Theistic Evolution and the Problem of Animal Pain

This seminar contours the problem of animal pain in theistic evolution and shows that it raises significant issues of compatibility with the biblical macronarrative.

In theistic evolution, animal pain and death cannot be the result of human sin, because the evolutionary process implies that animals die before humans have come into existence. In this scenario, humans cannot be responsible for animal pain and death. Therefore, the liability is placed on God. This brings into question the character of God: would a good God create through such a messy, pain-filled process?

In this seminar, we will look at how evolutionary theists seek to defend the goodness of God and then evaluate their arguments, indicating that the pain and death inherent in an evolutionary process of creation are incompatible with how the Bible portrays the character of God.