On December 27, 1831, Charles Darwin began a five-year journey aboard the HMS Beagle to investigate the flora, fauna and geology of the land bounded by the South Atlantic Ocean. He kept meticulous notes of his discoveries, and on the basis of the evidence he collected, he could no longer accept traditional arguments from design about the creation of the world.

One of the most well-known variants of the argument from design comes from William Paley (1743-1805). He argued that just as the intricate machinery of a watch argues for the existence of a watchmaker, so the wonders of the natural world reveal the necessity of a Creator. Only a madman can believe that a watch comes about by chance, he said; it is equally ludicrous to doubt the existence of a Creator.

Darwin's observations, however, pointed him in another direction. The world was not created exactly as we knew it. Instead, over the course of time, the different species on earth slowly adapted to their immediate environment. During this process of natural selection, numerous species perished, and others flourished. He published this conclusion in his famous book, "The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" (1859).

This Sunday marks Darwin's 203rd birthday. Happy birthday, Charles! For the last seven years, the weekend closest to Darwin's birthday has been celebrated as "Evolution Weekend." According to the website, "the purpose of this weekend is to foster opportunities for serious discussion and reflection on the relationship between science and religion. It is to show that religion and science are not adversaries, but that they look at the natural world from different perspectives, asking (and answering) different questions."

Darwin, like other scientists of his time, began to seek answers to how the universe worked based on evidence which they gathered with the increasingly sophisticated tools which became available. Prior to this time, the church taught that everything had an origin in the divine purpose. Scientists began to understand the origins of life differently. Science and religion began to travel different roads, and the research of many scientists, including Darwin, shattered long-held and cherished ways of understanding the world. Becoming increasingly dependent on concrete, measurable facts, science rejected any understanding that was not based on human experience.

Now, I'm not a scientist. I don't pretend to be one. I have only a very limited grasp of the basics of the scientific method. Therefore, I have to rely on the work of scientists in the same way I have to rely on a mechanic to service my car.

The vast majority of scientists agree that evolution is well-established as a scientific theory which convincingly explains the origins and development of life on earth. In scientific terms, a theory is not a hunch or a guess. A theory is an established explanation for a natural phenomenon, like gravity, that has repeatedly been tested through observation and experimentation. Indeed, most scientists argue that, for all practical purposes, evolution through natural selection is a fact.

Unfortunately, there are many who disagree. They claim that a literal reading of the Bible precludes evolution. They argue that the earth is very young ? only some 6,000 years old. They maintain that everything that is came into existence in an outburst of divine creativity, and that evolution is the work of God-denying atheists.

I disagree strongly. In fact, I see no contradiction between the opening chapters of Genesis and the science of evolution. I affirm strongly that Christians can believe in a creative, life-giving God, and also accept the scientific truthfulness of evolution.

I'm not alone in this. The press release for this year's celebration of Evolution Weekend states that "those claiming that people must choose between religion and science are creating a false dichotomy." Almost 13,000 American religious leaders have signed a statement that "the truth of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist." I agree.

We are well beyond the time when we can reject this truth or treat it as "one theory among others." When we do so, we deliberately embrace scientific ignorance. More dangerously, we willingly transmit such ignorance to our children.

Nor do we need to establish pseudo-scientific explanations such as "Creationism" or Intelligent Design (which is merely a modern restating of the argument from design).

God has given us minds are capable of critical thought. We also understand from a Christian perspective that truth is one, and is not in conflict, regardless of whether the truth is found in science or the arts or theology. We are invited to use the gift of our minds in creative ways to understand and celebrate the mysterious and not-so-mysterious wonders all around us in nature. We celebrate the amazing variety and diversity. We give thanks for the insights we have gained through scientific exploration, and continue to affirm that in this too, God is known.