Article February 15, 1982 Issue

Creationism versus evolution

WILLIAM MILFORD CORRELL

The continuing controversy over which version of creation should be taught in public schools again brings two views to public attention. What is the Christian Scientist's position? Does he choose sides between creationism and evolution? Or does he see this controversy as simply discussing two different aspects of essentially one view?

Actually, the first chapter of Genesis sets forth a radically spiritual concept of creation—a description the Christian Scientist accepts as reality. The second chapter presents a material view. Both creationism and evolution are consistent with the mistaken assumption implied by the second account—the belief that substance and life can develop in matter.

The spiritual point of view reasons from the basis of God, Spirit, divine intelligence, as the creative force; it then interprets creation as entirely spiritual and accepts man as made in the likeness of God. The evolutionist takes a material view; he submits to the evidence of the material senses. He defines this as a scientific method of observation. Mrs. Eddy says, "Evolution describes the gradations of human belief, but it does not acknowledge the method of divine Mind, nor see that material methods are impossible in divine Science and that all Science is of God, not of man."^{Science and Health, p. 551.}