Evolution?

Question

Why do so many people not believe in evolution and choose to attack it? Unlike most people believe, it isn't the theory that we evolved from monkies, it is that living things adapt to their enviroment and change into new species over time. There have been numerous sites where cro-magnon and neanderthal bones and dwellings were found. evolution doesn't debunk Christianity, in fact, it is a compatible belief. the bible never said that adam and eve looked like modern humans, so why is it so hard to believe that we evolved? there have been so many changes to earth, most notably the ice ages, isn't it logical to think that people would have to adapt to it? btw, i am a devout christian and believe everything the bible says.

Answer 1

There are many reasons that people do not believe evolution. It is the same reason that people did not believe that the earth revolved around the sun, or that the world was round. Before people have then ability to accurately explain something, they find ways to explain the world around them. Hundreds of years ago, people believed in "Spontaneous Generation", which was the idea that certain animals were generated spontaneously, i.e., rats came from piles of old oily rags. It wasn't until scientists were able to observe the mating, gestation, and live birth of rats that this idea was debunked. As new ideas emerge, people will resist them until they can be proven without a doubt. Much of what we know today in science was at one time not known, and much of it was bitterly opposed, even in the face of undeniable proof. The Theory of Evolution is just that; a theory. It has mountains of evidence to support it, but, unfortunately, no real way to prove it. The only way to prove evolution would literally be to travel back in time and watch our planet for millions of years. Because of this, many people adopt the idea of "Ockham's Razor", which states that the simplest explanation is probably the correct one. Creationism, or Intelligent Design, is a much simpler explanation for our existence than a lengthy theory about genetic mutations, adaptability, common ancestry, differentiation, etc... In essence, evolution can never be proven, only strengthened. In addition, people fear change and what they do not understand. Evolution goes against (supposedly) essentially everything that has been taught in churches for centuries. If evolution is adopted, people fear the domino effect. "If the creation story isn't true, what else in the Bible isn't true?"

I am not here to say the Bible isn't true, but what it comes down to is interpretations. Some people see the Bible as the exact word of God, verbatim, handed down to mankind. Others see it as an "artistic" word of God, full of metaphors and mysteries.

There is an old saying: "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime." God could very easily have given us a fish, or the exact workings of the universe he created. But what would ancient man have done with complex explanations of biology, physics, etc....? I tend to think that everyday God leads us to new discoveries, and as we learn more we are able to do more. I think that God is teaching us to fish, so that we may eat for a lifetime.

In response to a previous post, I think God is much more advanced than a watchmaker. I believe God created the universe and also all of the natural laws, and set this plane of existence on it's way, watching us lovingly as we grow, just like a good father would, lending his mighty helping hand when necessary. A good father wouldn't make us stay babies, but allow us to grow and change and eventually come to be closer to Him.

Answer 2

If people don't believe that genetic change can happen then just look at domestic dogs. This is an accelerated form of evolution. The ancestor of domestic dogs is the wolf. Compare a wolf to a chihuahua though. Personally I don't think we spontaneously evolved from a chemical soup but evolution does play an important part in our survival. Without genetic diversity we would all have become extinct due to diseases by now. How far genetic drift occurs is debatable, but there is clear evidence that it occurs.

Answer 3

Evolution does debunk christianity(and judaism)because the torah says "...And god created man" not "...and god created an animal that went through many phases of adaptation and became man".
btw, Cro-magnon man were modern humans, they were simply the first Known modern humans. They aren't agreeing viewpoints, but one could be a christian while accepting evolution, just as long as being christian simply means "believing in christ". Evolution=Science, christianity/judaism/creationism=Faith.

Answer 4

Of course the human race has evolved. Ancient people were much shorter than modern man, that gives weight to evolution. And another point goes to evolution because this is why there are different races of people. People adapt to their environment.
Only evolution can explain these anomalies.

Answer 5

I don't know why, but I guess they feel threatened by it in some way.

Personally, I think a literal interpretation of the bible does have some conflicts with more in the scientific world than just evolution. But, I really appreciate the considerate tone of your question.

Answer 6

Some people do not want to accept science. Just like some people can not accept the Stock Market, Global Economy, etc. Some people can not accept change NO MATTER at what form it is being presented to them. I think it is great that you are a christian that can see both view points.

Answer 7

I have the same feelings. Why can't people accept that we evolved, and were not made like the different religions tell us!!!

Answer 8

Hey! I asked the same question a few days ago. Here is the link for you:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmePr8aVSBoiKBdZuVc_SIDsy6IX?qid=20060812023841AA8Fdil

Answer 9

ur rite the bible didnt say that adam and eve werent modern day humans, but it did say that they were created in God's image. I dont thing that God is a monkey or it would have said that God created monkeys in his own image

Answer 10

Man, you're too deep.
I almost burned whats left of my brains!