Can Darwinians also be Christians? Michael Ruse, Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University, set out to address that provocative question at the third Wooster Forum event Tuesday night in McGaw Chapel.
The eloquent and soft-spoken Ruse, now 66 and making his third visit to The College of Wooster, framed the discussion within the polar viewpoints of evolutionist Richard Dawkins and evangelist Pat Robertson, both of whom, he said, are “a little over the top.”
Ruse, who conceded that a discussion about science often makes the religious uneasy just as a conversation about religion tends to make scientists uncomfortable, advocated a move toward the center through a dialogue involving those on both sides.
Ruse began with a condensed history lesson about Darwinism and Christianity. He noted that Charles Darwin was a Bible-believing Christian before a fateful trip to the Galapagos Islands on the H.M.S. Beagle in 1835 changed everything. Fascinated by the diversity of birds and reptiles on the islands, Darwin sketched out his tree of life, which became the foundation for his theory of evolution through natural selection. Ruse went on to contrast Darwin’s views with those of others, including William Paley, a Christian apologist, utilitarian, and philosopher who made a design argument for the existence of God in his book Natural Theology. He also summarized the beliefs of such theologians as Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, and John Calvin.
After providing a historical context, Ruse went about answering the central question by posing fourth others. First, he asked, “Does the fact of evolution make Christianity impossible?” While acknowledging that Pat Robertson would probably say “yes,” Ruse argued that science and religion can co-exist, primarily because of man’s ability to reason, hinting that not all of scripture is literal and concluding that evolution does not make Christianity impossible. Then, Ruse asked, “Does the fact of evolution make Christianity unnecessary?” Before answering the question, he advised the audience to “hang on a minute. The story is more complex. There are still facts that need to be explained.” He went on explain the development and function of the eye of a fossil trilobite, and concluded that evolution does not make Christianity unnecessary.
In a slightly different version of the second question, Ruse asked, “Does Darwinism make Christianity unnecessary?” In this case, he said “yes” because Darwin’s theory of natural selection argues against the need for Christianity to explain design on nature.
Ruse’s final question, “Does Darwinism make Christianity impossible?” went to the heart of the issue. Dawkins and many other Darwinians would probably say “yes” according to Ruse because of the problem of evil. Darwin struggled with the idea that God would allow pain and suffering, but Ruse pointed out the distinction between moral evil (man’s inhumanity to man, which results from free will), and natural evil (events that occur in nature) and concluded that a “traditional Christian” (that is, not a literalist) could reconcile a dangerous world ruled by laws which allow free will (and thus evolution) with a loving and omnipotent God.
Ruse, who has written 18 books on the subject, concluded the presentation with a question-and-answer session and then moved across the street to Freedlander Theatre, where he signed copies of his latest book, The Evolution-Creation Struggle.