15 Powerful Christian Questions and Answers for Spiritual Growth

Answering 15 Questions for Evolutionists: Part 1

In recent years, there has been a surge in responses from evolutionists and skeptics attempting to answer the 15 Questions for Evolutionists put forth by Dr. Don Batten. As defenders of a biblical perspective, we have compiled and summarized many of these responses, along with our refutations, to address the objections raised by our critics.

Question 1: Are These Questions Unanswerable Due to Lack of Scientific Advancement?

Objection: Skeptics argue that these questions are unanswerable only because our scientific knowledge is not advanced enough.

Rebuttal: While it is true that science continues to expand our understanding of the natural world, it is important to note that the more we learn, the more problems evolution faces. For example, as our knowledge of biology has grown, we have discovered that even the simplest living cells are incredibly complex, containing advanced nanotechnology. The idea that science will eventually answer all questions about evolution is unfounded. In fact, scientific advancements have highlighted the challenges and complexities of evolutionary theory.

Question 2: Is CMI's Definition of Evolution Misleading?

Objection: Critics claim that CMI uses a misleading definition of evolution and that it is only the change in allele frequency in a population over time.

Rebuttal: Evolution is often defined in various ways, ranging from small-scale changes within species to molecules-to-man evolution. CMI's definition of evolution for the purposes of this pamphlet is the 'General Theory of Evolution' (GTE), which states that all living forms in the world have arisen from a single source. This definition aligns with the views of many secular scientists. It is important to recognize that CMI does not deny changes in allele frequency over time; rather, our objections lie with the broader claims made by evolutionary theory.

Question 3: Is Arguing for God's Involvement an Argument from Ignorance?

Objection: Skeptics argue that attributing the origin of life to God is an argument from ignorance.

Rebuttal: We do not argue from what we don't know but from what we do know about the complexity of life and the information encoded in DNA. The intricate nature of biological systems, including the information stored in DNA, points to an intelligent designer. This argument is not based on a lack of knowledge but on the presence of specified complex information that is indicative of design. On the other hand, claiming that evolution somehow explains the origin of life without providing any evidence is an argument from ignorance, or 'evolution of the gaps'.

Question 4: Do Improbable Events Happen All the Time?

Objection: Critics argue that many of these questions involve improbable events, but improbable events happen all the time.

Rebuttal: While it is true that improbable events can occur, it is important to recognize that the probability of certain events happening naturally is extremely low. Evolutionists often use analogies like lotteries or coin flips to explain how unlikely events can happen, but these analogies are misleading. When it comes to the origin of life, the probabilities are stacked against any outcome. The complexity and information content of even the simplest living organisms far surpasses what can be explained by random chance alone.

Question 5: Does CMI Engage in Quote Mining?

Objection: Critics accuse CMI of quote mining, citing scientists who are evolutionists as part of their argument against evolution.

Rebuttal: CMI takes care not to quote scientists out of context and misrepresent their views. We use quotes from evolutionary scientists to demonstrate that even within their own ranks, there are scientists who acknowledge the difficulties and challenges faced by evolutionary theory. Quoting an evolutionist who has conceded a problem with evolution is not "quoting out of context" but rather highlighting the internal debates and disagreements within the scientific community.

Now that we have addressed some general objections, let's delve into the first three questions from the 15 Questions for Evolutionists.

Question 1: How Did Life Originate?

Answer: The question of life's origin is relevant to the debate on evolution. The theory of evolution requires an already-reproducing organism to kickstart the process. The origin of life, also known as abiogenesis, is a separate but closely related topic. Evolutionists often argue that abiogenesis is not pertinent to the discussion, but this is an attempt to avoid addressing a significant hurdle for their theory. The inability to explain how life originated in the first place undermines the entire framework of evolutionary theory.

Question 2: How Did the DNA Code Originate?

Answer: The DNA code is a complex information system that encodes the instructions necessary for life. Evolutionists propose various explanations, such as the RNA world hypothesis, but these theories face significant challenges. The RNA world hypothesis assumes that early life used RNA instead of DNA to encode information. However, there is no evidence for this hypothesis, and it is fraught with difficulties. The complexity of the DNA code and its decoding machinery present insurmountable obstacles for naturalistic explanations. The existence of an intricate code points to an intelligent designer.

Question 3: How Could Mutations Create the Vast Amounts of Information in DNA?

Answer: Mutations are often hailed as the driving force behind evolutionary change. However, mutations rarely result in an increase in information or complexity. In fact, mutations overwhelmingly degrade existing genetic information. Computer simulations that purport to demonstrate information-gaining mutations are based on unrealistic assumptions and do not accurately model real-life genetics. Mutations are more akin to spelling mistakes in an instruction manual than mechanisms for creating new genetic information. The idea that mutations alone can account for the vast amount of information in DNA is unfounded and contrary to observed scientific evidence.

In this article, we have addressed some general objections raised by skeptics and provided biblical perspectives on the first three questions from the 15 Questions for Evolutionists. Stay tuned for the next installment, where we will continue to explore these thought-provoking questions and provide comprehensive answers from a conservative Christian viewpoint.