Index:
- Atheistic Evolution (AE)
- Young Earth Creationism (YEC)
- Theistic Evolution (TE)
- Progressive Creation (PC)
There are four basic positions regarding the origin of the universe in current scientific and theological debates. We can characterize them as follows:
Atheistic Evolution (AE) – the idea that the universe either exists eternally (in this or other form) or simply popped up spontaneously into existence. No creator exists and the universe has such properties that it formed itself into different layers of entities, such as galaxies and planetary systems, plant and animal life and ultimately the human being.
On the other side of the spectrum we find Young Earth Creationism (YEC), typically identified as scientific creationism (creation science) or simply creationism. On this view, the universe was created supernaturally by God, out of nothing, exactly the way the Genesis account literally represents it. The creation of the whole universe took six calendar days (six 12 or 24 hour periods of time) and it all happened no more than 10 thousand years ago.
As if “in between” these two “extreme” positions we find two moderate views – one referred to as Theistic Evolution (or more recently, Evolutionary Creation) the other is called Progressive Creation.
Theistic Evolution (TE) is the popular idea that “God used evolution” as a kind of tool (an instrument, instrumental cause) to bring about the entire diversity of beings including all species of life. Different TE authors have different opinions on how much divine involvement was needed in the beginning of the universe and in the origin of humanity. Some accept a multiverse (which in effect means an eternally created universe), but some TE advocates believe in the creation of the universe along with time at a moment of absolute beginning. Regarding the origin of humanity, some advocate just the evolutionary origin of the human body and special creation of the human soul, others, however, advocate natural emergence of human consciousness due to the development of the brain. Nevertheless, all TE advocates believe that in between these two events (the beginning of the universe and the emergence of man) God did not act in a supernatural or direct way, instead He employed only natural, secondary causes, such as biological evolution. Specifically all living species share common ancestry and were produced by natural mechanisms of evolution and generation.
The last position, Progressive Creation (PC), adopts the mainstream scientific timescale for the existence of the universe, which is currently estimated at 13.8 bln years (4.6 bln for Earth). On this point, PC follows AE and TE, however, it differs from both by adopting supernatural activity on God’s part in the creation and the formation of the universe. Specifically, PC proponents believe that God created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo) in the beginning of time, which constitutes an absolute beginning of creation. After the initial act of creation God formed the universe employing His supernatural (sometimes direct, sometimes mediated) power. Specifically, direct divine activity was revealed in the separate creation of species and of the human being. Hence, different species of plant and animal life do not share common biological ancestry; rather, they were distinct “according to their kinds” from their inception. These creative events took millions and billions of years, as revealed by evidence studied by the historical sciences (cosmology, paleontology, archeology). PC proponents believe in the creation of man by formation from the dust of the earth the way it is revealed in Gen 2:7. After the creation of man, peculiar creative activity on God’s part ceased such that no entirely new things are ever brought to existence. Meanwhile God continues to maintain all being in existence and guides it by His ordinary and extra-ordinary providence.