Evolution is not a scientific theory, but a principle, a doctrine, and a philosophy. Evolution is the process of change - both mental and physical.
Critics of evolution have said: "We have looked at the evolution of matter, but not its origin." They cannot see the wood for the trees, for evolution is precisely about origins. Origins make up the body of evolution.
There is a strong argument that much of our behaviour evolved as a side consequence of our having evolved a large brain. A gradual increase in brain capacity gave us an evolutionary advantage in activities such as food procurement and finding shelter. When a certain brain capacity was reached many other things became possible - as a side consequence. Detailed abstract thought, which enabled us to extend our thoughts forward into the future and back into the past, made us aware of our own mortality. The fear of death was born, and it didn't take us long to make-up all manner of belief systems to help overcome this fear. However, a large brain wasn't all bad, for in the same stroke we gained a strange and wonderful thing - the potential to discover Ultimate Truth.
Describing our potential for enlightenment as a mere side consequence may be true in one sense, but is quite untrue in another. You see, the thing from which our "side consequence" stems is itself a side consequence. That is, our large brain capacity is a side consequence of the laws of Nature. The laws of Nature are such that things change, therefore there are changes to genetic material, and our brain capability changes as a consequence - a "side" consequence.
Yes, all things are "side consequences". God is the primary Being, and all things are His play.