Special Creation of Humans After Millions of Years of Non-Human Evo?

[Swamidass (Peaceful Science)]

Just briefly, and to provide clarification, not to stir up any additional controversy.

@Christy

I think the argument goes that there is no way to prove scientifically that a single couple was not specially created and then their descendants went on to mix with the existing non-specially created human population, hence all the signs of evolution.

That is almost exactly right. Notice, this is not an argument that Adam and Eve were specially created, rather just that there is no evidence against this. I one change to make is swap out “human” with “Homo sapien”…

@gbrooks9

But isn’t that still a spurious kind of logic?

No. That is how science works.

@Jay313

So, Adam and Eve were not the first humans, and they were not the product of evolution, like the rest of humanity.

It all depends what we mean by “human”. In John Walton’s model, the Homo sapiens outside the garden were not true theological humans as we understand human today (e.g. they were not Fallen). They bore the Image of God, but were not humans like us. So in this sense, Adam and Eve were the first “humans.”

@gbrooks9

Why would God spend millions of years grooming non-human primates … and then when they were human enough … he uses Special Creation to add a couple into the mix?

@Jay313

I have to ask, then, for what purpose?

Great question~! Expect many interesting answers over the coming year. Or, if you care to, join @Bilbo in coming up with some answers of you own.

@Jay313

A specially created, recent Adam dropped into the flow of history, whether 10,000 years ago or 6,000 years ago, creates far more problems than it solves.

Problems or puzzles of fun? There are many questions here that theologians are taking up. Come join the fun. For the questions you have raised here there are already really interesting answers too.

@gbrooks9

The idea that Adam & Eve require special creation … but not Jesus … doesn’t that pretty much end the speculation right there?

Some might consider the Virgin Birth a type of special “creation,” though creation is not quite the right word. Orthodox theology insists he was not “created” nor was he born “naturally.”

So that pretty much endorses speculation right there!

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It has been a long time since something genuinely new and significant has been put in the conversation. It will take a few years for the theological dust to settle. Till then, it is too early to reject anything a ‘problem’ or “illogical”. We just do not know yet.

This finding, however, is promising for many in the Church. In the end, it has nothing to do with our objections and concerns. It is their concerns that will drive this.