Abstract
Though early ideas of evolution saw it as progressive, most modern theories see it as a random walk. The theories of Richard Dawkins, Stephen Jay Gould, Edward O. Wilson, Stuart Kauffman, Steven Rose, and Robert Wesson are surveyed, showing their agreement on the fact of evolution but not on the mechanism. Evolution is an incomplete theory. Any theology should therefore be based only on its broadest features. Generally, evolution is the development of complex forms from simple ancestors. Within a Christian context, it can be seen as a journey toward the unification of all things in Christ, the ultimate complexity.
Keywords
mechanism of evolution, evolution, progress, complexity, Spirit, context
How to Cite
Nichols, T., (2002) “Evolution: Journey or Random Walk?”, Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 37(1), 193–210. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9744.00421