I can say, "I don't believe the Earth is round" or "I don't believe the Earth rotates around the Sun." But my belief doesn't really matter. Nature does not require belief in order for its processes to happen. It moves all the same, with or without my belief or my perception (yes the falling tree makes noise).
So how is it that evolution, unique among scientific concepts, is subjected to one's opinion?
Responders, please avoid telling me that evolution is just a "theory." "Theory" in the scientific sense carries a different connotation than "hunch." Within science, gravity is just a theory after all. Understand the scientific use of "theory" before throwing it back at me.
Related to this question, try this experiment: Try holding a 20 lb bowling ball above your foot, saying "I don't believe in gravity," and letting go. Did your "belief" change the result?
2006-08-19 05:19:00 · 15 answers · asked by ? 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
When questions defending evolution have appeared in this forum before, there's usually a quick and thorough response from those who take a literal interpretation of religion--for lack of a better term, the fundamentalists.
I find the lack of a quick response by fundamentalists to this question very interesting.
2006-08-19 05:36:51 · update #1
It is not subjected to opinion. But neither is religion. Either they are true, or they are not. Period. What is important when it comes to opinion is what we think to be true. We will never know all that is true, but we can have opinions on what we think is true. In fact, there is no way to scientifically prove evolution (or any other theory for that matter. Science can only disprove things). Your beliefs do change some things, such as how you will act.
For example, some people who don't believe in gravity might hold a bowling ball over their head, in which case, survival of the fittest truly comes into play... But Hitler believed in evolution, and also thought "survival of the fittest" was a great idea (unfortunatlly, the fittest in his opinion was only the perfect Germans, everyone else had to go). So the real question is, did evolution really happen? All the theories about evolution are only ideas of what could have happened (beliefs), not evidence of what did happen. Don't believe it? Look up one evidence of something that really happened, and can be proven, and email me at factorfiction16@yahoo.com to let me know about it. I would appreciate it. See, just as nature does not require a belief (in which case I really want to know why my professors and friends keep trying to make me believe in evolution...), it doesn't matter how many people believe it to be true. I believe evolution could have happened, what I doubt is that it did. Maybe that's true, maybe not...
Edit:
Why does everyone asume that Christians are the only ones to disagree with evolution? That is a false belief in and of itself. Muslims, Jews, and many other religions don't believe in it either. And there are many non-religious scientists who don't believe in it (you just don't hear about them till you look, because the media, etc. don't want you to know that). But it would not be politically correct to say that any other group than Christians don't believe in evolution. Christians are the only group that can be bashed without getting yelled at... strange...
2006-08-19 05:31:11 · answer #1 · answered by Kiko 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Evolution is just a theory in the sense that beings evolved from other beings. However evolution in a personal sense is real. We all evolve/adapt each day of our lives. You can't not believe in evolution because at the core evolution happens mentally every second. You can say you don't believe in Darwin's theory of evolution however. Though he does have some points his theory does have falsehoods and misconnections. I don't believe we came from monkeys because there is scientific evidence that shows we are not related to monkeys or cavemen. We have more genetically in common with pigs. So did we evolve from pigs? No. No one can truly say where we came from but it doesn't matter. We're here and we need to focus on being able to tollerate differences. Those who don't believe in evolution in any way don't evolve psychologically and soon fade away.
2006-08-19 05:29:27 · answer #2 · answered by computerqfl 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem is that the theory of evolution conflicts with the creationist belief of the origin of the earth and its various species. Most people don't really understand how evolution works and therefore put it in the same category.
2006-08-19 05:27:01 · answer #3 · answered by Atheist81 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would encourage you to challenge all you know about science, because even the laws of physics have been disproven recently in Ireland when they found a way to create free energy using self-sustaining magnetic fields. If you want to find an intelligent argument to the theory of evolution, I would suggest that you study the THEORY of Irreducibly Complex Systems...it may sway your opinion..because it seems you have an analytical mind. As far as big bang theory goes..try this experiment....take a stick of dynamite and throw it at a woodpile, just see if it builds you your dream house...lol
2006-08-19 05:31:22 · answer #4 · answered by jbbrant1 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because contrary to all the waffle, evolution doesn't have all the answers. It therefore demands the occasional leap of faith - it even demands that we start with one. And that makes it as much a matter of belief (or disbelief) as the existence of God.
Out of curiosity, how do evolutionists these days explain the origin of life? Not the diversification of life - evolution is rock solid and (in my opinion) flawless in that department. But how do evolutionists explain how life appeared on earth?
2006-08-19 05:49:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You're asking for logic and reasoning from someone who ignores evidence and believes in magical invisible beings?
EDIT: It is really disheartening to me the number of people here who fervently reject evolution yet have done little research or completely misunderstand what they have read so far. So many of the opinions posted here stem from ignorance and an unwillingness to learn, by exploring the evidence and researching.
2006-08-19 05:24:35 · answer #6 · answered by Michael 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They think they are being good Christians, but they don't get it. The bible doesn't conflict with evolution. It says god created animals, but it doesn't say those animals can't evolve over time. I'm not trying to pick on them. I am Christian but I believe in evolution. Even Rush believes in Evolution. I know a guy who doesn't, he never thought about it, he just decided one day.
2006-08-19 05:26:46 · answer #7 · answered by JoeIQ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question. I agree with you. I don't know about everyone else but I'm not sure if I want to believe if humans evolved from apes. Closely related, but like I said I'm not really sure. And like you said, my belief won't change it. But seriously, great question. Makes you think just a little bit.
2006-08-19 05:29:40 · answer #8 · answered by Ash 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ask the Easter Bunny about-evolution.
2006-08-19 06:23:00 · answer #9 · answered by Tinkerbelle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't make sense. But that's not a problem for godders, because their belief system doesn't make sense either and that doesn't bother them in the slightest.
2006-08-19 07:21:24 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋