If the Big Bang and evolution are true, should I believe them?

Question

Is there any precedent for NOT believing something that's true?

Answer 1

If they're true, why wouldn't you want to believe them? And if they're true, it doesn't matter if you believe in them or not--it's just how it is. For example, the earth revolves around the sun whether you believe it does or not, just as it did back when nobody knew or believed it did.
And, Katie, just because "every major religion" believes in intelligent design has nothing to do with whether it's true or not. That's not really proof of anything other than the gullibility of large numbers of people.

Answer 2

If you don't then should you try to disbelieve in the power of gravity next?

You are probably asking this because you fear that acceptance with scientific ideas will be a direct contradiction to your religious views. There is no reason to think that way.

When Galileo observed the moons of Jupiter spinning around the planet he proved that the religious teachings were wrong, that everything did not revolve around the sun. For this crime the Catholic Church (the only Christian Church at the time) sentenced him to live in his tower for the rest of his life. His ideas were so radical that the religious leaders feared it would rock the church. Well, it has been over 300 years since then and the Catholic Church is still alive and well. From it spawned every other form of Christianity, which don’t appear to be to inconvenienced by Galileo’s discovery (unless you still think that the Earth is flat).

The bible was inspired by God, and written by man. So it is subject to interpretation and error. The bible wasn’t complied until 200 AD and some of the source work, like the Old Testament, is a whole lot older. The people of the ancient past didn’t have the scientific knowledge to understand the scientific knowledge required to understand the actual formation processes of the Universe. It isn’t any wonder that the authors of the bible got it wrong. It still doesn’t render the entire bible irrelevant. The 10 Commandments are the foundation for ALL modern law; the bible is still an excellent guide to live your life and to establish a good moral code, which is why some respected scientists have no problem with their scientific knowledge and their religious convictions.

Even some forms of Christianity differ on what the bible says. The Baptists do not believe that people can speak in tongues, yet the bible clearly says that after the newly risen Christ appeared to the apostles they were filled with the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues. Does this mean that all Baptists are heretics and should be burned at the stake! Of course not, it means that some very good Christians understand that the bible is not the EXACT word of God.

Evolution is evident right before our eyes. Every single breed of dogs is descended from the wolf. Mankind interfered with their evolution and shaped their future evolution to please themselves. but it was still evolution—selecting for a specific trait. The same was done with the horse. Evolution is a FACT. The Big Bang is a very probably theory, based on sound scientific evidence; a theory that has won universal acceptance in the scientific world. Does this mean that anyone who believes in science is a heretic and should be burned at the stake! The first scientists and philosophers were religious leaders.

Scientific theory changes with the discovery of new material or the development of theories that explain the world and the Universe better. Once scientists and philosophers believed that the moon was made of green cheese, that space was full of ether to conduct light waves, that the Earth was flat and that the sun revolved around the Earth. As newer information came to light their ideas were changed and evolved. This is a daily occurrence; last week all scientists thought that the Universe was too light and that something was missing. The theory called this substance Dark Matter, but it was only a theory. This week we have astronomers who have observed the cosmic collision that proved the existence of Dark Matter: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060821_dark_matter.html
The bible doesn’t evolve with the times, or with the discovery of new information or new theories. The last time it was “updated” was in the 1600’s creating the King James Version. That was the version that turned all the major religious figures into white people. It was a slanted version that fulfilled the political agenda of Europe; it couldn’t help but be political because the Church was the foundation of all Government. That was done when there was still only one form of Christianity.

Now days with so many forms of Christianity, who all have differing views on different items, it would be impossible to arrive at a consensus to update the bible. Especially, since some people believe the bible is true, verbatim, as written (and revised, does that mean that God spoke to King James?). This doesn’t make all these religions wrong, or destroy the bible. The bible is only a start, and it was never intended to be a scientific account of the Universe. A creation story is proposed, because people want to know where they come from. The story, as presented in the bible, isn’t a scientific explanation; it is an explanation to fulfill a need until better information came along.

Belief in Evolution and the Big Bang do not conflict with your religious ideas, if you have an open mind and understand that the bible is not the universal book that explains everything. People who believe in that become religious extremists which leads to horrible things like suicide bombers. The Koran and the Jewish Torah are also valid religious books. Not so much for what they say, but for what they teach—the moral code and the guide to live your life. Science and religion can coexist if each understands that they are not explanations for the other. You cannot weigh God, or determine what he/she is composed of with at laser spectrograph. That is a foolish idea, just as believing that men from a primitive society that didn’t even understand how to use iron could understand something as complex as the big bang or evolution.

Answer 3

The Big Bang theory is true, however evolution is true to a certain extent except for what Darwin wants you to believe. Big Bang is explained in the Quran where first there was nothing and then of course there was "something" to GOD plan! Unless you know GOD's plans how can you believe something - if you have faith in the ONE GOD then it should be "relatively" easy??!! Evolution on the other hand is more complicated - if we came from an ape and evolved from there then we should still be doing that - right???? In my opinion, evolution meaning mental evolution - yes - physical evolution - no!

Answer 4

Many people refuse to believe things that are true for what ever reason. Maybe they need more proof. Maye their mind is so closed, or maybe they have been taught something from birth, so that it extremely hard for them to change their minds and in that case their minds just blank out anything that doesn't fit their indoctrination. Read a little bit about the people in the Middle East and how they have been taught from childhood that the US of A is the "great satan." That women are inferior to men. That committing suicide will get them to Heaven. etc. etc.

Answer 5

It's generally a good idea to try to believe things that are likely true, to not believe things that are likely false, and to be willing to say "I don't know" for things in the middle, and "I don't know FOR SURE" for everything.

Big Bang and evolution are clearly and obviously in the "likely true" category as far as the major concepts go. So I recommend believing them (but not FOR SURE, ever!).

Answer 6

If they are in fact true (and all available evidence suggests mthey are) then why shouldn't you be convinced of them? Not "believe"...just be convinced of them. A belief is very hard to change.

There is plenty of precedence for believing things that are not true. Religion of all types is full of examples: worldwide floods, a magical firmament, talking animals, the list goes on and on...

Answer 7

It is a theory and some theories have been proven wrong. But the evidence both on the big bang and evolution are there, both to see and listen (the big bang is still heard over radio-telescopes) And even thou the theories themselves have gaps, that is the best answer for now. Neither theory contradicts a God, regardless of what zeolots think. It just proves it is a very smart God!!!

Answer 8

Of course. Evolution is a scientific fact. I know that alot of Christian fundamentalists don't want to believe that, but sometimes the truth hurts.

As far as the Big Bang goes, remember that cosmology is always evolving and we come up with newer and better ways to explain the beginnings of time each and every day. But for the moment it is the best explanation that we have right now.

Answer 9

You can choose to believe or not believe anything you want. For instance people are always questioning what they tell us on the news. There are people who don't believe our first moon landing ever happened. There are people who believe in ghosts. There are people that believe in astrology, fortune telling, psychic's, tons of things. Your believing or not believing in something doesn't make something true or untrue. Look at the evidence from both sides before you make up your mind as to what side you take.

Answer 10

never take anything you are told at face value. research what the big bang is and what evolution is and gorm your own opinion. I went to college and got taught extensively about both, and there are holes in both. you have to formulate your own opinions.
I do not believe in either, nor am i a strong christian. But for all my education, i have found that there has to be a higher power (God). I did my research, because i was tired of getting fed stuff that didnt make sense.
Whatever conclusion you come up with, good luck with your journy!