The Evolution of Morals - Creation Moments

Psalm 119:11
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

A recent New Scientist article has suggested that morality is something which evolved rather than being a gift of God. It is hard to see how this might be so. For example, an animal that remains faithful to its mate might seem to be at an evolutionary disadvantage, as there is no robust variety in the genetic makeup of the pair’s offspring, whereas a male that freely mates with every female in sight has a wide genetic variety in its offspring. The seemingly moral behavior would, therefore, be anti-evolutionary.

The New Scientist article argues that many animals exhibit altruistic behavior. They cite the following examples:

Chimpanzees reconcile after a squabble and console each other after a defeat, rats share food with another rat pal, and wolves, fully aware of the danger, defend each other against a grizzly bear.

Since such behavior exists, the author argues, it must have been an evolutionary favorable adaptation that caused it. However, this is a very subtle example of the logical fallacy known as circular reasoning. In order to suggest that morality is a product of evolution, the author has had to assume that evolution is true. It is not. When freed from the need to believe the unscientific concept of evolution, we can see that seemingly altruistic behaviors by animals are exactly the sort of things we should observe in a world created by our great and good Creator.

Prayer: Father, we pray that we might live our lives in obedience to You, bringing honor to Your Name and the Gospel to those we meet. Amen.

Author: Paul F. Taylor

Ref: Deliver us from evil: How biology, not religion, made humans moral, < https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332490-800-deliver-us-from-evil-how-biology-not-religion-made-humans-moral/ >, accessed 9/26/2019. Image: Adobe Stock Images, licensed to author.