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The BioLogos Forum is designed to foster a serious and comprehensive discussion of Christian faith and the sciences. We believe that charitable engagement of different perspectives within the Church helps sharpen our thinking and deepen our commitment to the truth that is hidden in Christ. So while many of the articles and videos under the distinctive Forum banner come from BioLogos staff and Senior Fellows, we feature a range of voices, including those that disagree with us and with each other. Unless otherwise noted, views expressed are those of the authors, not necessarily of The BioLogos Foundation. You can read more about what we believe here, and join the conversation in the comments section at the end of each post.
Evolution and Personal Faith: How Christian University Students Resolve the Conflict
As students across the country begin their academic year, nearly all of them will receive some kind of science education, and many will experience tension between what they have been taught about God's creation in church or at home, and what they are likely to find in science textbooks and hear from their instructors. How should that tension be addressed? How might it be resolved? What resources does the Church have (and still need) to equip our young people to honor the truth God has revealed in both his Word and his world, and to share in the work of his Kingdom? This series from Mark Winslow, Dean of the College of Natural, Social, and Health Sciences at Southern Nazarene University (SNU) in Bethany, OK, focuses on how Christian biology-related majors at a mid-Western Christian liberal arts university reconciled evolution and their personal religious beliefs.
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Evolution and Personal Faith: How Christian University Students Resolve the Conflict, Part 1
Rachel had grown up as a pastor’s kid firmly entrenched in Young Earth Creationism. When she enrolled in a Zoology course at a Christian college as a pre-med major, it was the first time she had encountered the notion that a person could accept evolution and remain a vibrant Christian – her professor was a testament to that reality.
Evolution and Personal Faith: How Christian University Students Resolve the Conflict, Part 2
"Dad, I know this letter is probably discouraging to you – maybe someday I will be convinced otherwise, but this seems very logical and practical to me. I pray that you will not condemn me in your disappointment, but understand that it is not a contingent factor in my salvation… I pray you have at least been open to this letter and accepting of my stance. --Your Loving Daughter, Gail"
Evolution and Personal Faith: How Christian University Students Resolve the Conflict, Part 3
Popular literature often champions the teacher as a potential role model to shape and inspire student learning, and the same is certainly true in this context. Given participants’ frustration at growing up without seeing Christians who modeled a coherent and positive commitment to science, it’s not surprising that many participants viewed their professors as important role models.
Evolution and Personal Faith: How Christian University Students Resolve the Conflict, Part 4
Christian biology-related majors at a Christian university who accept evolution can persist in an abiding belief in God, a commitment to the Bible, a dedication to the Christian life, and a positive view of teleology and theodicy. Moreover, many of these students seek wholeness and coherence in their lives by endeavoring to be true to both science and their religious beliefs.