#360 Theistic Evolution vs Intelligent Design: What’s the Difference? | Dr. JT Bridges
The Alisa Childers Podcast
Alisa Childers
4.9 • 5.4K Ratings
🗓️ 6 March 2026
⏱️ 88 minutes
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Summary
Today we’re continuing our conversation about theistic evolution and the theological implications of how we think about origins.
In this episode, Dr. JT Bridges helps us untangle what people actually mean when they say “evolution,” breaking down the difference between microevolution (small adaptations within a species) and macroevolution (the claim that one species can become another over long periods of time). We also talk about neodarwinism, intelligent design, and why so many debates about origins aren’t just about data. They’re about the philosophical assumptions we bring to the data.
One of the most eye-opening parts of this conversation is the idea that science doesn’t interpret itself. Two scientists can look at the same evidence and reach different conclusions—because interpretation requires philosophy, and many scientists simply aren’t trained to recognize when philosophical assumptions (like naturalism) are steering the outcome.
We also get into what’s actually at stake for Christians. If Darwinian macroevolution is taken as the full story of human origins, it raises serious questions about Adam and Eve, sin, and ultimately the coherence of the gospel message...especially the biblical teaching that sin entered the world through one man and that redemption comes through Christ.
This one is for the science nerds, the philosophy nerds, and anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by terms like “Big Bang,” “intelligent design,” “macro vs. micro,” and “philosophy of science.” We go deep in the weeds—but I think you’ll come away with a clearer framework for thinking biblically and carefully about origins.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Today we're continuing our conversation about theistic evolution and theological implications of how we think about origins. |
| 0:17.0 | Now, this discussion is one that I recorded several months ago with Dr. J.T. Bridges, who is a |
| 0:22.8 | professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary. By the way, if you want a great school to further your |
| 0:28.4 | education, go to s.edu slash alisa. You can download a free little e-book. It is a wonderful |
| 0:35.1 | seminary where I have audited many, many, many classes. |
| 0:38.5 | And J.T. Bridges is one of the professors there. And several months ago, as a part of our seminary |
| 0:42.9 | series, we recorded this discussion about theistic evolution, about intelligent design, |
| 0:49.1 | about how different systems of thinking are undergirded by different philosophies. So this episode is definitely |
| 0:56.3 | for my science nerds, for my philosophy nerds. We got deep in the weeds. And at the time we |
| 1:02.7 | recorded it, it didn't really seem to fit with the rest of the series. So I've been holding on to it, |
| 1:07.5 | waiting for the right moment to release this episode. And you guys loved my last |
| 1:13.1 | episode with Dr. Trisha Scribner about Theistic Evolution. So I thought this would fit in perfect |
| 1:18.3 | with that discussion to just take us a little deeper and go a little further into the philosophy |
| 1:24.2 | that undergirds a lot of these discussions. So there are so many highlights for me about this conversation. |
| 1:30.1 | I think primarily really understanding what we're talking about when we use phrases like |
| 1:34.8 | intelligent design. |
| 1:36.2 | Even the phrase evolution, Dr. Bridges defines that for us. |
| 1:40.2 | And then we talk about the theological implications of these things and ultimately how we can |
| 1:46.3 | think through our philosophy of science. Because one of the things that was really relevant to me |
| 1:52.9 | when I was first thinking these things through many, many years ago is the idea that, you know, |
| 1:59.5 | you can have different scientists that come to different conclusions |
| 2:02.3 | because they're all doing philosophy. But as we discussed in today's episode, scientists aren't |
... |
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