THE CREATIVE PURPOSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 14

THE CREATIVE PURPOSE

EVOLUTION AND RELIGION ? MAN'S SPIRITUAL DESTINY "Evolution is not incompatible with belief in a Creator God; more than that, the theory can only be fully explained upon the basic assumption of religion and as an outcome of God's creative will," said the Rev, D. J. Davies, of Palmerston North, in the second of his addresses upon science and religion in All Saints' Church, Ponsonby, last night. The theory of biological evolution was in conflict only with traditional beliefs regarding the method of creation adopted by God, Mr. Davies continued. Most of his hearers had probably been brought up to tiiink it was a true interpretation of the book of Genesis to say that all living things were practically the same to-day as when God created them spontaneously about 6000 years ago, and that man had been created as a thing apart. The contrary theory, that all living things had developed through the ages from life in its simplest forms, could be traced back to the speculations of the Greeks, and to-day the evidence in support of it was overwhelming. There was a certain general direction of movement, as Professor Julian Huxley said, in the evolution of living things, toward a realisation of the things judged by the human mind to have value; toward an increase of power, knowledge, purpose, emotion, harmony, independence. Others saw a purposive movement toward a goal worthy of attainment. The end of it all [ appeared to bo those mental and spiritual faculties and powers, which were distinctive of man at his highest, and the process pointed to a living God Who was good, truo and beautiful, and Who was still at work in His creation. It was in no way derogatory to man that his origin had been humble; the evolutionary process should be evaluated not by its roots, but by its fruits. Man should not look back to the cave, but forward to the goal of Heaven. Only a fraction of the possibilities of human nature could be realised here and now. There were abundant grounds for splendid confidence that the outcome hereafter would be worthy of the process that led up to it. The next address of the series will be "God and the Psychologist."