My buddy fd shared this link in his Google Reader about David Attenborough's view of creationism. I have to confess that it came as a bit of a surprise. Being a huge fan of Planet Earth, I figured Attenborough, who narrated the documentary, might be more moderate on the subject of origins. While the text of Planet Earth treats evolution as a fact, it also speaks of "stewardship" and even "creation" in ways that allow plenty of room for theistic evolution.
Two things trouble me about Attenborough's comments. First is the negative association God receives because of the jerks that write Attenborough nasty letters. I've never understood this gripe against God. It's as if those who are frustrated with God would have him censor the words of his least faithful followers. Why?
The other comment that troubled me was the implication that God cannot be benevolent because there are so many horrible problems on earth. Attenborough gives the example of a worm that can only live in an eyeball. How could a loving God create a worm that burrows into a young child's eye? Hmm. Well the "problem of evil" is a legitimate question. It might very well be the main question for anyone who thinks about and doubts God. My own feeling is that the problem of evil is not an "answerable" question. What I mean by that is this. The problem of evil is a theological question that can be addressed but not solved. Anyone requiring a case-closed, end-of-subject answer to the problem of evil, is going feel smug.
A more humble approach might be this. For discussion sake, pretend you are God. Now start making the rules. The worm that eats its way through an impoverished child's eyeball? Gone! Wiped off the face of the earth. It's horrible. As a benevolent God, you will not tolerate such evil, even if it evolved that way. Alright, next case. John Edwards who cheats on his wife while she suffers from cancer even as he uses her for his own political gain? Er... That's horrible, too. But in this case benevolence means toleration. Worms cannot repent. Edwards seemed contrite. Edwards stays! (You, know -- stays alive. He's gone from national politics.) Alright, next case. How about those school-yard bullies who were videotaped and shown on YouTube viciously taunting a child with Down's Syndrome? Gone! Those bullies are more awful than worms and politicians combined!
How about this one. Today, on the phone, I was a total jerk to my wife. For real. I'm back in character now. I apologized a while later. So, how long do I get to be a jerk before God takes action? Maybe God's benevolence means he will not allow me to be a jerk. He'll intervene and keep me from folly. And he'll keep those jerks from writing nasty letters to Attenborough. And he'll keep Attenborough from saying nasty things about him. And...
I share David Attenborough's frustration with religious people who only think about "beautiful things like hummingbirds." Those people want to call the shots on matters of good and evil. As it turns out, that is a theological temptation even for non-religious people like Attenborough.
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