Evolution: What Darwin Didn’t Know – Chris Ashcraft

Evolution: What Darwin Didn’t Know

Description: What have we learned about evolution since 1859 when Darwin published his theory on natural selection? At the time, little was known about the cell, and nothing was known of genetics. Are Darwin’s “numerous successive slight modifications” able to produce the irreducible complexities found in living systems?

This presentation reviews the evidence for and against evolution from both living populations and fossils. We will also examine the processes of speciation, mutation, and selection. When the observations are interpreted correctly, we see clear support for the Biblical teachings that various kinds of plants and animals were created in the beginning.

Speaker: Chris Ashcraft is a Christian educator employed as high school science teacher at Cedar Park Christian Schools, and adjunct professor at Northwest University. Chris has also worked in plant biotechnology. He was a research technician at the Cotton Fiber Production Laboratory at Texas Tech University, then at the Plant Transformation Facility at Oklahoma State University, and lastly was the Plant Transformation Specialist for EDEN Bioscience in Bothell, Washington.

He obtained a Bachelor of Science in biology from Wayland Baptist University in 1989, a Master of Science in biology from Texas Tech University in 1996, a Master of Education from the University of Washington in 2008, and a Master in Teaching Math and Science from Seattle Pacific University in 2012.

Chris moved from research science into the teaching profession to serve God in Christian education. His decision was motivated by the impact that secular science is having on people of faith. Today, close to 50% of Christian students lose their belief in God while attending secular schools. This tendency could be lessened if the Church was better equipped to defend the authority of Biblical teachings (1 Peter 3:15). To be prepared for these challenges, it is important that Churches provide regular educational programs on creation and other Bible Apologetics.

Meeting Documents:

• Poster for posting in church foyers and on school boards
• Announcement Slide/PPT for showing in churches on Sunday before meeting

Lecture recordings at:

• Video recording of lecture on YouTube here.
• Powerpoint slides can be downloaded from here.
• Audio recording of lecture can be found here.
• Audio recording of Q&A after lecture can be found here.