"The Current State of the Origins Debate"
Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation
Paper given by Gerry Keane at the Kolbe Center First International Conference, Manassas, Virginia, USA - June 2001
In response to the question, “What is the origin of man and of the Universe?”, there are four main alternative sets of beliefs competing for acceptance in modern Christendom. It is of no small importance as to which one will win out in society, for the salvation of souls may be at stake. What beliefs are being handed on to our children? What will the state of Catholicism be like in 25 years time?
Before proceeding any further, I first want to define evolution as, “molecules-to-man natural transformation in which new, ‘higher’ genetic information is gained which was not possessed by one’s ancestors”. In public perception, evolution is thought intuitively to involve change beyond kind, such as would allow reptiles to change into birds. But if reptiles never had the genetic information to grow wings, they could never change into birds and give rise to the avian lung. The field evidence shows that evolution did not occur. The fossil record is devoid of intermediate stages; this is acknowledged by the famous evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould. Laboratory evidence shows that evolution cannot occur; transitional forms tend to be conceptually impossible as they involve horrendously complex transitions. Great variety occurs in life-forms but always within “kind”, never beyond. Cats are cats, and dogs are dogs, and platypus will always be platypus!
I would now like to discuss aspects of Atheistic Evolution, Theistic Evolution, Progressive Creation and Special Creation in light of scientific discoveries and truth known from Catholic Tradition. As one would expect, some things overlap across the alternative beliefs. (By “Tradition” I mean Apostolic Tradition as outlined in the 1994 Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 74-100.)