Strategic Financial Management

Executive Summary
The creation vs. evolution debate is a question of origins. How did we get here? Were we created or did we evolve randomly? Are we the product of purposeful intelligence or are we merely the end result of countless cosmic accidents/randomness? What does the evidence say? The purpose of this paper is to compare the theory of evolution with the Bible’s creation account, to study both sides of this controversy. Using the evidence from the fields of paleontology, geology, biology, and astronomy.

Preface
It was back to school after a glorious holiday spent with my relatives from my mother’s home town - Elpitiya. I found the new term a tad nostalgic, after the numerous hours that we’ve spent carelessly wandering the woods and playing cricket in dried paddy fields.
School was as usual, filled with many subjects that I found mildly amusing at best. Biology was no exception, and the presence of Mrs. Silva was always frightening and appalling, as did to many others. She was what we labelled “mean & horrible”, and now that I think back, teaching must have been one of the few ways she managed to add oomph to her life - i.e. by dominating a class full of kids with authority, punishment, and a mouthful of scientific terms.
I was eagerly awaiting the ‘closing bell’ to go back home. I could hear the growls in my stomach and, needless to say, the only thoughts in my mind were those related to food. If only, Mrs. Silva could finish up soon. I doubted that, of course, having got used to her talkative nature and her incessant need to repeat everything, even if it happens to be the simplest of things. Moreover, I found her style of teaching boring and un-exciting and many a times, I would pretend to hear her speak, but as far as the lesson was concerned, my mind was occupied with more fascinating things – like motorbikes and off road trucks. I preferred reading the textbook at home which was much more effective.
However, on that particular day, one sentence caught my limited interest in the subject. This was an uncanny instance for me, and even today I can recall that moment with strong emotions. It was paradigm shifting.
I heard Mrs. Silva say “All living things are made of cells”. I knew what cells were, and I’ve pictured them in my mind as microscopic specs of life. Nonetheless, the idea of larger animals, such as humans, being composed of billions of such units was alien to me. I was under the impression that the human body was a ‘continuous object’, i.e. it was a mere block of flesh with blood in it. The notion of tiny life units working together to form the nuts and bolts, gears and pulleys of a bigger one was startling to the preconceptions that I’ve held all my life.
So began my journey of understanding the origin of life, which, even today, leaves me baffled. I’ve sought refuge in many opposing camps of view, whether it is ‘Divine creation’ or ‘Evolution’ as advocated by Darwin. However, I am no closer to an answer.