Creation and evolution

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 16

Creation and evolution

Sir,—Professor E. H. Andrews, Professor of Materials, University of London, is one among many Christians who would dispute the claims made in the article “Why creationism is bogus” (January 5). As he writes in a recent book, evolutionism and the Bible tell completely different stories. Evolutionism says: Nature evolved by accident and chance, and all living things evolved from a single life-form. In particular, man evolved from apes eventually. Also it is claimed that evolution continues to result in the formation of new kinds of living things, which are growing better and more perfect by evolutionary change. In contrast, the Bible says creation was purposefully planned, living things were made separately after their kinds, and man was a special creation, different from the animals. Also the Bible claims God’s work of creation was finished in six days, perfectly finished, but became spoiled because Adam disobeyed God. Christianity begins here.—Yours, etc., JOHN CANHAM. January 7, 1987.

Sir,—John Canham (January 7) , is entitled to personally believe in creation rather than evolution, but I must question his assertion that "increasing numbers of scientists” share his view. In my work as a biologist, I have yet to meet a scientist who rejects the theory of evolution; but perhaps John Canham means that where there were two scientists, now there are three. The other basic flaw in his argument is to confuse the unlikely with the impossible. That life could arise by random events is unlikely; equally, the chances of any given New Zealander being killed on the roads this year is extremely small. Nevertheless that latter fate will befall some 800-odd unlucky people.—Yours, etc. Dr DAVE KELLY, Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Canterbury. January 7, 1987. Sir,—No-one, not even John Canham with all his supportive scientists and pollsters, can reconcile the advent of life on the material plane with the Biblical creation unless they are prepared to condemn those scientific disciplines that conclusively prove the existence of cockroaches, lizards and dinosaurs hundreds of millions of years “before” Adam and Eve.—Yours, etc., ARTHUR MAY. January 7, 1987.