What is the Jewish explanation of evolution? I am studying Torah beliefs and do believe in G-d but I also understand science and there seems to be merit to humans evolving from millions of years ago. I’m confused knowing that Hebrews existed from 5763, and humanoids long before. Creation begins with Adam and Eve. Where then does the evolutionary process fit it and can both be credible?
Shalom and thank you.
Hi,
The question of evolution can be approached by believing Jews in more than one way. There are intelligent Orthodox Jews who have taken both pro- and anti-evolutionary positions and each side has strong supporting arguments. What’s always useful (in general), though, is to remember to first ask the most basic questions possible, because you might find that there’s less of a problem than you originally imagined. In this case, it’s useful to define for yourself exactly what the theory of evolution claims and how each of those claims might actually conflict with some basic Torah principle.
On the other hand, I have long been of the opinion that the basic mechanics of evolution run counter to simple logic and evidence. One can approach this through what’s sometimes known as “evidence through design.” Simply stated, this suggests that design in nature and life itself implies (or requires) that there must have been a conscious designer. Complexity, the argument runs, isn’t born of chaos or random chance. This argument has been around for centuries, but in every decade it takes on new names and proponents. One accessible and enjoyable treatment of this approach can be found at www.2001principle.net.
In any case (whichever path you choose), an Orthodox Jew needs to waste little time and energy worrying about how his faith might be hurt by science.
As far as the age of the universe, I once asked one of the chief scientists at the Canadian Space Agency (his wife was the secular principal of our high school) whether there were any dating techniques that didn’t rely on the assumption of a perfectly uniform environment throughout all of history: after all, a meteor strike (like the one suggested in the Yucatan Peninsula) or a major volcano would have shot megatons of dust or ash into the atmosphere, radically changing the levels of oxygen and, therefore, carbon 12 and 14. These anomalies would have significantly skewed later measurements assuming a constant carbon decay rate. The fellow replied that the variable-histories of various dating methods (including radio-carbon dating) had all been well calibrated in the laboratory. I asked him how unknown events from the distant past could possibly have been calibrated to which he answered (with a sheepish grin) “I don’t know.”
That’s nowhere near the whole story (visible stars and the speed of light is a much bigger issue), but it’s something to think about.
Rabbi Boruch Clinton