To follow and continue the discussion please download the paper 'Further Thoughts on the Challenges of Darwinism' by Professor Neil Spurway.
"Taking Darwin Seriously (Follow-Up)" – Prof Neil Spurway [PDF]

Hi Alan

Thanks for your comments on Genesis 1. I have posted on the question "Natural v Supernatural" regarding Genesis 1 which you or may not have read. My own PhD concerned affirming Gen 1 as a "Living Cosmogony" for the contemporary church in the light of Neo-Darwinism. Therefore I agree very much with your positive evaluation of this great text and appreciated the "high view" you articulated of its relevance for today. However, that is fine so long as we take this passage as a pericope in its own right (which both scholarship and the Church often does) but it becomes more problematic if read in its canonical setting as an integral part of Gen 1-11. This like all issues raised in this forum is complex and perhaps not something we can explore in detail at this juncture of the proceedings. I will move on to the big question of the challenge evolution poses for the faith in general. I consider this to be the "Mother" of all apologetic questions and one which the Christian church has failed to deal with adequately. I better add in "my opinion" but this is a major source of frustration for me and anyone who knows me understands I have been "banging" on about this for a long, long time. This challenge involves many issues so in the light of your post let me raise one which is rarely even mentioned. It is the "evolution" of religion in general, the religion of Israel and Christianity in particular, and the "evolution" the scriptures of both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. In addition to that we add the "evolution" of Christian doctrine. Now in theory many people believe that "evolution" and/or the "Darwinian" paradigm is to be restricted to biology. In practice, the Church certainly operates that way. I'm not convinced by that and believe at the very least the question should asked and the issue discussed. Of course this has implications for Christian theology and doctrine...profoundly so I would add. Now in the context of this forum there can be the danger of the discussions roaming far and wide and not really getting anywhere and I only mention this issue in passing so it can be "logged" and perhaps explored in greater detail at a future date. I am well aware that some "big" issues have already been raised and in fairness these need to be addressed first. This is especially the case as Neil hasn't raised this specific topic so it is only right that we stick, for the moment, to matters pertaining to his paper. However, in the light of your mention of Scripture and Revelation I thought I would just throw this "ball" in as well

Thank you Neil for the thorough and well referenced reply - I was really interested that you too are interested in the central dogma and "possible feedback". If reverse central dogma (my terminology) can be demonstrated it gives Neo-Darwinism serious scientific problems and opens the door to the other speciation mechanisms being discussed? You did not take up my point about the commonality of sacrifice in evolution, ecology and christianity - do you have any thoughts on this idea?

Could we move on to "process theology" and its possible relevance to evolutionary biology - you hinted you had an interest in this.

I see no-one is willing to comment on the commonality of sacrifice in evolution, ecology and christianity. So I will develop the argument and publish it with my co-author.l Watch this space.