Evolution and Religion? Is there a median in this issue?

Question

I took a required evolutionary biology class in college couple yrs ago... and I didnt quite disregard my faith but it made me ask more questions. I know the christian and muslim faiths are similar in the evolution of man. My question is that is there a compromise with either of the two? Or maybe an explanation? Please dont respond with the 'dont ask questions just believe' answers. Thanks

Answer 1

If you are asking if there is a way to mingle faith and science, then no. Faith, by its definition, exists in ways that science cannot. Faith can accept things science MUST disregard, simply because science works within the realm that can be proven/known/understood. Another point is the question: does science contradict God? Science, ultimately, can only confirm God's essence, because the essence of God is fundamentally expressed within understandable laws i.e. 2+2=4. That answer is true no matter where you go in creation, earth, heaven or hell. Even miracles, despite how 'magical' they may seem, cannot exceed the fundamental laws of existence. Jesus walking on water may seem extraordinary, but it is entirely within the realm of scientific possibility (IF you truly understand physics). That being said, a 'solution' to the problem of Genesis is simple: the Garden of Eden existed on a etheric plane, with the form of human being existing there without flaw. Man's banishment (if you prefer) exiled him into a less perfect, more developmental stage known as Earth. Thus, the evolution of humankind is really the soul's (and by extension, the universe's) eventual journey back towards the original etheric state. The entire 'seven day' creation story is mythological in nature: the world was created/realized in an instant, for the first instant must come before anything else.

Answer 2

There isn't a compramise that I know of, good question. I think that the Adam and Eve story of eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (try saying that 5 times fast) might represent the final step of eveolution in man kind and inteleigence, or most likely vice versa. And, since I'm guessing you're Jew, the first testament of the Bible for Christans is same for Jews because up until the Jesus point Christans were Jews.

Answer 3

Evolution says nothing of God. It is a well developed theoretical science backed by extensive data.

Religion is a matter of faith. Some, when realizing that evolution tells a different story of Creation than their holy books, attack evolution with hatred and lies. They value their books more than Creation itself. No "compromise" is necessary. Value Creation, over the book about it. Don't confuse the car for the driver's manual. Use your eyes and your reason. There is a difference between faith and blind faith.

Answer 4

There does not even have to be a compromise. Evolution is not incompatible with religion. It is only incompatible with ultra-literal interpretations of various origin scriptures.

Darwin himself put it exactly right in saying that his theory did not imply anything either way about God, and that perhaps evolution was simply the means by which God intended for life to spread.

Answer 5

The theory of evolution made by darwin is that man shares the same ancestors as monkeys, but we don't know what or who the ancestors were. some relativists say that the ancestors were of course Adam and Eve. so in a way they could be linked
i dont know if i believe this myself but its what ive heard off religious people that are in two minds of evolution.

Answer 6

There is no compromise. Neither Christianity nor Islam are religions that endorse evolution. Both speak of a Creator that was active in the creation of his creation. So no, it's not compatible.

Answer 7

It's important to ask the questions - to stick your fingers in your ears and go 'la la la' doesn't help the situation.

You'd probably appreciate the work of Ken Miller. He's a cell biologist that is very much in favour of evolution, but is still a catholic. He somehow manages to glue the ideas together in his head (how, I have no idea - that's not my place. ;)

But anyway, you may want to pick up his book: "Finding Darwin's God" ( http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Darwins-God-Scientists-Evolution/dp/0060930497/sr=8-1/qid=1164298222/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9473162-6104708?ie=UTF8&s=books )

There's also a great lecture by him on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVRsWAjvQSg

Answer 8

There is no need for compromise. Creationism has to be dismissed out of hand as totally irrelevant to biology and geology. It is a theological doctrine that has no place in any scientific debate. I will respect the beliefs of creationists only when they accept that they should not involve themselves in either science or education. You don't compromise with people whose aim is to proselytize.

Answer 9

I always encouraged Christians to "keep the faith" and accept evolution, too. My thinking was that no, evolution does not disprove Christianity - you just have to think of the creation story as symbolic.

But then something was recently brought to my attention - taking the story as symbolic doesn't work. It has to be literal.

Have a look at these videos. They apply to all three Abrahamic faiths.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQ4mp9FJYc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSmrLfz-rUo

Answer 10

I don't know if "evolution is a fact" or not. It could be...
I don't think all the evidence is in.
What I am sure of, however we got here, God did it.
Why do you think He'd reveal His Creation secrets in the Bible? Do you think you'd understand if He had? Would we need a whole planet to hold the technological journals??