The Origin of Human Beings
Assignment:
Write a 500-word essay explaining your view on how human beings emerged.
In other words, do you believe in evolution, the Big Bang, creation, or some other theory of the beginning of the cosmos and/or the human species?
Submission Instructions:
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The paper must be clear and concise. Points will be deducted for improper grammar, punctuation, or misspelling.
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The paper should be formatted per current MLA guidelines and be 500 words in length (excluding the title, abstract, and references page).
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Incorporate a minimum of 2 in-text citations from your textbook and at least 1 from another lecture material within your work. Do not use outside sources.
Read:
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Adams, Claire. The Human Experience: From Human Being to Human Doing. OpenSLCC, 2020.
OER Commons - The Human Experience: From Human Being to Human Doing
Watch:
The answer
Your
Name:
Professor's
Name:
Course
Title:
The Origin of
Human Beings: A Dialogue Between Science and Theology
The origin of
human beings has always been a central question across cultures, religions, and
scientific disciplines. While I believe that the theory of evolution provides a
scientifically grounded account of human development, I also find deep value in
theological perspectives, particularly those found in the Bible and humanistic
inquiry, which explore the meaning and purpose of our existence.
From a scientific standpoint, evolution explains how humans emerged gradually
through natural selection. Genetic, fossil, and anatomical evidence supports
this view. As detailed in What is the Evidence for Evolution?, similarities in
DNA and fossil records link all species to common ancestors (Stated Clearly
00:45–02:50). In the larger cosmic context, the Big Bang theory posits the
origin of the universe about 13.8 billion years ago (Kurzgesagt 01:10–03:40).
These ideas answer the how, but not the why.
This is where theology and humanistic reflection come into the conversation.
The Bible begins with the words, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and
the earth” (Genesis 1:1, NIV), asserting a divine intention behind creation.
Later, it declares that humans were made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27),
a powerful affirmation of human dignity. These statements do not necessarily
conflict with evolution, especially when we consider that many theologians
interpret Genesis allegorically rather than literally.
Claire Adams, in The Human Experience: From Human Being to Human Doing,
emphasizes the human need to reflect on existence: “To be human is not only to
act but to reflect on our existence and origins” (Adams 4). This is not far
from theology's quest to understand the deeper significance of life. Adams also
highlights metacognition—thinking about thinking—as a uniquely human capacity
(Adams 4), aligning with both religious traditions and evolutionary theory that
regard humans as distinct in consciousness.
Importantly, the humanities do not ask us to choose between faith and science,
but to think creatively and critically. Adams asserts that engaging with
diverse perspectives allows us to understand how human cultures assign meaning
to life, suffering, and morality (Adams 10). In this light, theological
creation stories are not in opposition to evolution, but are cultural
reflections on the moral structure of existence. They reveal how early
societies understood human responsibility, divine authority, and the complexity
of good and evil.
Interestingly, Adams notes that humans construct narratives to make sense of
their lives. Theological stories, like that of Adam and Eve, are not just
explanations of biological beginnings but moral frameworks. They highlight our
capacity for choice, responsibility, and relationship—ideas echoed in
humanistic and religious thought alike. Even if evolution explains what we are,
theology and the humanities explore who we are.
In conclusion, I believe the emergence of human beings is best understood
through a synthesis of scientific evidence and theological insight. Evolution
and the Big Bang provide the mechanisms of our existence, while theology and
humanistic reflection ask what it means to be human. Rather than viewing them
in conflict, we can see them in dialogue, enriching our understanding of
ourselves and our place in the universe.
Works Cited
Adams, Claire.
*The Human Experience: From Human Being to Human Doing*. OpenSLCC, 2020.
https://www.oercommons.org/courses/the-human-experience-from-human-being-to-human-doing/view
Stated Clearly.
"What is the Evidence for Evolution?" *YouTube*, 14 May 2014,
https://youtu.be/F2XPF6rQ6fs
Kurzgesagt – In
a Nutshell. "How the Universe is Way Bigger Than You Think."
*YouTube*, 9 Oct. 2018, https://youtu.be/PUwmA3Q0_OE
The Holy Bible,
New International Version. Zondervan, 2011. Genesis 1:1, 1:27