I was thinking the other day about how creationists, specifically YEC, view the topic of evolution. We have several examples of how it happens, and how it works. I grew up in a YEC culture and environment and I must say, it seems odd. YEC tend to believe that evolution works and happens yet deny that it can be used as an origin story. Basically they accept evolution but only in so far as it doesn't contradict the Bible.
They call this evolution that they do accept "micro-evolution" or evolution on a relatively small scale. Yes, they may say that plants and animals change over time using things like dogs and cats as an example of that. They accept this "micro-evolution" view of animals and biology, generally because we see it before our very eyes. What they don't accept is what they call "macro-evolution." This, they say, is what the evolutionists are making up, a story to attempt to explain origins without God. They may say that dogs turn into other dogs but dogs never turn into cats. This is a common view of YEC. That God created all the animals as they are now but with the ability to change only in that same genus or species.
This view I tend to see as a contradiction. As far as I can tell, scientists don't make a distinction between "micro" and "macro" evolution. Also, it sounds like YEC are trying to admit that evolution occurs without actually coming out and saying that evolution occurs. However, from the YEC point of view, it makes sense. These people are trying to make sense of the evidence for evolution yet still trying to deny it because they think it contradicts the Bible or, even worse, Christianity itself. This I can feel sympathetic for.
