OK evolution?

Question

OK. I need a real Athiest evolutionist here. I need to know in a nutshell what you think about evolution. I need an Athiestic point of view...while I was Athiest I ignored any questions about evolution so I don't know exactly what they think....I have my own set of evolution thinking that I go by so NO I am not a creationist. I just want to know the Athiest side. PLEASE don't tell me what a fool I am just answer the damn question.

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shadowgirl

PEOPLE I asked for it in a nutshell not to be told what f-ing places to go to! I am giving you an opportunity to share your opinion by one who wants to know and is listening! Use the damn opportuntiy already!

PS thank you johnny zondo.

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shadowgirl

Oy vay I know what evolution is already--I want an Atheistic point of view. READ the question don't interpret it. And I can't click on any links that you put up here. So evil_atheist that won't work.

Answer 1

This my sound stupid but bear with me.

I see evidence of evolution everyday. One of the most facinating things I see (and you could too, if you looked hard enough at it) are trees. Its not just humans and animals that evolve. Its every living thing. In my town there is a road that is pretty heavily traveled by both cars and semi-trucks. This is a 4 lane road, not a highway or interstae, just a normal road. In the median of this road are trees which stand roughly between 15-30 feet high. The branches of these trees overhang the road. But if you are following a semi-truck down this road you would notice that where the branches that overhang the road and would normally be low enough for the trucks to hit dont grow. They stop just at the point where the truck would hit them. Before you start thinking that the trucks hit them and break them off, let me tell you something. I have stopped, gotten out and looked at the branches of these trees. They arent broken. They just stop growing before they get to the point where the trucks would hit them and break them. The branches that are higher than the semi-trucks grow over the road just fine. I have seen when some of the older trees in this median have been replaced with younger trees. The younger newer trees are very robust and have a lot of branches everywhere, but as they get bigger they actually stop growing over the road. Just like the trees that have been there for years. If there is a road in your city like this, look at it next time you drive it. Stop. Get out. Look at the branches. they arent cut or broken. They just stopped growing. These trees have adapted to their environment. They actually changed the way they grew to acommodate the space that they have been planted. Thats Evolution. You can see it everyday. Just look for it.

Answer 2

As atheism isn't a religion but merely a descriptor for a lack of belief in god i can't speak for all, i can only give you my opinions. So here we go.

Indeed most atheists do accept evolution as a fact (notice i didn't say "believe"). Hopefully most of us have a decent handle on the theory as it stands today, like i said, i can't speak for everyone. Here's how evolution works in the smallest nutshell i can provide... Evolution is the non-random selection of randomly occurring changes. Basically this means that within any generation there are a number of genetic mutations that express themselves as alleles. If the allele is beneficial to the organism (IE doesn't cause it to be killed or die) it is passed on to the next generation. Over many many MANY generations this allele may continue to change into something that causes the organism to be better suited for it's environment or makes it more attractive to the opposite sex. Either way, this organisms genes have a greater chance of being spread to the next generation in large numbers. Over time this causes the species itself to change.

Please keep in mind that this is not any sort of guided process. There is no driving conscious force or plan behind evolution. If a change is successful it lives, if it is unsuccessful it dies.

There is enough evidence in support of evolutionary theory at this point to allow it's underlying "engine" (if you will) to be recognized as a fact. On a related note a lot of people tend to misuse the word "theory" when talking about evolution. They confuse "theory" with "hypothesis" which is an educated guess that has yet to be verified or denied. A Theory is a tested hypothesis with a body of evidence to support it.

That's bout it.

Answer 3

Evolution in a nutshell? That's got to be one of the funniest requests I've heard. But, here it goes.

Evolution is the biological process in which species adapt to their environment through natural selection, meaning those best adapted to the environment have a better chance of surviving and passing on their superior genes. This happens generation after generation slowly molding the species to the environment. Sexual selection also plays a part in evolution, this is the competition between members of the same species and sex over available mates. This part of evolution explains things like brightly colored plumage and singing in birds.

It may be more simple to say it as Darwin said it.
1) Every animal species will have more offspring than can survive to adulthood.
2) This will lead to a struggle for existence.
3) In the struggle for existence, the stronger will survive. i.e. Natural Selection.
4) Surviving genes are passed down to the next generation.
Actually, Darwin didn't actually know about genes. They hadn't been discovered yet. Which makes his theory even more amazing. The discovery of genes made the theory of evolution a reality.

Answer 4

Will, I thought you were a Christian. What're you doing telling people to get books on evolution?

Anyway, evolution is the belief that life on Earth wasn't always the way it is now, and that it has changed over millions of years. Species adapt to their environments and become specialized. Humans are just another animal that has evolved from the same stuff as every other animal.

Answer 5

Survival of the fittest, mutations can give an organism a natural advantage, that is evolution in a nutshell.

Answer 6

I think that evolution is an unquestionable fact. Here are two of my favorite sources on evolution:

http://www.talkorigins.org/ (this site features an extensive list of articles on this topic, as well as a handy search feature)

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000D4FEC-7D5B-1D07-8E49809EC588EEDF&sc=I100322 (this article answers fifteen of the most common creationist arguments)

Edit: "Evolution in a nutshell?" I think that swbarnes2 summed up my thoughts pretty well, so I'll refer you to that person's comment.

Answer 7

Creationists say that God sat at a drawing desk and designed in detail every living creature, which is silly.
God simply established the laws for the creation to take place.
Evolution is just one of such laws.
The Creation still goes on, but being God eternal all is always present for Him.
This is just my point of view. You are not obliged to share it .
Am I crazy?

Answer 8

Try any book on evolution by Richard Dawkins.

Answer 9

whoo! i shall do my best.

well evolution is what it is, its there. its observable, its self evident...the difference between religion and evolution is that evolution doesent require faith, its laiddown right in front of you for you to see. you dont need to invest faith into it because its right in front of you.

the only way you couldnt accept it is if you close your eyes and CHOOSE not to accept it.

its there...wether some people like it or not.

i do not speak for all atheists.

Answer 10

Evolution is only a theory without concrete proof...Science should be built on experiments and proofs not on thoughts and philosophies.