Part Two: “Did Religious Belief Evolve as Darwinists Claim?”

The theory that religion is a product of evolution began in the nineteenth century when intellectuals, seduced by Darwin’s biological evolutionary theory, attempted to apply evolution to religious beliefs—and is still accepted by evolutionists and materialists today. According to this theory, contemporary religions evolved from animistic roots. Animism (the religious belief of all primitive cultures) was thought to be the earliest evolutionary state of all religions. Supposedly, polytheism evolved out of animism as the various animistic spirits became viewed as individual gods. Monotheism eventually evolved out of polytheism as one of the many gods became supreme. Thus, monotheism (e.g., Christianity) was considered the most sophisticated and advanced evolutionary form of worship

Today, the theory that religions evolved have fallen on hard times among scholars. Anthropologists and ethnologists (a branch of anthropology that studies cultures) have proven beyond doubt that religion is intrinsic to the oldest cultures. Evidence shows that even Neanderthal had religious beliefs.

If religion evolved, there should be a time when religion was absent from human cultures. Yet no such evidence has ever been found. Moreover, if monotheism arose from animism, then primitive religions should be void of monotheism. But again, this is not the case. Not only is there no evidence that animism evolved into polytheism and later into monotheism, but there is tremendous evidence supporting just the opposite. It turns out that belief in a supreme God is characteristic of animistic religions. Thus, it appears that monotheism de-evolved into polytheism and pantheism.

The various evolutionary theories on the origin of religion have been discredited. The assumption that religion evolved as a crutch to comfort fearful humanity and to explain the great mysteries of life is without verifiable evidence (see Part One).

This becomes even more obvious when we consider the “kind” of God that Christianity supposedly evolved. God revealed in the Bible is more than just a loving God. He is also a powerful God who knows every thought and intention (1 Chron. 28:9) and from whom we can never hide (Ps. 139:7-12). He is a God who wants our obedience (Josh. 22:5; Luke 8:21; John 14:15) and whose judgments are totally beyond human control (Rom. 2:5; Eph. 5:3-6; Rev. 6:12-17). He is a God whose perfect justice does not allow people into Heaven who rejects Jesus’ offer of salvation (Matt.5:31-46; John 5:28-29; cf. Acts 17: 26-27).  Certainly, if people were to invent a god (or if one evolved to comfort people), they would create one more manageable and less threatening—a god more easily appeased and controlled—as was the case with idol worshipers. Or they would invent a god who takes little interest in people’s affairs, such as the pantheistic gods of Eastern religions. ©

Next week we’ll see that everyone—including atheists and evolutionists—need and have crutches.

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