The origins of life has been a popular topic of debate for decades, stirring division among groups of people regarding what to believe – whether a higher entity created life (Creation) or it was a direct result of a series of cosmic accidents (Evolution). Discussions often swerve from a friendly beginning and end up an intense argument between two opposing minds; one that is rooting for religion and faith in God, and the other for science and faith in human intelligence. The first greatest battle concerning the two conflicting “origins propositions” happened in 1859 when Charles Darwin published “The Origin of Species” and refuted previous beliefs on a young Earth and on a God-created cosmos. The latest debate happened on February 4, 2014, when science communicator Bill Nye debated Kentucky’s Creation Museum founder and young-Earth believer Ken Ham for three long hours.
Now, we subject ourselves to yet another series of quandary involving our very origins and try to find the seemingly elusive answers to the questions: Where do we come from? Who or what made us – a supreme being or some cosmic event, or both? What should we believe in – Creation or Evolution? Does it matter what we choose to believe?
Nevertheless, we recognize the length of time that has passed since the debate of creation versus evolution began. Until now, neither camp has presented any conclusive evidence supporting its claims. We also acknowledge that creation is not a straightforward claim nor is evolution. Creation believers have divergent opinions on how God created life and the universe as evident in the emergence of creationist sub-groups including Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth Creationism, and Neo-Creationism. These groups hold a range of underlying theological opinions and advocate Intelligent Design. Evolutionists too, have different opinions regarding which scientific theories to accept. Theistic Evolutionists believe that God and creation are compatible with science and evolution. Agnostic Evolutionists uphold biological evolution but do not mind whether God was involved in the process or not. Meanwhile, Materialistic Evolutionists believe solely in biological evolution and argue that creationism is dangerous and contradictory to science.
Here, we do not attempt to take sides or draw conclusions prematurely but present arguments in the most reasonable and acceptable way. We also make certain to employ terms to their purest definition and stick to their proper application, making sure that we identify scientific facts differently from mere theories or dubious findings. If there are facts supportive of a specific standpoint, then we categorize them as such without finding fault. After all, a fact has undisputable significance, a piece of information or evidence that demonstrates having profound reality and actuality and free from dispute. Until specific information is categorically a fact, we assume it is but a theory, an opinion or a belief, subject to further debate and analysis.