A categorisation of positions on the relationship between biological evolution and biblical creation: A review for educational implications

Abstract

© 2020 IJSTR. The relationship between biological evolution and biblical creation is normally presented in the media as a dichotomy in which one cannot accept both at the same time. However, their actual relationship is much more complicated. Although previous studies have proposed different positions on which the two perspectives are related, a systematic categorisation of these has not been properly carried out from educational perspectives. This paper therefore provides a review on various positions of the relationship between evolution and creation in respect to the q uestion of the origin of life and biodiversity. It proposes eight positions: literal creationism, higher genera created, humans only created, progressive creationism, theistic evolution, deistic evolution, agnostic evolution and atheistic evolution, which can be grouped into three sets of philosophical stances: creationism, divine evolution and nontheistic evolution. It suggests for researchers interested in evolution to use this categorical scheme for further investigations in order to develop a solid body of knowledge in evolution education, as well as enable biology teachers to be aware that there is a tendency that students holding a range of positions may exist in one classroom. Therefore, they are to be well prepared for dealing with issues arisen from students holding different systems of beliefs.