Post 15--Evolution Endangered?

The subject of today’s title has been bandied back and forth for well over a century.  If we expand it by replacing “evolution” with the term “science,” it has been with us for many centuries, at least ever since that famous ancient North African Christian philosopher/theologian St. Augustine (354-430 AD) was making waves and laid the foundation of a Christian world view during the fourth and fifth centuries.
I hope to devote a few posts to this subject—or should that be plural: “subjects?”  A blog is not the place to come to final conclusions about such major topics, but I would like to just talk about and share with you a few thoughts of mine on the subject.

There are at least two reasons for picking up this subject at this particular time. Apart from the fact that I have long-standing interest in the subject, recently two papers I read regularly have featured articles on it, both written by Christians. One by a Reformed writer; the other by a more liberal one, namely, Douglas Todd of Vancouver Sun fame. 
Todd’s article is entitled “Is belief in evolution endangered?” Of course, it is quite possible that it is not Todd’s title of choice, but that it was imposed by his editor. However, my immediate reaction was, “Come on!  Nonsense!  This majority position is firmly established!” Todd refers to it as “the established scientific view.” True, historically established viewpoints and institutions have been overthrown. So, this one could be as well. But though there is considerable opposition to it, I do not foresee that it will lose its privileged position any time soon. Embattled? Opposed? Resisted? Reviled? All of that, yes, but endangered? No way.  

I am not arguing that I don’t want it endangered!  I believe it might be good for it to be endangered, for too many of its adherents are all too dogmatic about it and intolerant. Given a chance, most of them in academic and scientific circles would love nothing better than to exclude opponents of evolution from their spheres, just have them shushed away into think air, vanish.  It is indeed an “established” perspective that brooks no more opposition than did/do religions with establishment status both in the past and in the present.  Like established religions, it has led to persecution and exclusion of others. I have read any number of stories of people who have been forced out of their academic environments for being politically incorrect. An establishment tends towards smugness and complacency; it becomes lazy and comes to regards its position as representing “common sense” that should not require defense. And it should be supported by the larger established institutions, including universities and governments.  

No, the next few articles will represent neither rejection of certain forms of evolution nor advocate creationism. But I do welcome serious challenges to the evolutionary establishment in favour of a more open, tolerant and pluralistic approach that will allow room for other viewpoints, including both creation and creationism.  

If that distinction puzzles you, well, stick with me and you’ll understand.