Why do people assume that if I am an Atheist that I believe in evolution?

Question

i believe in parts of it but not all.

Answer 1

Too many people think atheism is tied to evolution...that's why.

(I would be curious to hear which parts you don't believe and why...just send me a message)

After looking over some of the answers I wanted to add something. Also, too many people think it's either evolution or creationism. That is also untrue. Evolution just happens to be the best working theory for how life came to be what it is today. If tomorrow we found out that everything about evolution is false it would not automatically validate creationism. It would just mean that we need to re-evaluate the facts in light of whatever evidence proved evolution wrong. Atheists existed before the theory of evolution was formed, if they theory was proven false there would still be atheists. Since evolution is a pretty silly reason to not believe in any god (imo) it's also rather silly to assume that atheism is directly tied to evolution.

Answer 2

Because there are two accepted forms of thought on the subject of how the world came to be, and if you don't believe in evolution then you must believe in creation. If you are an Atheist and you don't believe in a Supreme Being, how can you believe that a Supreme Being created the world?

That's the theory anyway.

I personally believe in both, and I'm a Christian.

Answer 3

The debate over origins gives us three options from which to choose (that I know of):

1) Intelligent Design (God created the universe and everything in it, as it is, with a purpose. May recognize evolution from a "change within the species" viewpoint, but rejects the idea that all life forms evolve from the same primordial ooze...one species into another, over billions of years. They believe in a relatively young earth.)

2) Evolution (The Big Bang - - devoid of God - - resulted in the universe, and all life forms evolved from chance encounters of "building block" cells. They believe in an old universe and earth, and that humans ultimately share a common ancestry with apes.)

3) Combination Theory (There is a God and He started all the processes of evolution: willed the chance encounters and all subsequent life-form events. Some accept the common ancestry theory, some do not. They believe in a relatively older universe and earth, but not necessarily as old as pure evolutionists do.)

If you are an atheist, you don't believe in God, therefore it's natural for people to assume you believe in evolution because there are no other options with regard to origins of the species. Evolution is the only theory which offers an origins scenario devoid of God. (Unless you know something the entire science and religious communities combined don't know! hehehe) ; )

I can accept that you believe only in some parts of evolution and not others. But I'm awfully curious to know which ones! What is your theory of origins? I would love to know.

P.S. I'm in agreement with John. (except the part about "used to believe in evolution." I've never bought the MacroEvolution theory.)

Answer 4

Why do people think that God and evolution are mutually exclusive anyway? Evolution could be thought of as the study of Gods process of creation (once you get past the yo-yos that think the earth is 6000 years old based on a very literal interpretation of an obvious parable).

But, to your question - do you have different scientific theories to replace the ones you have selectively discarded or do you have some mystical explanation of your own?

Answer 5

The Theory of Evolution is not a belief system, it's like the Theory of Gravity, it makes no difference whether you believe or not, they are so. These are the best attempts science has come up w. so far to explain the evidence from the past and/or what we can deduce through observation and reasoning.

Answer 6

Because you cant believe in a GOd when you believe in evolution, and people who believe in evolution obviously dont believe in a God, because they believe that they slowly evolved. So people assume that you are an Atheist because you believe in evolution, and evolution says that there is no god.

Answer 7

Could be because Darwinian Macro*Evolution is foundationally atheism.

--

Please note that There is no evidence that proves Atheistic MacroEvolution (without Intelligent Design)...

I used to believe in Evolution. However, over a period of time I have grown skeptical of the claims of Macro*Evolution... this is largely due to the weakness of the evidence for Macro*Evolution, and the fact that the evidence, rationally interpreted does not support the overarching claims made by Macro*Evolutionists...

For scientific and intellectual critiques of evolution, see http://www.godsci.org/gsi/apol/evo/00.html .

Cordially,
John

Answer 8

Because evolution seems to be the science that most refutes Creation, so most atheists love it. And I'm with you. I'm a Christian who doesn't totally dismiss Darwin.

I do feel he has it backward to believe that the DNA from some single celled sea creature has not only been immortal, but has added to itself eon by eon to become the DNA of man.. Looks like man is headed for godhood.

Answer 9

The assumption is dogmatic, and automatic by those who can't read beyond the sixth grade definition of the word, 'literal'. It also goes hand in hand with the phrase, 'I believe in...

I don't believe in fire, but I know it exists. I just want to limit the way it affects my life! And that's the literal truth!

I do believe in charity, and hope...but I don't find either in any thing written by Darwin. I do find a nasty 'survivalist attitude' though...

Answer 10

As an athiest, i accept your joke in the spirit it was given....

But let me just add a little personal history so everyone knows that the "no atheists in a fox hole" notion is just wishfull thinking

I have survived cancer twice. both times the full blown treatment, chemo, radiation and surgery... both times were absolutly life threatening...

I put my faith in science and never even secretly sought god....

but to be honest, I did have some friends who prayed for me.....


oh yes, one more addendum...
there are many many believers in god who accept evolution
BUT
there are no non-believers in god who accept creationism

it is only a religious debate by the most fundementalist faction of religion