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JOURNAL ARTICLE CRITIQUE

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van de Beek, Abraham, 2011 “Evolution, Original Sin, and Death.” Journal of Reformed Theology 5, no. 2:206-220.

THEO 525

Systematic Theology I

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

Introduction

Abraham Van de Beek’s article’s purpose is to provide thought and sicussion concerning evolution, original sin and death. The article states that one of the most disputed doctrines as it relates to Christianity is about original sin. This article argues that modern evolutionary thought and traditional Christianity match very well. It goes on to say that they are both have the same structure with similar problems and features. It goes on to state that in both cases start with the first human being with moral awareness and conscience of failure is put forward, aspects that were transferred to the offspring by sexual intercourse. This article relates sin in the same way in that the connection of sin, law and death: human being do not keep to the standards of ntural or divine law.

Brief Summary

Abaham van de Beek’s thesis would be that original sin and evolution are similar and that they fit together. The article discusses the first human beings, original sin and how they can be attributed to an evoluntionary approach. The author goes on to use biblical stories to support the story of evolution. The author states that from an evolutionary perspective, original sin is not something strange but rather obvious if one considers morality as a basic human characteristic. It goes on to state that Christians often reject the evolutionary origin of humanity because they believe that it denies the fall into sin of the first human which was Adam. The article tries to prove that the opposite is true by stating that an evolutionary approach implies the first human who became aware of guilt and transferred not only the capability of guilt to offspring but also the reality of a humanity that did not meet standards it should attain – Godly standards. It then goes on to discuss original sin and sexuality, the sting of death which is the consequence of sin. The author goes on to discuss deliverance from this situation – from a biblical aspect and from an evolutionary perspective.

Critical Interaction

The author’s goal was to give his readers information to provoke thought and discussion as it relates to original sin, death and evolution. He does this by discussing the similarlities of original sin, death to a evolutionary perspective. The article does provoke thought as to the aspect of evolutionary perspective as it relates to original sin. He discusses the problems and conclusions to each topic in order for his readers to determine which view they will hold to.

However he does not argue that moral awareness is merely the product of human evolutionary genetics. He acknowledges that God creates human beings including their genetic structure. He also does not argue that the Augustinaina-Calvinist doctrine of original sin is true because it fits will in modern science of evolution. He states that modern evolutionism can do well without the concept of God and even of sin. What the author argues for is that neigher one excludes the other because according to him they have similar problems and similar features. He goes on to discuss these similarities as it relates to probems and features.

The author’s goal is to have his readers acknowledge that one should see that both views should stay together and not be excluded from one another.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the author does provoke thought concerning original sin and evolution. relates to the updating and translation process (inscripturation process). His examples and information on the similarities of both views shows his readers that he does have a deep understanding of this subject. Some of the applications that arise from this article would be that no matter what view one takes, be careful not to think that somehow we can escape from the consequences of sin as Christians or to avoid it as non-Christians. This article has raised questions for me as to how far does the author believe in the evolutionary perspective – is his belief in the evolutionary perspective only as it relates to original sin and death or does he go beyond that in the belief that everything was evolved from one source.

Bibliogrpahy

Van de Beek, 2011, “Evolution, Original Sin, and Death.” Journal of Reformed Theology, 5,

no. 2: 206-220. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed August 15, 2015).