Faith is a fundamental aspect of human life. We have and exercise faith more often than we realize and, sometimes, more often than we are willing to admit. I have faith that tomorrow the sun will rise. When I sat down, I put an automatic faith in my chair to hold me up. It hasn’t failed me yet.

If such logically simple faith is so omnipresent in our lives, where do we draw the line between it and belief? What – in a literal sense – is a belief? For this we turn to Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary and find that: Belief (is) confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof. In other words – to believe or have belief, is to put faith in something we cannot yet completely comprehend or explain.

There are many beliefs in this world – for man is always seeking to explain the universe in ways that he can at least partially comprehend. Amongst these beliefs are ones such as Catholicism, Buddhism, Darwinism, Creationism, Hinduism and Romanticism. Each explains the world in a different way and all differ, fundamentally, in their origin stories. What, then, happens when two of these isms collide? They stop, consider and take a good look at each other and themselves.


That is what we are going to do. Here, we will stop, consider and look at two almost completely opposite isms – Darwinism and Creationism.


To start off – where do these isms come from? Darwinism did not, as the name would imply, originate with the notable scientist and scholar, Charles Darwin. The idea of a chaotically random existence, sparked by a purely chance-induced explosion has been around since the time of the Greek philosophers, and probably even before then. On the other hand, Creationism comes from a documented account of the world’s beginning which has been proven, time and time again, to have no foundationally logical flaws. Many scholars, both biblical and scientific, have admitted that, though there may be some aspects we do not understand, that is our problem. We do not yet comprehend some of the things recorded in the Creation account, but neither does it refute the basic scientific principals we know to be true. Thus we leave the unknown to remain unknown and allow this to remain a belief.

So we have established the origins of these origin stories. Now to look closer and discover what these two isms are. Many have called the science of Darwinism, the Theory of Evolution. However, when tested against generations of data, we find that this so-called ‘theory’ is little better than an unconfirmed hypothesis. This is why, unlike Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, Darwinism is classified under the label ‘belief’. It takes just as much faith to believe in Evolution as it does to believe in, for example, Hinduism. Darwinism states – in a nutshell – that man originated from animals and is thus little better than them. That no intelligence went into the ‘creation’ of the world and that all things happen through random chance. Finally, that when men die they simply cease to exist. On both ends of Darwinist belief are empty wells of nothingness.

Adversely, Creationism is a belief which supports intelligent design, a beginning sparked by an all-knowing mind and the truth that man is not an animal, but a being made in the image of God. Thus, man possesses an everlasting soul which was meant to begin since time itself began and which will continue into eternity. Creationism is classified as a belief because we cannot see this God who created the world, and the manner in which He did so is beyond our comprehension. It will very likely stay that way.

Now we know where the isms come from and what they are about. We must next discuss where they are going.

Upon placing belief in Darwinism, a person must hold that men are no better than animals, and that that is how it was meant to be. Therefore, because of this, we need not be any better than the survival-of-the-fittest philosophy which Darwinism is founded on. Brutal murder, torture and genocide are thus, through Darwinism, justifiable. Also, because man was descended from animals but is above them all, he has reason to be proud of his ‘superior ancestry’. This gives him the right to create, each man for himself, a pure branch of this ancestry that the ‘best’ may survive. Random chance controls the world and we are both subject to it and dictators of it. There is nothing before life and there will be nothing after death. We have no hope, save in the now, and the now is passing by quickly with the end in sight.

Creationism, however, has a person believe that they are created in the image of a perfect God and that this God, who though in every way is greater, wiser and better than themself, desires to have a personal relationship with them. This belief gives a foundation for morality and pictures humans as precious beings, the whole earth as our gifted stewardship, and our very lives as on-lend for us to make something noble out of. There was a purpose before we were born and there will be life after death. We who believe in this intelligent-design ism, have hope for the future and, even more, a reason to live our best for both ourselves and others in the now.


In conclusion – to rate Darwinism and Creationism in the 1-100 scale of ‘which is better?’ would be worthless here. Each person’s belief would determine how they rate it, for a man’s world-view is based first upon his belief. Thus, while I might rate Creationism at 100 and Darwinism at 1, another might do the exact opposite, while yet another could hover both around 50. What we believe, however, does not spell what is true. Men’s belief may change. Truth never changes.

So as far as isms go? They are both fascinating possibilities with each it’s own ‘flaws’ (that is, places we cannot fully comprehend or explain – this is what makes them beliefs). The question is – what do you believe? I believe that Creationism is the truth from God and that Darwinism is a lie man has told himself to escape the responsibility which comes from God. I could support my belief. Or I could argue against it. The point, however, is to present each one as it is and leave every person to decide for themself.

Where do you put your faith? Do you put it anywhere? If not, you should. If so – be certain that the chair you’re sitting on will not evaporate beneath you. The greatest test is death, but to wait until then would make it too late. Be careful where you sit, but choose a seat soon, for faith is a fundamental aspect of human life.


Where does your faith come from?


What is it about?


Where are you going?