How do Christians reconcile their beliefs with Evolution?

Question

It has become increasingly apparent over the years that the theory of evolution is correct. This is almost undeniable when you take into account the fairly recent discovery of the Delta-32 mutation (a genetically dominant white blood cell mutation that grants the subject extreme resistance to HIV, almost to the point of immunity). Delta-32 proves the concept of natural selection to be true. How do Christians reconcile this new discovery and still uphold their beliefs?

PS - This isn't an attack, just an inquiry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_32

Icy U -
Adaptation, in the genetic sense, is synonymous with evolution. Evolution is entirely based around the concept of those with higher survivability passing on their genese and traits to later generations. It takes millenia, however, for this process to produce entirely new species. Delta-32 gives a genetic advantage to a particular group of people, leading to their increased survivability. This is evolution in action. You asked me to find a "shred of evidence" to support evolution. I'll do you one better. I'll give you scores, my friend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution#Molecular_Evidence

Conradmex -
Give me evidence of carbon dating's error. I want sources. Until I see these things, I will consider you incorrect.

Sideshot 72-
You make many good points, and I would like to address them. First of all, your question regarding "nature's failed attempts" can be easily explained. The non-beneficial mutations wouldn't provide any survivability advantages, and may provide disadvantages, thusly recipients of those mutations would not pass on their genes, resulting in their population being relatively small and their fossils being rare and difficult to find. However, I can point to one of evolution's known failed attempts. It's called the veniform appendix. It's a human organ with no discernible function, an "evolutionary leftover". There is some evidence to support the hypothesis that the appendix contains enzymes used to properly digest raw meat. The evolutionary process has already started to eliminate this un-needed organ. The rate of human beings being born without an appendix has steadily increased over the decades.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiform_appendix#Function

Answer 1

I was just reading an article on evolution in a Catholic magazine. Official church teaching is that the God created everything but he may used evolution to do it.

Looking at it another way - God created a rational universe. Scientist are just trying find the rational laws He put in place.

Though some christian faiths may insist on a literal reading of scripture, others see their scriptures as a spiritual guide rather than a science book

Answer 2

Not an attack back here...but I am very far from convinced that evolution is correct. And in case you are wondering, I am a very educated person, and in fact can line people up around the block who will tell you that I am in fact over-educated.

Just because a gene mutates, and someone says that it means something, that doesn't make it mean something. If genes mutate so readily, and so quickly, why does the fossil record not show a continuum of species instead of a set of "stable configurations?" If natural selection is correct, then shouldn't we find many examples of fossils of nature's failed attempts?

I just don't see it. I think it takes much more faith to believe in evolution than to believe in Christ. Judged by reasonable standards, there's actually more support for one than the other.

Answer 3

Evolution is just a theory. As things stand today, so many species become extinct. It takes faith to believe that they are not only becoming extinct but evolving into other species even given a long time. Evolutionary steps are punctuated meaning species were stable for millions of years and change to another specie over a relatively short time. You have a choice to believe or deny this. It takes even more faith to believe that dead matter managed to become live matter.

Answer 4

Delta-32 only proves adaptation, not evolution. If it was really evolution, then that would be a new species, not human, and those of us humans left would not be able to produce offspring with a Delta-32 person.

There is not a single shred of proof of evolution, and I challenge you to find some. All of your "proof" is based on assumptions and conjecture, nothing hard and concrete.

Answer 5

Evolution-believing Christians have self assurance that God might have used evolution as a capacity to deliver approximately humanity, in certainty you may make better it to propose that God would have used evolution to create the universe besides. In different words, the sluggish improve of our universe would have occurred basically as scientists say it occurred in the direction of the huge Bang. of direction the numerous factors are left to be crammed in, yet God, might have started the approach. Many Christians have self assurance that it ought to have occurred precisely as scientists say it did. Or might have accrued the aspects mandatory to make a brilliant Bang from some place. or possibly God would have had the universe formed, and then in my view dropped a packet of the aspects that ought to have contained the 1st "one-celled life variety." So, possibly God positioned that "seed' that ought to enable life variety to transpire. That being reported, yet another subject that Christians selection in, is despite if God had a palms-on suggestions-set or despite if God allowed issues to take place with God basically staring at and making beneficial tha tnothing went extraordinarily incorrect. that must be exciting. ought to you think of if there have been a manner for exceedingly-smart beings to create a one-celled organism that became into programmed to deliver to life a particular creature. it relatively is an exceedingly exciting theory you have basically made me theory up. thank you.

Answer 6

Well, hold your horses. Who says that Christianity and Evolution are incompatible views? Yes, I know that plenty of stump-neck, gap-tooth, knuckle-dragging, literal-minded Fundamentalists may hold that view, but many, many Christians see both as valid, yet separate, approaches to a single truth. In fact, if you read Genesis, you realize that it is a very good description of the Cosmos' overall development. Just because it took place over eons rather than six days is irrelevant.

Answer 7

Christianity is about faith, which can only deal with the unknowable parts of life, i.e., those parts that can neither be proved nor disproved.

Evolution is a description of things that are knowable, things that can be proved or disproved.

The discussions do not belong in the same realm of discourse

Answer 8

Theistic evolution.
Some christians I know are fine with evolution as long as you don't tell them it rules out God or the specialness (for lack of a better word) of humans.

Answer 9

I honestly think that even if God has created everything from evolution it makes his glory even greater. I don't really understand why God can't be found in science. I think the way people think of God is kind of a watered down version. It is obvious to me that people wouldn't be able to understand God if he revealed everything to us. That is why it is called BLIND faith. So, I believe in God, and evolution.

Answer 10

u seem like an intelligent person, what u should do is also find out the many many evidences out there supporting creation, (by the way adam and eve was not sent out the garden for obtaining knowledge, it was beacause they were disobedient)