The name is a little misleading, because its not really about creation, in the traditional sense that is. It's about the work of Charles Darwin: evolution and natural selection. It follows his life dramatized, after the death of his eldest daughter. He is having trouble compiling all of his research and theory into a book because of all the opposition he is facing. Particularly from his wife, who sought solace completely in religion and believes her husband is going to hell. And a minister who has been a friend to the family for years, but punished Darwin's daughter in school for saying she believed in dinosaurs.
In the end, once he finished his book, he says his wife will have the final say in whether he publishes it or not. But he says, before you destroy it, read it. And she does. And after so many years of prejudice and ignorance, she finally understands what he had been working on. And she packages it to be published herself.
The movie ended with a disclaimer saying Darwin was buried with full Christian honors, which Nick thought was slightly and disappointingly apologetic. I had a different thought. It said to me, science and religion are not incompatible, people have just made it that way.
http://www.allmoviephoto.com/photo/2010_creation_dvd_big.html
I was reading a blog awhile back by a woman who had studied evolution at BYU. Her husband had studied it as well, but was unable to reconcile evolution and God, and had since lost his faith. She said she struggled too, but at the same time, recognized she didn't understand everything. God has never revealed how the world was created, merely that it was. Then why not by the natural laws we can now observe?
God has endowed his children with intelligence, the ability to observe and learn. He has encouraged us in scripture and through prophets to attain as much knowledge as we can. To study, to discover, to impart wisdom. We have large brains, capable of complex thought and reasoning. Why then would God condemn us for trying to discover the natural laws by which the universe operates with the very intelligence He has given us? No one denies the existance of gravity; we see physical evidence for it every day. And yet people deny the existance of evolution, for which we have concrete evidence of as well. The very fact that we need a new flu shot every year and continually stronger antibiotics is proof of evolution. In the movie, Darwin didn't want to publish his findings for fear of upsetting the delicate balance set in place by religion, but still he could not deny what he could see with his own eyes.
I like how they portrayed Darwin's wife in the movie; she didn't believe her husband because she didn't understand. She hadn't ever studied it, she had no desire to. But once she read his research, and she had a better understanding, it became easier for her to see. I think that is a common problem among religious people, they haven't studied the evidence for themselves, and so their ignorance becomes their prejudice, using faith and God as their reason, but doing so blindly. They refuse to study anything about creation that isn't stated in the Bible, because to them, it is a sin.
Now, I'm not trying to be mean, or belittle anyone's faith. I don't condemn anyone for relying solely on faith anymore than I condemn scientists for following empirical evidence. Everyone has their own right to believe what they will. What I have a problem with is the bigotry and arrogance of some people towards the sciences, particularly from the different religious communities. There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding, animosity even by church members towards the sciences. Think of it this way: remember Mr. Darcy and Ms. Bennett? How did they start out, and how did they end up? Once there is a mutual understanding between the two parties, differences can be reconciled, perhaps even solved. Maybe I was just blessed with an ultra open mind, but I don't have any problem whatsoever believing in a benevolent Creator as well as evolution.
I don't understand everything, I don't know everything, but I do know that God expects for us to study things out for ourselves as well as have faith. He's not going to command us in all things, or hand us all the answers. Haven't we been encouraged to arrive at a conclusion or decision for ourselves and then ask if it is the right thing? Seeking these things for ourselves I believe opens our minds for deeper thoughts. One thing Nick wonders is, why is God a primate? I know, that sounds funny. But our physical form has been classified as primate. So, once you start thinking about that, you start wondering about the evolution of God, how gods came to be, and why is this form, human form, considered the perfected divine form?
You see? It's fun to wonder about these things, and keeping an open mind makes it possible to learn and wonder and discover more. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with wondering. It has made a lot of things, scientific and religious, possible.
Soooooooo, if you get the chance, check out Creation, besides the subject matter, the acting is phenomenal, probably the best I've ever seen from Mr. Bettany.
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