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Paul M. Aijian, Ph.D. Prof, of Apologetics, Talbot Theological Seminary 'Evolution
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I n the further elaboration of the is sues involved in answering the ques tion “Where do we come from?” reference must be made to a specific insight of the ancient Greek philoso phers. A careful examination of the Greek point of view will reveal that the early philosopher-scientist recog nized the p re sen ce of an element which did not fit into the ordinary categories of his mechanical systems. This was an element which func tioned in part along dynamic lines, and as such served as the way out in certain problem areas of metaphysics which appeared insolvable. Whatever else the a n c ien t may have attempted to say concerning the . nature of his world, this much he has said emphatically: the organization of the universe could not have oc curred without the operation of pow erful forces which appear to be still at work. He recognized the need for a special atom which had its similar ities with other atoms; yet which, at the same time, was possessed of a unique character sufficient to make this atom the initiator of all motion and the driving power in all change. As one studies a growing thing push ing its way through the ground or contemplates the significant variances ' in the pattern of molecular pathways he is impressed by the remarkable nature of this ancient description. This is the ground in which modern scientific doctrine has its philosophi cal roots. While the thoughtful mind within the Christian church may not appreciate c om p le te ly all that has flowered upon the stem of this ancient philosophical plant, especially in re cent days; there can be no doubt that one must understand something of this development if he hopes to speak to the contemporary situation. Nineteenth century interpreters of ancient thought have tended to ignore the essentially dynamic character of the special initiatory atom and have rendered it somewhat irrelevant or at least peripheral to the major is
sues of the origin and arrangement of things-as-they-are. Nevertheless, a rereading of philosophy as far back as the Milesians has lead some con temporary commentators to say that ancient thought was never purely me chanical. If this notion is a sound one, then it may be possible to say that even the twentieth century doc trin e s of evolutionary development which purport to answer this question of origin cannot really claim a kin ship with the ancients, unless they include some place for an element which is at least not wholly mechan ical, if not precisely spiritual in na ture. Even a casual reading of contem porary science reveals how tremen dous 1 ¿on it has been the impact of the c LEADING ^ ITALIAN BRANDS *>' m u s i c , Dept. K, 2463 E. 15th St., Brooklyn 35, N. V. HO. 9-5883 HO. 9-5883 on CLEANERS tf â a l y l t ORIENTAL RUG I.nr-'e'-f m thp West 545 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. ADDRESSING— M A IL ING — M A ILING LISTS— PRINTING Rates .on request. SPECIAL OFFER— 1000 Religious booksellers $5.00 W ilson's Book Exchange 425 Robert Street, Akron 6, Ohio E n d e a v o r in g to understand the meaning of the evolutionary idea against the background of the ancient Greek notion referred to above, one may be led to suggest that a tremen dous interpretive doctrine given com pletely to non-Christian uses may be réclaimed for the Christian philoso pher. Five propositions may be set forth which appear to embody the meaning in the concept of evolution which is relevant to a Christian in terpretation of the universe. Essentially the notion of evolution means (1) that manifold changes are in process, (2) that these changes are taking place by virtue of powers re siding within the context of nature, (3) that the nature of these powers must be determined by an ex amination of all relevant evi dence appearing anywhere in experience, (4) that there appears to be a gen eral pattern of development marking the pathway of these changes, (5) that no one area and system'of change may be understood or explained apart from its con nection with the system of changes comprising the uni- verse. end . 23 S E P T E M B E R 1 9 5 3
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