I haven’t posted in a while about the encroachment of the theory of evolution into the Church but the recent debate between Bill Nye (the science guy) and Ken Ham (Answers in Genesis) has brought the issue back to the front of my thinking. There was also a recent conference at Point Loma Nazarene University called, “Exploring Origins: Nazarenes in Dialogue” which sparked (or resparked?) some interest.

Photo credit: answersingenesis.org

Instead of writing much about either of these events, I want to share a post by Dr. Georgia Purdom who at one time was a professor at Mount Vernon Nazarene University and is now a resident scholar at Answers in Genesis.  Dr. Purdom “graduated with a PhD in molecular genetics from Ohio State University in 2000. Her specialty is cellular and molecular biology.” More about her can be found at the Answers in Genesis website.  Dr. Purdom was one of the speakers at the PLNU conference, in fact the only speaker representing the biblical view of creation!

In her post, Dr. Purdom asks the question, “Can Theistic Evolutionists and Biblical Creationists have a Diaglogue?” This is a very relevant question in light of the recent Nye-Ham debate and Origins conference at PLNU and I think that she answers the question well:

by Dr. Georgia Purdom

That was the central theme of the conference I presented at last week titled, “Exploring Origins: Nazarenes in Dialogue.” The conference was held on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University and was co-sponsored by BioLogos. I grew up in the Nazarene Church and taught at Mount Vernon Nazarene University for six years before coming to AiG, so I have a vested interest in where the denomination is heading on this issue.

I was the only speaker at the conference to present the biblical creation/young earth creation view. Before going to the conference, I was sure I would feel like Daniel in the lion’s den! However, the organizers of the conference were very hospitable and I never experienced any hostility from those in attendance. The conference consisted of about 150 pastors, students, theologians, and scientists.

There is a real dichotomy in the Church of the Nazarene as it pertains to the origins issue. As several people admitted to me at the conference, the laypeople are overwhelmingly biblical creationists, the professors in the academy (i.e., universities) are theistic evolutionists (TEs), and the pastors feel “stuck” in the middle. I think this is a clear case of knowledge “puffing up!” It became clear from the presentations at the conference that the theologians and scientists are convinced that evolution is true and the earth is billions of years old. Therefore, the Bible, specifically Genesis, must be reinterpreted to accommodate these views.

There were many disturbing things said by those in attendance but time and space permits me to just share a few.

Continue reading Dr. Purdom’s post at the Answers in Genesis website (842 more words).

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