(Note: the blue horizontal menu bar directly above lists the subsections of "Evolution According to Contemporary Science." Beginning with "How Has Life Evolved?," be sure to read each of these subsections before moving on to the next primary section, "Evil, Ethics, and Human Values in an Evolving World.")

Evolution According to Contemporary Science: Discussion Questions

• Does the explanation of Darwinian theory given here differ from how you understood it before? If so, in what way(s)? Given this explanation, does evolution now seem more problematical to you, or less?



• The author asserts that physical life without suffering and even death would be unworkable. Do you agree?



• What purpose or goal does the evolutionary process (or the evolutionist's universe) itself have? Do products such as novelty, diversity, or beauty seem sufficient to justify the evolutionary process?



• Do you see a conflict between seeing yourself as having evolved from "lower" animals and considering yourself as being made in the image of God? Why or why not?



• Do you feel, if evolution is true, that God must not exist, or that life can have no purpose or meaning? Why or why not?



• Charles Darwin felt that there is "grandeur" in the evolutionary view of life. Do you agree?



• Do you think that the material universe is sufficiently good, noble, and able to bring forth by itself human life, intellect, and free will? Do you think the incarnate Jesus would agree that matter is worthy of this much respect?