Criação divina ou evolução? Análise da teoria da criação especial e da teoria do design inteligente na cultura norte-americana

Abstract

This research aims to study the elaborated discourses of certain religious circles of the contemporary American society to support the belief in the creationism and the refutation of the theory of evolution. These discourses emerge in reaction to the evolutionist thesis that expand since the publication of the Charles Darwin’s book The Origin of the Species, in 1859, in England, and that gradually earn space in the scientific community. Some American religious denominations see these teachings as a threat to their belief in one personal God, creator and pillar of everything. In this scenario, two discourses emerge seeking to refute the evolutionist arguments. The first one clings to the tenets of the so-called “biblical inerrancy” and reaffirms the belief in the origin of the universe according to what is strictly expressed in the book of Genesis. In the present research this discourse is identified as “Theory of Special Creation” (TSC). The basic thesis of second discourses is that the complexity of the universe, of the life and of the very nature is such that they could not develop themselves, therefore, showing evidences of an intelligent design. In the present research this discourse is identified as “Intelligent Design Theory” (IDT).