Mary Baker Eddy wrote, "Heredity is a prolific subject for mortal belief to pin theories upon; ..." (Science and Health, p. 228), but to some people that could sound like a way to not accept the bad aspects of heredity while still going along with evolution as a theory. I want to know how to explain my view on creation and evolution and not sound like we have our heads in the sand! How does Christian Science view heredity, DNA, and evolution (Darwin's theories)?
A1 As a biology professor, l've wrestled with these questions and l've found it helpful to consider the definition of theory. Scientists working in the physical or natural sciences define a theory as an explanation for an event or phenomenon that has been tested rigorously and repeatedly and appears to explain the patterns seen in nature. The biochemical workings of DNA, the patterns of heredity, and the mechanisms of evolution are theories that attempt to explain the history of biological life on Earth. In regard to Darwin's theory of evolution, Mary Baker Eddy pointed out, "In its history of mortality, Darwin's theory of evolution from a material basis is more consistent than most theories" (Science and Health, p. 547).
