Order and emergence in biological evolution

Denis Alexander

pp. 151-169

in: Gerrit Glas, Jeroen De Ridder (eds), The future of creation order 1, Berlin, Springer, 2017

Abstract

In this chapter I provide a brief overview of the idea of progress that has so often been attached to the narrative of the biological theory of evolution and I argue that the outcome of that particular discussion makes relatively little difference to Christian theology. Second, I refer to more recent commentators who have suggested that Darwinian evolution is incompatible with either the ideas of progress or of purpose, or of both. Third, I suggest that in contrast to these commentators, recent biological insights point to evolution as a highly constrained process, consistent with the idea of a God who has purposes and intentions for all of his created order. In the dynamic interplay between chance and necessity that characterizes the evolutionary process, it is necessity that has the upper hand. Therefore, whatever one might think about the discussion about progress, as far as purpose is concerned, the biological data do not support those who suggest that evolution is incompatible with the idea of purpose.