Discussion of Charles Darwin on "Speaking of Faith"

On the radio broadcast Speaking of Faith broadcast in Louisville this morning, Krista Tippett discusses Charles Darwin with Darwin scholar James Moore [hear the broadcast HERE].

Tippett's agenda in this interview seems to be threefold:

1. To demonstrate that Darwin was not himself an atheist.
2. To assert that faith is not incompatible with Darwinistic evolution.
3. To deny a literal reading of Scripture.

According to Tippett, Darwin takes particular exception to the idea of God's extensive sovereignty in predestination. Tippett speaks of Darwin liberating God from the responsibility for suffering; Darwin apparently taught that God initiated certain natural processes and that these processes, apart from God's direct control, are responsible for the violence seen in nature.

In relation to this last point, I would direct readers' attention to John Piper's article, "Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained that Evil Be?"

An interesting and foundational point is made at one point in the interview by Tippett when she contrasts the idea of interpreting Scripture in light of scientific observation vs. interpreting scientific observation in light of Scripture. I would question what kind of God one would discover using scientific observation as a starting point, especially in light of Richard Dawkin's objections to theism based on scientific observations. From Scripture, we know that this world is captive to sin, and that there are many aspects of this world that directly contradict God's goodness, rather than the violence of this world proving that God is evil. From Scripture, we know that this world needs a Redeemer.