DIVINE CREATION AND ORGANIC EVOLUTION

The world is occupied by millions of different kinds of plants and animals. These plants and animals are adapted to different kinds of habitats and niches. How did these different organisms come to exist in the world? This is the question scientists have been battling to answer for hundred of years now.

There are two theories of history of life. These are divine creation (creationism) and organic evolution.

 

Theory of divine creation (Creationism)

This theory states that all living organisms were created by God (Divine creation) as described in Genesis in Christian Bible. or a Supernatural being. Each living organism was given life and necessary features to enable it adapt to its environment. The Bible and Koran believe that divine creation lasted for six days while others believe that creation happened several times with each population dying away and is being replaced with another population and all different organism (species) have remained unchanged since they were created like that by God.

 

Theory of organic evolution

1) The first living organism is believed to have come from certain molecules (methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapour). These molecules combined together under particular ultraviolet radiation from the sun and electrical lightning of the hot atmosphere to form the first living thing about two billion years ago.

 

2) The various simple organisms present in the world today evolved from the first living organism.

 

3) The complex organisms evolved from the simple organisms.

 

4) All living organisms change from generation to generation, producing descendants with new modifications.

 

5) The process has been operating since the beginning of life resulting in different groups and varieties of living organisms we have today, those that once lived have become extinct (died away).

 

6) These different living organisms are related to each other in one way or the other.

 

Organic evolution is therefore, the series of gradual changes which living organisms had undergone in response to changes in environment, since the beginning of life.

 

Some similarities between Divine creation and organic evolution

1. Both Divine creation and organic evolution believe that man came last of all living things.
2. Both also believe that snakes once had legs. (Lamarck’s theory of use and disuse and the curse of snakes (serpent) to crawl on its belly by God after deceiving Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden (Genesis Chapter 3, verse 14).