Why do creationists insist on arguing against evolution when they don't understand it?

Question

Every creationist i have ever debated on the subject of evolution has had a gross misunderstanding of it. Many of them don't know the proper meaning of the word "theory" in a scientific context.

I believe that if you are going to try to prove something wrong you should know all you can about it before you make any claims to the contrary.

I happen to know the bible better than most christians. Don't play that card... it shows your ignorance

Answer 1

If they understood it why would they argue against it?

Answer 2

I understand evolution - I'm a biologist.
I still think God started it all. "Bang!" he said
Kind my own interpretation, but see if you groove it.

(Keep in mind I'm not a Biblical scholar, so if you get led astray, I'm not getting smited on your behalf)

Since God is the smartest being in the whole of creation, I beleive that he does NOT hand make every thing. I.e. he does not make every blade of grass etc.

I beleive that he created a SYSTEM in which those things can self manage. It's pretty complicated. In fact so complicated that he planned it all out from the begining, so all he had to do was invent elements and hit the "on button" and everything would fall into place, in due time.

All the way up to apes roaming the world, at which time He ups the ante and puts the "inspiration" ( literally breathing the spirit into them... like it says "breathing into") in them and you have mankind "poping" onto the map in a geological blink of an eye.

I think the Bible talks about evolution, just a little
In Genesis it says God made this, God made that...

But then it says the something different, let the *EARTH*

Gen 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

I also think the Bible talks about genetics, it talks about selective breeding for sure:

Gen 30:40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.

Gen 30:41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

Gen 30:42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put [them] not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

Gen 30:43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

Anyhow, bottom line. I don't think God is contrary to science. The more I learn about science, the more I see his signature on everything in the world.

Answer 3

how many have you debated? i understand the word theory and i also know that evolution and creation are both hypothesis and not science because science MEANS a theory that can be proven consistently by repetition. I'm a Christian, and one reason why some might have a warped view of evolution is that it CHANGES SO OFTEN!!! And just Because you believe in evolution, does not mean that some person across the country who also believes in evolution believe the same things. it changes and some believe somethings some believe others just like every other religion on the face of the earth. and yes athiesm is a religion. it takes faith to believe in natural selection


oh yeah and if you believe in evolution here is something to think about. are we still evolving? or has this process of natural selection stopped? if it hasnt then why are we all suppossed to be "created equally." That theory contradicts itself.

has it stopped? well maybe. the reality is that some ppl will end their offspring from the gene pool through abortion. no wait would that be calling the abortionists on the lower side of the gene pool. are we becoming suprimacists, maybe descriminating...

obviously you have been exposed to very many harcore christians, and in fact most in depth scientists are christians because they see who life is so complex that evolution could not possiblly have created it. and the ones who start out to proove Christianiy WRONG end up becoming believers.

jp

Answer 4

Creationism can be summed up in one sentence: "Goddidit." No further explanation is required, and no further questions are generated. A thing is the way it is because "God made it that way", and "Who are we to ask why God does things?"

As opposed to real questions, research, testing, evidence, and theories.

It is true that Creationists have a very distorted idea of what a theory is, or what the ToE covers. They somehow wrap up Astronomy, physics, planetology, geology, paleontology, and biology into one mangled package and label it "evolution". Here is the ToE in a nutshell:

The Theory of Evolutiuon is a description of the process by which species of living things change over time. The process is called "Natural Selection"...something even Creationists find hard to deny happens.

That's it. Nothing about the beginning of the universe, the origins of life, or the age of the planet. If Creationists want to debate those things, then they can take their complaints to the appropriate sciences.

Answer 5

I borrowed this from a new book by Micheal Shermer publisher of Skeptic Magazine "Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design". Used this on a lot of questions today.

If one is a theist, it should not matter when God made the universe—10,000 years ago or 10,000,000,000 years ago. The difference of six zeros is meaningless to an omniscient and omnipotent being, and the glory of divine creation cries out for praise regardless of when it happened. Likewise, it should not matter how God created life—whether it was through a miraculous spoken word or through the natural forces of the universe that He created. The grandeur of God’s works command awe regardless of what processes He used.

As for meanings and morals, it is here where our humanity arises from our biology. We evolved as a social primate species with the tendency of being cooperative and altruistic within our own groups, but competitive and bellicose between groups. The purpose of civilization is to help us rise above our hearts of darkness and to accentuate the better angels of our nature.

Believers should embrace science, especially evolutionary theory, for what it has done to reveal the magnificence of the divinity in a depth never dreamed by our ancient ancestors. We have learned a lot in 4,000 years, and that knowledge should never be dreaded or denied. Instead, science should be welcomed by all who cherish human understanding and wisdom.

Answer 6

straightforward lack of expertise. besides the fact that, no longer all creationists disbelieve in evolution. There are some who have faith that their deity helped animals by evolution, ending with human beings because of the fact the dominant ones. i'm atheist although. Edit: I disagree that evolution isn't a technology. Evolution is a technology as this is an assertion of nature. additionally, transitional fossils can furnish us an perception of ways evolution got here approximately by small differences, yet no longer all fossils provide us this. Scales and feathers working example. We nevertheless have not discovered evidence that scales have stronger to feathers. looking fossils in distinctive layers of earth additionally shall we us see what animals survived and went extinct for the time of a definite era by way of their diversifications. suitable or unsuited for a clean environment would be certain in the event that all of them stay or die. human beings administration their environment, it is the reason our evolutionary clock is slow. those with illnesses nevertheless stay and pass their genes on.

Answer 7

Because their goal in arguing with you isn't to prove to you yourself that creationism is an accurate theory, but to reaffirm their own irrational beliefs that creationism is the correct way of thinking. If they were to accept the theories of evolution their worlds would crumble from beneath their feet, and that's too much to handle for most people emotionally so they instead remain in a state of denial, hence the answer to your question.

Answer 8

Evolution to you is a belief unless you actually take it among yourself to study the evidence yourself to really see for a fact if it's proven fact. Your the same as a creationist if you just believe what your told. They have a hard time understanding it because it goes against their beliefs, and people do many things to protect their beliefs. Just like those with the belief in evolution. Most don;'t have a clue about what evolution really entails, and what parts are proven fact, and what part is still a very good theory that seems it can be very true.

WIth that said, evolution seems more logical than than creationists ideas.

But what do I know, I'm very stupid and should be locked up in a looney bin, so bring on the thumbs downs. And make sure it's thumbs down past 20 to ensure my stupidity. Bwahahaha. My words are so full of crap that the words on my screen are melting, hot dang.

Answer 9

Because it scares them. But not believing something will not make it go away and conversely believing something, no matter how hard you do so will not make it true. Evolution is the accepted scientific hypothesis of how life developed. Intelligent design isn't very intelligent at all.

Answer 10

To put it as simply as possible, You cannot have a battle of wits with an unarmed person. regardless of what evidence Evolution is put in front of them they will either try to quote mythology or put their fingers in their ears and sing LALALALALA until you become disgusted and walk away. To them this is "winning" when actually it shows their complete lack of understanding and complete unwillingness to discuss things in an intelligent and rational manner.

Answer 11

I understand the word theory...very clearly.

I have walked the fence between evolution and creation for most of my life. At 40, I'm leaning more towards the intelligent design or creationist.

As for you question, people of faith aren't interested in any other theory or even of proof or disproof of what they believe to be true. It isn't a matter of debate to them. There is no openmindness to that particular arguement. To concede anything would basically be admitting you don't have 100% faith in what you believe.