The issue of evolution is very controversial, often misunderstood, and frequently mischaracterized by the media. Many with strong positions on the issue do not take time to understand or fairly characterize the views of those who disagree with them.
 
Christians have concerns about evolutionary theory for several reasons. Among them:
 
• Genesis 1 clearly describes special creation by God, and the author of Genesis meant the description to be taken in a literal sense. If evolution as currently defined by most in the scientific community is accurate, the Bible is in error and cannot be considered to be the Word of God.
 
• The New Testament makes many references to a literal Adam (Romans 5, I Timothy 2, I Cor. 15:22). The Christian doctrine of sin and the fall is based on the belief that Adam was the literal first man. If evolution as currently defined by most in the scientific community is true, there is nothing unique about Adam, and the Christian doctrine of sin becomes irrelevant.
 
• If evolution as currently defined by most in the scientific community is true, God is unnecessary. That is not to say that everyone who believes in evolution is an atheist. However, evolution as it is currently defined makes God unnecessary. He becomes the product of wishful thinking and ceases to become the source of all life and truth. If God does not exist, then there is no ultimate basis for morality. This does not mean that those who believe in evolution are immoral. If evolution, as currently defined the scientific community is true, then there is no common basis for asserting that some acts are truly wrong. This results in a culture where right and wrong are “up for grabs”, as we can see in America today, a relativistic culture.
 
None of these points demonstrate that evolution is false, only what is at stake for Christians and for the culture if it is true. There are, however, several good reasons to question evolutionary theory. Among them are the strong evidence for design in nature, the absence of evidence in the fossil record, the unlikelihood of spontaneous generation and beneficial mutations, and the limitations placed on organisms by their genetic characteristics. Many of the accurate scientific findings of the last century have been used by believing scientists to form a new theory: Intelligent Design (for more information on the Intelligent Design Theory contact Family First).
 
When this debate makes waves publicly, it is usually in the realm of education policy. Most education standards are written so that evolution is the only “origin of life” theory that can be taught. At Family First, it is not our goal to ban the teaching of evolution. Rather, it is our desire that academic freedom be preserved for families, students, and teachers. We believe that the following types of legislation violate basic freedoms:
 
• Legislation that mandates that evolution must be taught
 
• Legislation that forbids evidence against evolution to be presented
 
• Legislation that forbids mention of theories or perspectives besides evolution
 
It is important that this be viewed as a question of academic freedom and free scientific inquiry, not as a question of religion versus science. Family First does not advocate that religion be taught in science classrooms, only that freedom for all persons and viewpoints be respected.