Creation and Evolution Coptic Apologetics Group Aletheia 18 June 2017Protopresbyter Dr Doru Costache The Australian Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies https://www.aiocs.org/ https://dorucostache.academia.edu/

Why am I here?

It’s because the panel is on creation and evolution

It’s because it isn’t about creationism and evolutionism

What do I mean

creation =/= creationism

evolution =/= evolutionism

What’s my point?

Creation who? a theological representation of reality

Creationism how? a supernaturalist ideology

Evolution what? a scientific description of reality

Evolutionism how? a naturalist ideology

So what?

Could creationism and evolutionism be bridged? Never

Could creation and evolution be bridged? Yes

How come?Looking differently at the same reality

Theological viewpoint = doctrine of creation = who?

Scientific viewpoint = theory of evolution = what?

The wisdom of Saint Gregory of Nyssa (d. ca 395)

An Apology for the Hexaemeron 64-66, 72

divine perspective: one event

human perspective: many events

A traditional approach

D H

DH

Christ

human/created energydivine/uncreated energy

doctrine of creation theory of evolution

principle of synergy

Saint Maximus the Confessor (d. 662) To Thalassius 60

divinehuman energy

divinehuman energy

A eucharistic approach

A Christian’s main concern is not about how things came to be; it’s about what does s/he do with what is

“Your own from your own we offer you, in every way and for everything.”

My works

https://scd.academia.edu/DoruCostache

Upcoming seminar

Relating Science & Religion

Peter Harrison, Denis Edwards, Doru Costache

Unit 6B, 5 Talavera Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113

30 June 2017, 7pm

https://www.aiocs.org/relating-science-and-religion