Joel Duff posts his "Polar Bear Test" for classifying origins positions

Conversation
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The Polar Bear Test is a tool designed to help you identify which theological model of Earth’s biological and physical history best aligns with your own understanding of creation. Whether you’re familiar with terms like YEC, GT, AoA, OEC, ID, PC, EC, or TE, or completely new to these concepts, this test will guide you to the position that most closely matches your beliefs.

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I don’t think it works…

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Worked for me.

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The polar bear photo doesn’t show for me, but the rest of the test worked.

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I get stuck on Question 10:

A: The evolution of polar bears from brown bear ancestors was providentially guided/determined by God, who sovereignly ordained the precise outcome.

B: The evolution of polar bears from brown bear ancestors proceeded through natural mechanisms. While God established these natural laws, the specific outcomes were not predetermined but represent genuine novelty within creation.

C: The evolution of polar bears from brown bear ancestors proceeded primarily through natural mechanisms, but with occasional divine intervention at critical junctures to guide the process toward God’s desired ends.

I need an option ‘D’.

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I had exactly the same thought when I took the test.

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Then i must be a creationist :confused:

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What would option D look like?

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D: The evolution of polar bears from brown bear ancestors proceeded through natural mechanisms. The specific outcomes were not predetermined and represent genuine novelty.

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I think your problem may be inherent in the test’s design, which is to:

help you identify which theological model of Earth’s biological and physical history best aligns with your own understanding of creation.

If you don’t have a “theological model” (e.g. because you don’t believe in some form of theism), then the test is unable to help you.

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The test seems to be exclusive to existing theists / Christians and not accounting for non-theists.

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That’s option B. The quiz assumes you’re some kind of theist.

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I disagree. Open Process Evolutionary Creationism closely, though obviously not exhaustively or completely accurately (such as the unnecessary and gratuitous “freedom” or “creativity” junk), describes my position as a deist, not a theist. This is an important distinction that seems to get lost on both theists and atheists as they bludgeon each other on the YouTube circuit. No personal God, no miracles, no special revelation, no parochial religious squabbles, etc. A cosmic designer, or as Jefferson eloquently put it, “Nature’s God”, that simply creates the initial conditions and laws of nature and let’s her rip…

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Whoops, arguing about definitions again. I would see deism as a variety of theism, not in opposition to it.

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