YOUNG PEOPLE ASK
Creation or Evolution?—Part 2: Why Question Evolution?
Alex is confused. He has always believed in God and in creation. But today his biology teacher forcefully claimed that evolution is a fact, that it is based on credible scientific research. Alex doesn’t want to appear to be foolish. ‘After all,’ he says to himself, ‘if scientists have proved evolution to be true, who am I to question them?’
Can you identify with this scenario? Perhaps for all your life, you’ve believed what the Bible says: “God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Yet, recently people have been trying to convince you that creation is a myth and that evolution is a fact. Should you believe them? Why question evolution?
Two reasons to question evolution
Scientists don’t agree on evolution. Despite decades of research, scientists have yet to come up with an explanation for evolution that they all can agree on.
To think about: If scientists can’t agree on evolution—and they’re supposed to be the experts—are you wrong to question the theory?—Psalm 10:4.
It matters what you believe. “If life came about by accident, then our lives—and all the things in our universe—are meaningless,” says a boy named Zachary. He has a point. After all, if evolution were true, life would not seem to have any lasting purpose. (1 Corinthians 15:32) On the other hand, if creation is true, we can find satisfying answers to questions about the purpose of life and what the future holds.—Jeremiah 29:11.
To think about: How would knowing the truth about evolution and creation make a difference in your life?—Hebrews 11:1.
Questions to consider
CLAIM: ‘Everything in the universe came as a result of a random big bang.’
Who or what caused the big bang?
Which makes more sense—that everything came from nothing or that everything came from something or someone?
CLAIM: ‘Humans evolved from animals.’
If humans evolved from animals—from apes, for example—why is there such a huge gap between the intellectual abilities of humans and those of apes?a
Why are even the most “basic” forms of life so incredibly complex?b
CLAIM: ‘Evolution is a proven fact.’
Has the person making this claim investigated the evidence for himself?
How many people believe in evolution simply because they have been told that all intelligent people believe in it?
a Some may claim that humans are more intelligent because they have a larger brain than apes do. However, for reasons why that argument is not valid, see the brochure The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking, page 28.
b See the brochure The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking, pages 8-12.