Some people like to claim that evolution is a religion. Are they right or wrong, and why?

Answer 1

They are wrong, evolution is a scientific theory and as such is subject to constant change and development, trying to find the truth by scientific means, it poses no untouchable dogmas and its open to discussion

Religion claims absolute and inchangeable truth which when questioned might be reinterpreted but not changed, it is closed to discussion and is constitued by dogmas

Answer 2

I have never heard people claim evolution to be a religion. However, naturalism, which would be very thankful to have the theory of evolution around, most definately is. It seeks to answer all of life's question through natural means, thereby denying supernatural causes for anything (which obviously opens the door for there to not even be a supernatural--God--to begin with).

And by the way, that is the religion being espoused in public schools today. Christianity wasn't removed as much as it was replaced.

Now, if someone were playing fast and loose with the English language, they might have made the statement that evolution is a religion when they actually meant naturalism, and while what they were driving at may be true, semantically it is not.

A system of belief does not have to have a deity involved. That's why 12-steppers are told that it doesn't matter what they choose as their "higher power", just so long as they have one. That's one example of what I am saying.

Answer 3

Is everyone on crack. Evolution is a scientific fact for example viruses like aids evolve , however the evolution of man from monkeys or what not is not a fact but a hypothesis.
Religion has to due with not only belief in something but in a way of life and a purpose of life. Some atheists believe in evolution but there again the fact that you are an atheist means that you don't have a religion so can evolution be a religion?

Answer 4

God reveals, man observers. Everything we know about God comes from God as spoken by the prophets (Holy Scripture, Christian Bible).

Evolution is a scientific theory the currently explains the facts (an observation by two or more men). The scientific method is used to explain our surrounding from man's observation. For example, the world was flat was a theory that has been replaced by the world is round. Evolution is not a religion, it is a scientific theory based on what man has observed.

Let me comment on the Christian bible: It is a tool for believers to use, not a conversion manual. Everything in the bible is revealed information; however, the writing style is Eastern, not Western. Of you hear people trying to proof something or that, but it is reveal and no human observation counts. It style is not the direct quick to the point Western. Do not think you can understand the book using the wrong style.

For example, God created the heavens and the earth. (First use of the word create--it is used to other times). Is this the big bang scientific theory? No, It tells what God did. Etc.

Again the bible is not a conversion manual. It is a religious text that may contain other information.

Answer 5

The precise definitions of 'faith', 'religion' and 'science' come into play here. Evolution, has not been logically proven, like why the number, square root of 2 is irrational (which is a beginner's practice proof that is quite simple actually, based on the definitions of mathematics). Evolution is technically a *theory*, and like religion, there are people who adhere to it who point out what they believe to be supporting points and those who do not adhere to it that point out points that they believe to be against it.

I suppose, much to the outrage of scientists everywhere, a theory can be 'believed' in, based on evidence that may or may not have been accurately recorded, not yet contradicted by future findings, or want not. Regardless, this is different from religious faith where I personally find there to be less converging conclusive evidence (where a piece of evidence supports the main point while not excluding other supporting evidence of the main point), but more strong emotion and feeling involved.

So now that that is out of the way- the theory of evolution is supported by a no-exxageration- *vast* wealth of points the majority of which are actual scientific facts, and these points are convergent - they support eachother or do not discount eachother. The amount of evidence, defined in this way, for evolution, is staggering!

History and future findings may (or may not) tell whether 'they' are truly right or wrong in regards to the theory of evolution, but your question of whether it is a religion or not... Well, it can be in a sense, because of the conflict of belief, but it is not a religion in at all nearly the same way that christianity or islam is. The reason is that the theory of evolution was reached by this vast convergance of data gathered and compiled via scientific methods, methods that religions do not use.

Pardon my verbosity in the answer.

Answer 6

Wrong. Not because they claim that evolution is a religion, that is just silly.
They are wrong because of their motivation for this claim. This is yet another ploy to give creationism parity with science.
They have had no success (outside of Kansas) trying to make creationism into a science, so the next best way to gain parity is to try and drag evolution out of science.

For those who can't tell the difference between relgion and science, here is a simple observation that can help you draw your own conclusions:

In science, there are great differences of opinion, and further study draws the sides closer together as more information is revealed.
In religion, there are great differences of opinion, and further study leads to further division between the sides.

This is why there are over 700 distinct brands of cristianity alone.

Answer 7

They are WRONG, I think.

Religion is a very primitive form of philosophy: Philosophy is the scientific system of thought toward which religion only blindly gropes.

Religion is not science, it instead substitutes unsubstantiated wishes or "beliefs" for diligent and logical examination of extent's such as evolution.

The theory of evolutionary development of man and other forms of life depends on critical examination, and non-contradictory data , unlike "Religion" which substitutes blind faith to "support" an allegation.

So, while some religionists COULD take the rational theory of evolution development, and accept the same blindly .. worshiping it without validation .. I suppose that act might qualify it as a "religion" per se .. BUT ..

Logical rational scientific theory is not "religion" .. it is the antithesis of religion AND "evolution" is a rationally developed theory.... so, it is not a religion .. right???

Answer 8

the only thing evolution and religion have in common is that they can never be proved in our lifetime. in that sense, people must "believe" in evolution without definitive proof, a lot like people believe in god without proof.
however, there is a huge difference. a religion is built on dogma, on absolute truths, not to be questioned. these truths come about through divine inspiration and require no proof of any kind.
the belief in evolution is different. it's a decision to believe that this theory is more likely than another, and it's based not on divine inspiration but on solid research which has uncovered very reliable evidence so support the theory, and nothing to disprove it. this evidence is not accepted as a matter of course, but only after repeated attemps to discredit it have failed.
so you see, the big difference really, is that a religion is a belief system that cannot survive critical thought, while the belief in evolution thrives on critical thought, encourages it, strives to find the proof that will confirm or deny it. so, it's not and cannot be a religion.

Answer 9

Evolution is a theory not a religion because it does not define a set of values or standards to live by. It is simply an explanation for an effect. Likewise the Theory of Relativity is not a religion, as it only explains relativistic effects on time and space.

Answer 10

Wrong. Evolution is a system of beliefs. Religion can be defined in many ways, but it usually involves a supernatural force. Evolution does not. Therefore, not a religion.

Answer 11

I've never heard of evolution being a religion. I have heard of people saying God used evolution instead of just speaking everything into existence. What you may be talking about are people who worship nature itself, and agree the evolution was the tool Mother Nature used to create life.