Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 129:514 (Apr 1972)
Article: The Influence of Evolution
Author: Henry M. Morris

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BSac 129:514 (Apr 72) p. 116

The Influence of Evolution

Henry M. Morris

Present Status of Evolutionary Thought

[Henry M. Morris, Director of Creation Science Research Center; Academic Vice President, Christian Heritage College, San Diego, California.]

The purpose of this article is to trace, in summary fashion, the influence of the evolutionary philosophy in various cultures. At present evolutionary thought is dominant not only in biology but in all other disciplines as well. The creationist cosmology is held by only a small minority and few of these have any substantial scientific comprehension of its implications.

A leading evolutionist emphasizes the universal scope of the evolutionary process as follows: “Evolution comprises all the stages of the development of the universe: the cosmic, biological, and human or cultural developments. Attempts to restrict the concept of evolution to biology are gratuitous. Life is a product of the evolution of inorganic nature, and man is a product of the evolution of life.”1

A widely-used university textbook, though less dogmatic than others in this field, begins with the words: “Organic evolution is the greatest general principle in biology. Its implications extend far beyond the confines of that science, ramifying into all phases of human life and activity. Accordingly, understanding of evolution should be part of the intellectual equipment of all educated persons.”2 To appreciate the ubiquitous nature of the evolutionary concept, one should look briefly at its role in several major areas of human life and study.

BSac 129:514 (Apr 72) p. 117

Biology

It is of course well known, as Moody states above, that organic evolution, with its grand picture of the slow but inexorable upward progress of life from amoeba to man, dominates the field of biology, the study of life.

Anthropology

The accepted theory of man’s development leaves no room for the biblical Adam, but rather visualizes a gradual divergence of man and the apes from a common ancestor in the Paleocene Epoch about seventy million years ago, with man finally evolving into essentially his present form perhaps a million years ago. Human evolution is insisted upon as factual, not even open to question. “That man has evolved from less distinguished ancestors is indisputable.” “What we are concerned with is not to show where man came from. That we no longer doubt. But to show how he came; to show the processes by which some ape-like animals became men.”3

Geology

Historical geology attempts to...

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