Christian College makes statement that humanity came from Adam and Eve, viewed as attack on professors
The headline in some news outlets is “College professors forced to deny evolution” as a Christian college formally clarifies its belief that “all humanity is descended from Adam and Eve.”
Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee offered up the clarification to its belief about human origins last month amid renewed national debate over creationism and evolution.
“We believe that all humanity is descended from Adam and Eve,” the clarification states. “They are historical persons created by God in a special formative act, and not from previously existing life forms.”
The clarification is to the college’s existing statement of belief, which cannot be changed because of the school’s charter. The statement of belief affirms the stance “that the origin of man was by fiat of God in the act of creation as related in the Book of Genesis; that he was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death.”
“This interpretation of Bryan’s position is in no way a change to the Statement of Belief,” the school said in its Feb. 23 statement. “It is the current and historical position of Bryan, an institution founded and existing on a strong Creationist position.”
The college is also considering producing a “position paper” on the issue of creation and is inviting the college community to send thoughts and ideas by March 28.
While the board of trustees says that the decision to clarify language was made in order to keep Bryan College on track with its original founding values, some professors and students have concerns about the move.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, professors and staff will need to sign a statement that embraces the notion that “Adam and Eve were created in an instant by God and that humans shared no ancestry with other life forms.”
This news report stated that staff members are fearful for their jobs if they refuse to sign the agreement.
“This is an educational institution,” Bryan journalism professor John Carpenter told the Times Free Press. “In order for us to do our jobs, we have to be open to a variety of positions on things and many people would see this as a narrowing of a position that doesn’t need to be narrowed.”
According to the report, some fear the clarification will harm the educational process
“This is an educational institution,” Bryan journalism professor John Carpenter told the Times Free Press. “In order for us to do our jobs, we have to be open to a variety of positions on things and many people would see this as a narrowing of a position that doesn’t need to be narrowed.”
According to the report, some fear the clarification will harm the educational process
Woodcut for “Die Bibel in Bildern”, 1860. by
Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld
