Origin of Life

Outline

See Phillip Johnson "Darwin on Trial"

In this book, he chooses to first talk about the Patristic Understanding of Genesis
And then to discuss evolution
Phillip Johnson gives a brief introduction to the book to expand on (and update) Fr Seraphim's understanding of evolution (i.e. 20 years later). He mostly briefly summarizes his book "Darwin on Trial"
The reason Fr Seraphim chooses this order is because he felt that talking about Evolution is very negative and dry whereas first hearing from the Fathers about the creation of the world is uplifting and heavy and empowering
He sees Evolution as a Philosophical battleground as well as scientific - the only reason Evolution still exists and is still supported is not because of scientific backing, but because it is more philosophical in nature.
Distinction between scientific fact and scientific philosophy
The Philosophical foundation is that of materialism or naturalism - that everything is material and everything occurs through natural processes. In the absence of another material explanation to origins, evolution has persisted
Many scientific advancements have come not only to "not support" evolution but to essentially prove that evolution cannot be true... But these have stayed in scientific circles, academic journals, etc. and not reached the greater Public