We must initially review the theory of evolution in order to have the proper framework to evaluate the evidence. First of all, one part of the theory of evolution called natural selection is true and agreed upon even by creationists! This can be very confusing. Evolutionists generalize the part of their theory that is true in order to conclude that it is all true. That is why it is important to understand exactly what the theory is stating. It has very specific and demanding requirements that can be used to contrast it with creation.

In 1859 Charles Darwin published his book, “The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life”. This actually did not discuss the origin of life, but presented natural selection as a mechanism to account for changes within a species over time. It is critical for you to understand the difference between evolution and natural selection. Lets first discuss evolution and then we will talk about natural selection.

All forms of life have offspring and the intent is that the babies would essentially be like the parents. This goes on for generations. In evolution there is a very occasional baby that is slightly different than the parents. This difference is so slight because it is the result of a mistake on only one gene. Evolutionists agree that the babies are to be like the parents but add that there is a very occasional mistake in reproduction that results in a change in a characteristic or feature in the child and this new characteristic or feature gives a survival advantage. Over prolonged periods of time only the life forms with this new characteristic will survive and all previous life forms without this characteristic, like the parents, will perish. This change must be great enough to give a survival advantage so that life without this change will die, but small enough that it is the result of a mistake in reproduction.

This process of a change in a feature or characteristic that is the result of a mistake and provides a survival advantage is repeated over and over. Each change is a very rare event and most changes do not make anything better, usually worse or of no effect on survival. There can only be one change at a time and each change must make something superior. This aspect of evolutionary theory has not changed. There can only be one change at a time, each change must make something better and each change is the result of an error in reproduction. This is the process of evolution.

These are the four evolutionary requirements (and we will talk about them again). There is not one requirement; there are four. If anything exists that is not the result of all four of these then Darwin tells us that evolution is not true:

1. There is only one step at a time.

2. Each step is the result of a random chance mistake.

3. Each step must make something useful.

4. Each step must make something better.