Final answer:
The biblical conception of man's formation is a divine act by God, contrasting with the evolutionary view that sees human formation as a gradual process driven by natural selection and mutation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biblical conception of man's formation is rooted in theological creationism, where God is the primary cause of the creation of the world and humanity. According to the Book of Genesis, humanity was created in a deliberate act by God, with mankind made 'in His own image' and fashioned from the dust of the Earth, indicating a purposeful and instantaneous creation.
Contrastingly, the evolutionary view, which gained prominence after the Renaissance period and the advent of the scientific method, is based on the principles of natural selection and mutation. It describes human formation as a gradual, continuous process spanning millions of years that resulted from the adaptation and survival of organisms best suited to their environments.
These differing perspectives showcase the evolution of thought from theologically centered interpretations to those based on empirical scientific inquiry. This shift is embodied in the contrast between static divine creation narratives and the dynamic process of evolution observed and supported by evidence in biology and anthropology.