The Big Question Is: Did Darwin Bury God?
For centuries there had seemed no way of understanding how life had emerged and developed on earth other than it being God’s handiwork. All things in the natural world - including animals and human beings - all signed, sealed and delivered in just six days of hectic divine activity. BUT with Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution there was a seismic shift – one that, ever since, seems to have diminished God. “Darwin has left God nothing to do,” says Tufts university philosopher and New Atheist Daniel Dennett. Examining this proposition is at the heart of Life, Evolution and The God Question.
Do atheists need Darwin? “Yes, Yes and Yes,” responds the renowned evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson. The case for atheism is built on the premise that evolution, by itself, explains the whole story. BUT:
These are just some of the questions explored in Life, Evolution and The God Question.
- What did Darwin really say?
- Was he substantially correct and if so what are the real and honest implications for God?
- What does the modern science of genetics tell us about Darwin’s ideas?
- Can the fossil record help?
Most scientists are persuaded that evolution provides important true insights into how life developed on earth. BUT a significant number of them believe in God. “This is science teaching us what was really happening with God’s creative plan,” says the former head of the Human Genome Project, Francis Collins and author of “The Language of God.” BUT:
Other scientists are much more sceptical about how much evolution really explains.
Once again in a programme that features atheists and theists who are world renowned authorities on the subject, the gloves are off in the most high profile battle ground of science and religion in the last 150 years.
- If evolution is God’s process why is it so wasteful of life?
- Where in the process was the birth of the human soul?
- Can it produce new body parts?
- Where does the coded information come from that instructs every cell in how it should be built?
- How can a system that is random produce such sophistication as the human brain?
- Can genetics professor Steve Jones be correct when he says we result from “a series of successful mistakes”?
Programme Contributors
Prof Andrew Parker
Author of The Genesis Enigma which argues a curious harmony...Learn More
Prof Andrew Parker
Author of The Genesis Enigma which argues a curious harmony between the sequence of events in Genesis and the evolutionary paradigm. His specialist knowledge includes the Cambrian period, often described as “the big bang” of evolution.
Prof Arkhat Abzhanov
Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology,...Learn More
Prof Arkhat Abzhanov
Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University. Provides and demonstrates insight into how modern science understands the molecular changes that take place in the birds that so fascinated Darwin.
Prof Carol Cleland
Philosopher of Science and insightful commentator on...Learn More
Prof Carol Cleland
Philosopher of Science and insightful commentator on evolutionary biology. Argues the compatibility between evolution and belief in God.
Prof Celia Deane-Drummond
Has lectured both nationally and internationally on all...Learn More
Prof Celia Deane-Drummond
Has lectured both nationally and internationally on all areas relating theology and theological ethics with different aspects of the biosciences, especially ecology and genetics.
Christopher Hitchens
The late journalist, public speaker and Author of God Is...Learn More
Christopher Hitchens
The late journalist, public speaker and Author of God Is Not Great. A key spokesperson for ‘New Atheism’, Hitchens’ confrontational style of debate made him both a lauded and controversial figure.
Prof Daniel Dennett
American philosopher, writer and cognitive scientist. His...Learn More
Prof Daniel Dennett
American philosopher, writer and cognitive scientist. His research centres on the philosophy of mind, science and biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. A firm atheist and secularist. A prominent member of the New Atheists.
Prof David Sloan Wilson
Argues that the evolutionary paradigm can adequately...Learn More
Prof David Sloan Wilson
Argues that the evolutionary paradigm can adequately explain not only phenomena in the biological world but in the social world of religion and morality as well. There is, therefore, no need for a creator.
Dr Dean Hamer
American geneticist and author. Profoundly skilled in...Learn More
Dr Dean Hamer
American geneticist and author. Profoundly skilled in communicating the complexities of molecular biology to a lay audience and in linking this information to the big issues of the programme. Author of "The God Gene" which argues that spiritual experience is merely a function of the brain.
Dr Denis Alexander
Editor of the academic journal Science and Christian...Learn More
Dr Denis Alexander
Editor of the academic journal Science and Christian Belief. A committed Darwinian and a Christian, he argues there is no contradiction between science and belief in a creator. Author of several books on evolution and faith including "Creation or Evolution: Do We Have to Choose?"
Dr Francis Collins
American physician-geneticist noted for his landmark...Learn More
Dr Francis Collins
American physician-geneticist noted for his landmark discovery of disease genes and head of the ‘Human Genome Project’ responsible for the discovery of the 3.5 billion letters of DNA, the basic instruction book of life. Author of "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief".
James Moore
Historian of Science at the Open University and the...Learn More
James Moore
Historian of Science at the Open University and the University of Cambridge, and visiting scholar at Harvard University. Author of several biographies of Charles Darwin. He sheds fascinating insight into Darwin’s somewhat perplexed views on the existence/role of a creator.
Prof Jennifer Clack
Professor and Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology,...Learn More
Prof Jennifer Clack
Professor and Curator of Vertebrate Palaeontology, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, she is an expert in the early development of tetrapods, four legged animals said to have evolved from Devonian lobe-finned fishes and colonised the freshwater swamps of the Carboniferous period.
Prof John Lennox
Oxford Professor of Mathematics and Philosopher of Science,...Learn More
Prof John Lennox
Oxford Professor of Mathematics and Philosopher of Science, he is a prominent defender of Christian faith and author of several books on science and religion including "God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?" and "Gunning For God: Why The New Atheists Are Missing The Target."
Rev Dr John Polkinghorne
Writer, Anglican Priest, former Professor of Mathematical...Learn More
Rev Dr John Polkinghorne
Writer, Anglican Priest, former Professor of Mathematical Physics at University of Cambridge, he is author of 26 books on the relationship between science and religion.
Prof Ken Miller
World renowned cell biologist and molecular biologist....Learn More
Prof Ken Miller
World renowned cell biologist and molecular biologist. Author of Finding Darwin’s God which argues that the very success of evolution is evidence of a constructive mind behind the natural world.
Prof Martin Brasier
Professor of Paleobiology at the University of Oxford and...Learn More
Prof Martin Brasier
Professor of Paleobiology at the University of Oxford and Emeritus fellow of St Edmund Hall. He is known for his study of microfossils and evolution in the Precambrian and Cambrian periods.
His research critically examines the context and character of the early fossil record.
Rev Prof Michael Reiss
Professor of Science Education at the Institute of...Learn More
Rev Prof Michael Reiss
Professor of Science Education at the Institute of Education, University of London; also an Anglican priest. Former Director of Education at the Royal Society.
Prof Michael Ruse
Author of "Can a Darwinian be a Christian?" and "The...Learn More
Prof Michael Ruse
Author of "Can a Darwinian be a Christian?" and "The Evolution - Creation Struggle". Specialises in the philosophy of biology and is well known for his work on the relationship between science and religion and the creation/evolution controversy.
Prof Peter Atkins
Former Professor of Chemistry, University of Oxford. An...Learn More
Prof Peter Atkins
Former Professor of Chemistry, University of Oxford. An outspoken critic of any attempt to argue that science and religion are compatible. Professes total incredulity that respected scientists can believe in a God.
Prof Richard Dawkins
The world’s most famous contemporary atheist, he is the...Learn More
Prof Richard Dawkins
The world’s most famous contemporary atheist, he is the author of the best-selling book "The God Delusion" and a regular presenter of television programmes which scorn religious beliefs.
Prof Robert White
Professor of Geophysics in the department of Earth Sciences...Learn More
Prof Robert White
Professor of Geophysics in the department of Earth Sciences at Cambridge University and a director of The Faraday Institute of Science and Religion. He is a fellow of the Geological Society and a member of The American Geophysical Union.
Dr Stephen Meyer
Philosopher of science and advocate of Intelligent Design....Learn More
Dr Stephen Meyer
Philosopher of science and advocate of Intelligent Design. He is director at The Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture and also Senior Fellow at The Discovery Institute. He is the author of Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design.
Prof Steve Fuller
Professor of sociology at the University of Warwick....Learn More
Prof Steve Fuller
Professor of sociology at the University of Warwick. Philosopher and sociologist in the field of science and technology. A member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He is the Author of 18 books including Dissent Over Descent, a critique of the work of Darwin.
Prof Steve Jones
Professor of Genetics, University College London. A prize...Learn More
Prof Steve Jones
Professor of Genetics, University College London. A prize winning author, he is generally contemptuous of any attempt to harmonise science with belief in God. He claims that “evolution is a series of successful mistakes.”
Dr Usama Hasan
A controversial scientist within the Muslim community, he...Learn More
Dr Usama Hasan
A controversial scientist within the Muslim community, he is Founding Advisor at the Quilliam Foundation. The Foundation raises awareness and support for theological reform issues within the British Muslim community and in Pakistan.
Wayne Ranney
Expert in the evolution of life forms preserved in the...Learn More
Wayne Ranney
Expert in the evolution of life forms preserved in the Grand Canyon. Has travelled the world as a geologic interpreter and on various natural history expeditions. Author of "Ancient Landscapes, Carving Grand Canyon and Sedona Through Time."
Dr William Dembski
American philosopher, theologian and a supporter of the...Learn More
Dr William Dembski
American philosopher, theologian and a supporter of the Intelligent Design movement. Senior fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture. He has written several books including The Design Revolution (2004) and Intelligent Design Uncensored (2010).
