The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

An Evolutionary Adaptation of the Fall

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

According to John Polkinghorne, the Fall is the major Christian doctrine that is the most difficult to reconcile with contemporary science. Like him, however, I believe it is vitally important, even in this regard, to try to pinpoint the extent to which taking science seriously requires us to modify traditionally held beliefs. In this paper I focus on two problematic ideas associated with the Fall: (i) the idea of a primordial human couple (Adam and Eve), and (ii) the idea that this couple was subjected to bodily death as a result of their original misdeed. I argue that, contrary to appearances, it is possible to harmonize these beliefs with contemporary science – at least if one presupposes some kind of soul-body dualism. I also try to show that this dualism, although philosophically non-fashionable nowadays, is yet to be refuted or made redundant by current evolutionary theory or neurophysiology.

Department/s

Publishing year

2014

Language

English

Pages

295-307

Publication/Series

New Blackfriars

Volume

95

Issue

1057

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Topic

  • Religious Studies

Keywords

  • Evolution
  • Adam and Eve
  • John Polkinghorne
  • Assumptions into Heaven
  • Cartesian Dualism

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0028-4289