Integration by Darien

Integration by Darien - August 2013 Scholarship Essay

During high school, biology classes were cut and dry: learn about evolution and the evidence that supports it and ask no questions. It's understandable being in a public school environment because of the wish to keep religiously neutral. My general biology teacher even made a disclaimer before covering the topic: "This is not a religious debate. I am simply going over what the education department deems necessary for you to learn in my class." With every exhibition of evidence that supports the theory-- Darwin's finches, peppered moths, Drosophila melanogaster with four wings-- I couldn't help but scoff at the idea and simply declare it a coincidence or misinformation because of my faith. I couldn't just say, though, that the science was off base, but how exactly? What went wrong in the scientific method that caused the result to be skewed?In high school, there was no in-depth study of the observations that were noted in each experiment. When I entered my Zoology class in college, however, I didn't know what would be part of the curriculum other than the stuff that common sense told me: You'll learn about species, how to identify them, etc. A red flag came up when I saw the required texts and saw Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? by Jonathan Wells. What was I signing myself up into? Once I got deeper and deeper into the text, I was amazed by the in-depth analysis of each "icon" of evolution. Not only did my professor explain the errors in the science behind it, but also incorporated the Bible in with each of the icons, showing that God created each animal within the first six days of creation. When I chose Environmental biology as my major of study, I knew that it would be asking for trouble because of my faith and the harsh debates between creation and evolution, but going to Cornerstone University and taking these biology classes shows me how God can be seen in EVERYTHING on Earth because with a simple word, life was created. I hope to incorporate my views in everything I do wherever I go in the biology field, giving God the glory for all that He has done.