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Dr. Hugh Ross pointed out in his book "The Fingerprint of God" that the big bang and other features of the cosmos demonstrate the presence of a creator. Apart from the initial creation, the subsequent formation of galaxies and solar systems, and even the appearance of our own earth can be explained by natural law. Whether life arose by natural law, however, is a point of modern contention. Neo-Darwinists adhere to the purely natural synthetic theory of life, but the theory is on rocky ground because it does not fit the data. Molecules do not randomly combine to form life, and mutations are inadequate raw material to form new species. Nor does the pattern of appearance of new forms of life as shown in the fossil record fit the theory. But the theory persists for lack of a better substitute. A parallel can be drawn between a new theory of life, the DeHaan theory of MacroDevelopment (Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 48, no. 3) and what Ross said about the cosmos. The theory of MacroDevelopment allows for the appearance of new forms of life from the old by purely natural mechanisms, and the necessary act of special creation of life was so very long ago, that this time could be described as "in the beginning". Just as the planets form by natural law, so also do species come from other species by natural law, and by divine design. |