A Framework for Age-of-Universe / Evolution - The Evolutionists

In the course of investigating the realm of evolution from a Torah perspective, one encounters what I find a frustrating obstacle. Generally, disagreements about evolution are based on a few key points in the scientific analysis and/or the Torah response. Unfortunately, regarding the scientific assertions of evolutionists, it happens often that both sides make references to fossil evidence, logic, and scientific consensus supporting themselves, without properly establishing this support. Instead, they assert that it is so obvious as to be assumed, to the extent that both sides of the discussion sometimes call the claims of the other "nonsense." This creates a smokescreen in which it can be difficult for a layman of science to see the scientific reality. Thus I find myself quite without bearings in discovering what the natural world is actually telling us.

In my own attempt to shed some light on the facts behind this matter, I have begun by assembling what I hope to be a fundamental and sound framework of the evolutionists' model of the origin of species, and of the various Torah responses that have emerged. I intend to investigate the support for and implications of these points. I would very much appreciate feedback if any part of the framework is faulty.

In this post, I will begin with the evolutionary claim of the modern synthesis. Since, according to Darwin, the theory of evolution depends on a history of life of at least 100 million years¹, we will begin with assertions about the age of the universe.

1. It is possible to make valid, meaningful observations about the geologically ancient world.
2. Various dating methods tell us that the universe and the world are ancient, indeed billions of years old.
   • Tree rings (tens of thousands of years)
   • Ice cores (hundreds of thousands of years)
   • Varves (millions of years)
   • Radioactive decay dating of rocks and minerals (billions of years)
   • Red-shift data from distant celestial objects (billions of years)
3. We observe the earliest signs of life several billion years ago via remains of life preserved as fossils.
4. The fossil record indicates that modern forms of life have developed over billions of years via descent with modification from a small number of these originating forms.
5. Random genetic mutation and natural selection together are sufficient to account for this process.

Next, בעזרת ה׳, the Torah responses.

¹ Miller, Kenneth. Finding Darwin's God. New York: Cliff Street Books, 1999. p. 66.

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