After each period of creation in the 1st chapter of Genesis God "saw that it was good." But, does that mean the organisms created within a period were finished? It is clear that species evolved, and that they are STILL evolving!! In that sense, God went back to work and is still working. On the "8th day," creation continued.
Just as we Mormons believe in "continuing" revelation, is it possible to believe in "continuing" creation? Can we not believe in an involved God that is always active?
Nature (evolution) does not create perfect organisms or even perfect (discrete) species. Let me explain what I mean by that statement. …
Lately, I have been thinking much about the inherent flaws to our throat and mouth. In order for us humans to speak we needed a narrow oropharyngeal space behind our tongue for sound resonance, allowing for vowel sounds to be produced.
The design for speaking required some changes from the standard primate throat. The larynx (Adam's apple) had to be lowered in the throat. When this happened our air and food pathways crossed-over allowing for the negative side effect of increased chances of choking.
The design for speaking required that our tongue be placed farther back into the throat region compared to other primates. Thus, we evolved flatter faces without a snout. Our jaws got smaller, creating wisdom tooth problems and crooked teeth. Also, during sleep our tongue could fall against the pharyngeal wall blocking the airway, resulting in sleep apnea. (I find it funny that some people think that the topic of "evolution" has nothing to do with medicine).
Other primates do NOT have the same kinds of problems with choking, wisdom teeth, or sleep apnea that we humans do!!
The point is: In order to have language we humans needed a compromised primate throat design. The design of our throats is far from perfect.
Another point that concerns me is that non-scientists too often think that species are discrete categories that are well defined. Wrong. At best, categories of species are FUZZY concepts with much overlap.
Species as categories do NOT have clear boundaries. Thus, we can argue all day (and we do) whether Homo ergaster should be its own species category or whether it is best conceptualized as an early Homo erectus. One can take almost any genus (plants or animals) and find examples of organisms that do not cleanly fit JUST one species category.
Such is the outcome of evolution. Evolution refers to the inherent change that occurs in living organisms resulting in few boundaries that cleanly divide up organisms.
Yes, we like to name organisms, but in our act of naming we should remember that organisms are analog NOT digital.
To believe that we humans are made in the image of God does NOT require that we believe that evolution has stopped. We are made of the same general genetic recipes as all other animals. We are subject to the same natural forces as ALL other animals.
And, yes, we are animals – albeit sophisticated, intelligent, and hopefully moral.
But, human evolution moves forward like a steamroller. ALL living beings are plastic, dynamic, changelings. God went back to work on the 8th day, the 9th day, and so on.
We can gripe and grouse that species should be like cement – hard and concrete. But, that is NOT how God made (and is making) the world.
So, why do we sometimes insist upon arguing with the scriptures written in the rocks, in our genetics, and in our anatomy?
As for me, I need all the scriptures I can get.
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3 comments:
Even God has to go back to work on Monday morning. =:)
This reminds me of our GD lesson several moths ago on Balaam and the talking Ass. As I sat in class realizing the instructor was over emphasizing the novel *fact* that the ass was talking, I started thinking about what it would take to make an Ass talk like a human. Structures in the throat, infusion of a higher level of consciousness and "freewill". I thought it would be so much easier for the Angel to have been a ventriloquist.
There I go again, letting evolution cloud a literal interpretation of scripture.
Stan:
Based on my studies, it's a near miracle that any of us can talk. Some argue that I can't. However, I admit only to singing.
Wonderful post, as usual. Just reaffirms my belief in the affinity between LDS and Baha'i beliefs.
`Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Prophet-Founder of our religion said: "The Book of Creation is the command of God and the repository of divine mysteries. The Book of Creation is in accord with the written book, the sacred revelation of all the prophets of God."
That is not a perfect quote as I don't know the exact source of the translation, but the point is strongly affirmed in many other places in Baha'i writings.
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