suffering of the survivors can be able to measure up to the demands of their surroundings. The revolutionary understanding of species is undoubtedly dated billions of years ago. How do these estimations fit in the plan of God and mean to a Christian? The author tries to relate how He comes to the man in the form of Jesus. He calls it the ‘descent of God’1. Here God comes to the human race in a way that explains how He wants us to empty ourselves and be selfless. Not the survival tactics the species are to be subjected in their environment.
The descent of God reiterates the theology of evolution in which Jesus postulates himself as a slave and not as God. Therefore, God is of divine emptying. To empty oneself is the way God shows how humans need to be self-effacing and have a self-empowering concept of unconditional love. This is how God intends to identify himself with divine creation. Amazingly, one aspect we learn about God and evolution from the above argument is that he manifests His existence by having a self-revelation in Christ’s life here on earth. That’s why he chooses to live like a creature or a human being he created; to give a first-hand experience of suffering and how humans can deal with it. He comes under the realm of His made creatures and remains God. Hence this makes the theology of nature and the essence of the entirety of God’s Design in creation. This explains the far-reaching changes that God wants to show how cosmic existence and creation are. He can be able to show humility in the fundamental nature of His creation is a far-reaching reality that suggests the unending cosmic relation. The evolution of human beings cannot be dated; it is diverse in many billions of years. Hence, it is unfathomable endless unification of human life; a Trinitarian reality story of how God indents to redeem His creation. This means that God suffers along with His creation in a decent fashion.
The Darwinian Theory does not account for a real beginning or future of life. The existence of life or future is when God descents in person to us; to end the recurring suffering that He endured. When God comes at a certain time in history, it is an answer to the rhetorical questions about existence. Therefore, the edifice of evolution is time-bound and has a schedule. This shows that redemption is essential for the completion of this world which is evolving in sin. This completeness will be achieved when “Adamic Myth” concerning evil will be faced out2. Haught brings an amazing revelation of how God relates to creation, how he correlates with his creation in the challenges that they face. Darwin postulates the suffering of creatures in an insensitive way that is mysterious and self-sustaining. Haught rather gives a clear cut between suffering and the essence of God’s involvement in His creation. God is proposed to be loving, full of humility; a God who suffered from the Israelites as they moved through the wilderness; a God who accepted to come down from heaven, live amongst people in the image of Christ, and in fact, taste the gleeful wrath of death. Not a cruel and inconsiderate God depicted by Darwin. The early Christians were able to discern the purpose of suffering, the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross. This means that the suffering of human beings has not been a solo experience but a corporate entity with the creator himself. An experiential form of shaping his creation to adjust positively to the shortcomings that come on the way, that is, the challenge of sin. Hence, the fact that we are still living in an unfinished universe; gives a graceful hope of redemption. The real grace of humility from a loving creator who experiences the challenges hand in hand with his creation. This was meant for the basic reason of bettering the lives of the creatures in a clear and self-satisfactory way. This means that creatures or human beings should be able to discern the true nature of their creator; the values He upholds and the sole purpose of creation. God does not want to be discreet, rather; he wants to clearly show how ‘self-humbling’ He is to his creation and hence establish a good rapport with an all-knowing creation.3
Hence, the main response that Haught gives about God is: God is involved directly with His creation in an infinite period that is full of suffering and challenges. God’s virtue of humility is manifested in His up-close and candid relation with his creation.
Bibliography
John, Haught. Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature. New York, NY: Orbis Books, 2007.
John, Haught. Responses to 101 Questions on God and Evolution. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1997.
Footnotes
- Haught, John. Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature. (New York, NY: Orbis Books, 2007), 98.
- Haught, John. Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature. (New York, NY: Orbis Books, 2007), 100.
- Haught, John. Responses to 101 Questions on God and Evolution. (New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1997), 8.