Origin of Evil:
Exaggeration of Creation - rejection of Sovereignty

"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1).

A version of this view has become the prevalent philosophy of our times, partly because of the success and consequent prestige of physical science, which studies the physical world. The exaltation of science as the only ultimate authority is sometimes called scientism.  The ultimate goal of scientism is to explain all phenomena -- including human psychology, society, religion and morality in terms of nothing but material forces.  For example, consider the sweeping program as set forth by E. O. Wilson's Consilience .  In such a view, both good and evil are reducible to evolutionary strategies for survival, and thence to molecular processes.

It is not possible to present here all the arguments against reductionism and scientism. One can simply suggest that science is insufficient to account for the scientist: in other words, for human aspirations for meaning, purpose, significance, identity, peace of mind, love, and hope. All these categories must remain undefined or reduced to chemical or mechanical processes for the naturalist. God alone fulfils these aspirations. This is why David refers to such a person as a "fool" (Psalm 14:1).


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