This thread is inspired by an article in the current issue (Vol.10, No.4, 2004) of Skeptic Magazine.
Many - if not most - Americans think of the creation vs. evolution argument as a matter of choosing one of two sides of the fence. In fact, though, there are many positions one can take. Below is a brief summary I wrote, adapted from the Skeptic article.
Where do you fit on the continuum?
Flat Earthers
This is the most extreme biblical literalist position. Flat Earthers believe the bible says the Earth is flat, and therefore it must be, despite all evidence to the contrary. They also believe in the literal truth of the Genesis story, along with the literal truth of rest of the bible.
Geocentrists
People with this view accept that the Earth is spherical, but hold that the Earth is the centre of the universe. They reject virtually all of modern physics, chemistry and biology, and, like flat-earthers, believe in the literal truth of the bible.
Young-earth Creationists
These people generally accept a sun-centred solar system, but reject most of modern physics, chemistry, geology concerning the age of the Earth and biology. According to their view, the Earth was created by God 6000 to 10000 years ago, along with all modern lifeforms. They believe that the Noah flood story is literally true, along with the Genesis story.
Old-earth Creationists
These people accept modern geology and the conclusion that Earth is billions of years old. They believe that God was intimately involved in the creation of all life on Earth, although precisely what form that involvement took is debateable. They believe that lifeforms can change over time, but God guides changes. They generally reject the theory of descent with modification.
Day-Age Creationists
These people are old-earth creationists who believe in a mostly literal reading of the bible. However, day-age creationists say that each "day" of creation in the bible actually corresponds to a much longer period of time - perhaps millions of years. Thus, plants appeared millions of years before animals, and humans came even later.
Progressive Creationists
Progressive creationists accept scientific estimates of the age of the Earth, and much other modern science besides. However, only some parts of modern biology are accepted. PCs believe that God created "kinds" of animals sequentially. They do not believe that later kinds of animals are descended from earlier ones - each kind is a separate creation by God. They allow for changes to occur "within a kind", although "kind" is defined somewhat inconsistently. Thus, the created cat "kind" could have changed gradually to produce lions, tigers and house cats. Thus, PCs accept a kind of "microevolution", but draw the line at major changes.
Intelligent Design (ID) Creationists
ID Creationists hold that some biological features of plants and animals are "irreducibly complex", and so could not have evolved by means of Darwinian evolution. ID allows for some microevolution, but supporters deny that mutation and natural selection are sufficient in themselves to explain the evolution of one "kind" of life from another (e.g. they cannot explain the evolution of humans from apes).
Evolutionary creationists
ECs believe that God uses the process of scientific Darwinian evolution to bring about his plan. Thus, ECs accept all of modern science and can be considered "evolutionists". Their position is distinguished from theistic evolution mainly on theological grounds - it tends to be held by more conservative and evangelical Christians.
Theistic evolutionists
Again, TEs believe that God creates via the process of evolution as described by Darwin. God intervenes at critical times in the process of evolution, giving life appropriate "nudges" in the right direction. This is particular relevant in the evolution of human beings. This is the official position held by the Catholic Church, as stated explicitly by Pope John Paul II.
Neutral evolutionists
NEs hold a non-religious view of the development of life on Earth. They believe that religion and science are separate domains, and that religion and God are not required to explain the development of life on Earth; science is sufficient for a complete explanation. They do not express a view on whether God exists or guides evolution, because this is not relevant to the question at hand.
Materialistic Evolutionists
Believers in ME also hold a non-religious view of the development of life on Earth. They differ from NEs in that they propose in addition that the laws of nature are all that exists; they assert that supernatural forces such as God do not exist.
Many - if not most - Americans think of the creation vs. evolution argument as a matter of choosing one of two sides of the fence. In fact, though, there are many positions one can take. Below is a brief summary I wrote, adapted from the Skeptic article.
Where do you fit on the continuum?
Flat Earthers
This is the most extreme biblical literalist position. Flat Earthers believe the bible says the Earth is flat, and therefore it must be, despite all evidence to the contrary. They also believe in the literal truth of the Genesis story, along with the literal truth of rest of the bible.
Geocentrists
People with this view accept that the Earth is spherical, but hold that the Earth is the centre of the universe. They reject virtually all of modern physics, chemistry and biology, and, like flat-earthers, believe in the literal truth of the bible.
Young-earth Creationists
These people generally accept a sun-centred solar system, but reject most of modern physics, chemistry, geology concerning the age of the Earth and biology. According to their view, the Earth was created by God 6000 to 10000 years ago, along with all modern lifeforms. They believe that the Noah flood story is literally true, along with the Genesis story.
Old-earth Creationists
These people accept modern geology and the conclusion that Earth is billions of years old. They believe that God was intimately involved in the creation of all life on Earth, although precisely what form that involvement took is debateable. They believe that lifeforms can change over time, but God guides changes. They generally reject the theory of descent with modification.
Day-Age Creationists
These people are old-earth creationists who believe in a mostly literal reading of the bible. However, day-age creationists say that each "day" of creation in the bible actually corresponds to a much longer period of time - perhaps millions of years. Thus, plants appeared millions of years before animals, and humans came even later.
Progressive Creationists
Progressive creationists accept scientific estimates of the age of the Earth, and much other modern science besides. However, only some parts of modern biology are accepted. PCs believe that God created "kinds" of animals sequentially. They do not believe that later kinds of animals are descended from earlier ones - each kind is a separate creation by God. They allow for changes to occur "within a kind", although "kind" is defined somewhat inconsistently. Thus, the created cat "kind" could have changed gradually to produce lions, tigers and house cats. Thus, PCs accept a kind of "microevolution", but draw the line at major changes.
Intelligent Design (ID) Creationists
ID Creationists hold that some biological features of plants and animals are "irreducibly complex", and so could not have evolved by means of Darwinian evolution. ID allows for some microevolution, but supporters deny that mutation and natural selection are sufficient in themselves to explain the evolution of one "kind" of life from another (e.g. they cannot explain the evolution of humans from apes).
Evolutionary creationists
ECs believe that God uses the process of scientific Darwinian evolution to bring about his plan. Thus, ECs accept all of modern science and can be considered "evolutionists". Their position is distinguished from theistic evolution mainly on theological grounds - it tends to be held by more conservative and evangelical Christians.
Theistic evolutionists
Again, TEs believe that God creates via the process of evolution as described by Darwin. God intervenes at critical times in the process of evolution, giving life appropriate "nudges" in the right direction. This is particular relevant in the evolution of human beings. This is the official position held by the Catholic Church, as stated explicitly by Pope John Paul II.
Neutral evolutionists
NEs hold a non-religious view of the development of life on Earth. They believe that religion and science are separate domains, and that religion and God are not required to explain the development of life on Earth; science is sufficient for a complete explanation. They do not express a view on whether God exists or guides evolution, because this is not relevant to the question at hand.
Materialistic Evolutionists
Believers in ME also hold a non-religious view of the development of life on Earth. They differ from NEs in that they propose in addition that the laws of nature are all that exists; they assert that supernatural forces such as God do not exist.