evolution

Why I don’t believe in naturalistic evolution.

Why I don’t believe in naturalistic evolution.

That doesn’t mean I believe in theistic evolution.

Introduction

Let me say at the beginning that my disbelief in mindless evolution is not based on an interpretation of the Bible. My disbelief comes from the understanding of how it is supposed to function and how illogical that is. For me, the best way to think about evolution is from the bottom up; however, most teaching about evolution is top-down, meaning they start with highly complex organisms and use reductionism.

The first life forms.

So, with that in mind, let me start at the beginning. We have to move past abiogenesis, as evolutionists say that is a different topic. To me, it would be essential to address, but we will move past it. The population of the first prokaryotes must have been tiny. It is from these early life forms that every living thing today exists. So, I start with the low population of life forms and then follow the path described by evolution.

https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/mechanisms-the-processes-of-evolution/mechanisms-of-change

Adaptation is not evolution.

We must not confuse adaptation with evolution. Adaptation is the ability of living beings to change based on present genetic information. Environmental influences, low food supply, or any other non-genetic modification is not evolution but adaptation.

https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolution-101/mechanisms-the-processes-of-evolution/descent-with-modification

Evolution’s power is in mutations.

Genetic modification through mutation is the main factor of evolution. Without it, there is no genetic drift or natural selection. So, let me look at mutation. Everything we see in living things is a product of mutation. Every tree, plant, insect, cold-blooded, or warm-blooded creature is the result of mutation. If that is true, then we can see the incredible power and diversity mutation can produce.

Here is where I see a problem I cannot get past. We start with the simple cell organism and realize that every living thing in the world today can result from a mutation. The other factor needed is natural selection because mutations can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful. It is the job of natural selection to ensure that mutation stays on track in producing something beneficial to survival.

One of the things that seem to be assumed with or without knowledge is that these processes are mindless, meaning there are no plans or designs involved. Plans and designs would insist on an intelligent force, and that would require a view of theistic evolution.

Is natural selection mindless?

So, let me walk you through how I see this. We start with a small population of simple cell creatures. I am not a biologist, so I cannot describe the parts needed for these cells to have the power of photosynthesis. Let me move a little farther along and take the function of movement or sight. Either of these is essential for migration.

Let’s say there is a beneficial mutation in the direction of light-sensitive cells. For these cells to become useful, there would also need to be a way to process the information. For instance, a way to move away from the danger. How many chances would it take for that to happen? You factor in all that most mutations are not beneficial, and therefore, natural selection would have consumed a large part of a small sample of life forms. Remember that is at the beginning of life.

The chance machine.

I would illustrate this concept of evolution in a game where there is a chance machine that could produce billions of different parts. Think of all the various parts of our world, such as nuts, bolts, resistors, processors, belts, etc. In the game, you had to produce the parts that would create a five-piece mechanism that would enable you to escape certain death. Then, you are given a certain number of turns with the chance machine, and after three attempts to produce one of the required parts, you lose a turn. How many chances do you think you would need to succeed? That is how many life forms would be required from the start for evolution to work.

A simpler view.

Think of the billions of parts of living things, the individual parts of all living things. Each one of those is the possibility of mutation. Only beneficial mutations will survive. The first mutation, let’s say, creates a light-sensitive membrane. There is nothing to guide the next mutation toward an eye, and it could be the next mutation that would be moving toward a heart cell. In the meantime, with every failed attempt to create any functioning system, like eyesight, natural selection kills the life forms.

The natural forces of the world are like a flood of water, giving very few attempts in the multitude of wrong choices for life to survive.

The odds are too great!

Evolutionists, whether they understand it or refuse to acknowledge it, act as if the natural selection is an intelligent agent that knows exactly what it is looking for in order to finalize a function. In the same way, they act as if there is an agent that is making mutations on a trial-and-error basis with a goal in mind.

I am not a mathematician or a gambler, but I can tell that it is an impossibility for mindless evolution to produce the life forms we see today. There needs to be some sort of guiding force that understands what the end result is and what is required to achieve it. Without that mechanism, evolution cannot succeed in producing anything worthy of survival.

Theistic Evolution

I cannot logically argue against this view because I believe it is possible that God created all things through a type of evolutionary process. I do think that is the best understanding of what God teaches us about life and, in particular, about humanity.