why is it hard to believe the theory of evolution?

Question

i mean, i have read all the evolutionary psychology theories about why people almost instinctually go for the idea that something or someone had to have designed something so awesome... but that would be viewed as a catch-22 by some people!

natural selection (therefore, over time, evolution) is still affecting us every day. it's the selective pressures that have changed.

and to those who think that moneys wouldn't exist anymore, etc. ... you just don't understand what evolution or natural selection are.

(i have a biology degree and an anthropology degree, if that gives you an idea of where i stand on the matter. ;) )

thank you for thoughtful answers, rather than condemnations, some of you, regardless of whether or not i agree...

Answer 1

Here's my theory, based on psychology:

Some people have more control over what they *believe* than what they *understand*. Faith is an act of pure Will ... you can through strength of commitment and determination simply *choose* to believe something. You cannot understand things by pure Will ... you cannot simply *choose* to understand something.

To believe in Biblical literalism just requires a single act ... an act of faith in a single source (the Bible) as unerring ... the standard of Truth on which all others are compared. I do not understimate how difficult that leap can be ... for many people it is a deep personal struggle ... and people are unfortunately ridiculed for it. But once you have made that leap of faith, all else is easy. You don't have to undertand things to believe them. They don't have to make sense. And if they conflict with science, then you have already made up your mind that science is wrong. You start with the people you trust who also hold the Bible up as unerring (your parents, your religious leaders), and as long as you are convinced that they are coming from the same sense of faith in that Bible, you trust them.

Science requires *understanding* ... and for some people understanding doesn't come as easily ... it doesn't come when they want it to as an act of pure Will. Science requires a constant questioning "how do we know that?" "where is the evidence for that statement?" "is that consistent with this other statement?" "is that logical?" "what do these terms mean?" "who thought of that?" These questions can be exhausting. They require fighting through moments when you don't understand something and working it out. Most of all, they require *doubt* ... *constant* questioning of the answers you're getting. Can you imagine a religious leader encouraging you to adopt a constant attitude of *doubt*?

And some people get the distinct feeling that scientists are self-important elitists speaking in a jargon-filled language just to be inaccessible. This is not true, of course ... most scientists *love* explaining the things they discover in laymen's terms (although not all of them are good at it). They use that jargon-filled language to converse with each other just because it's efficient and compact. You can say the same thing in everyday English but it takes a *lot* more words ... and so some people get the impression that things are very complex.

Evolution is an unusually *simple* theory compared to a lot of other theories in science (try comparing it to quantum theory or relativity in physics). Even the theory of natural selection is unusually *simple*.

I am always baffled by people who say that it is "complex" or that it "doesn't make any sense" ... and invariably it is not because these people aren't smart enough to understand it ... but because somebody has explained it to them *completely* wrong. If your understanding of evolution is just something like "humans came from monkeys" then you are absolutely right it makes no sense at all. That wrong understanding leads you to ask questions like "Why are monkeys not still evolving into humans?" But that is not what the theory of evolution says AT ALL. If these people would just take the time to let someone explain it well to them, instead of trusting anti-evolutionists to explain evolution (would they trust an athiest as their only source to explain the Bible?), they might find that it makes an incredible amount of sense and is incredibly simple.

In fact the danger is that evolution is so simple, and makes *so* much sense, that some people make the equally bad mistake of believing it for that reason alone ... but that is not why more than 95% of scientists accept it. They accept it because of *evidence*.

Answer 2

You’re right that people around the world, across all cultures and throughout history have looked at the incredible complexity of even the simplest life forms and said there must be a mind behind this. But you don’t have to believe in a higher power to see the myriad problems in the theory of evolution that have caused many scientists to question its legitimacy as a scientific theory. First of all, despite what you may have been taught in school – evolution is a THEORY (only one of many). In fact, science has disproved many aspects of evolutionary theory. For example, the second law of thermodynamics states that entropy can only increase and order would, then, decrease. Evolution, however, would require that order increase and entropy would decrease as energy was used to create the order. In other words: It is natural, observable, and scientifically testable that the natural order of things is to progress from order to disorder – not from disorder to order. Such action has never been observed nor re-created in a laboratory. Another example of science contradicting evolutionary theory: It is observable that DNA can change (mutate) into lesser-complicated strands (a loss of genetic information) or strands that remain the same but for a minor difference. However, there is no evidence that new material can spontaneously appear to make more complex strands of DNA (a gain of genetic information). Something must occur to “create” the new DNA necessary to add complexity to a cell, a structure, or a system. Darwin, himself, once stated, “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” Well, science HAS identified many such organs which operate with this irreducible complexity. The eye is one such organ. Even Darwin admitted in a letter to his friend Asa Gray that the intricacy of the eye “to this day gives me a cold shudder.” There are so many fact-based problems with the theory of evolution that I can’t even begin to scratch the surface in this short space. However, one cannot help but wonder why it is still taught in schools as though it were proven fact. Biological systems are like mechanical systems in that just one missing or defective part and they don’t work properly, if they work at all. People naturally assume when they see a complex mechanical system (a car, a cell phone, an oven) that there was a designer. Is it such a surprise that people see something as complex as a living cell and wonder the same thing – could there be a designer?

Answer 3

First of all, we don't know that we have stopped evolving. Some people just can't seem to get it into their heads that evolution works over millenia, not years.

Second, if we have stopped evolving (and it's certainly a real possibility) then it's because there is no longer evolutionary pressure on us to evolve. Yes, we still get sick, but we don't often die young or become sterile because of it. Evolution doesn't care about colds and flu, it doesn't care about Alzheimer's or deteriorating eyesight, and it doesn't care about whether or not you're a physically perfect specimen. Why? Because none of these things affect people young enough to have children in such a way that they won't. Today pretty much everyone has the opportunity to grow up and reproduce.

Answer 4

There are several parts to this answer. First of all, religion is so embedded in our society that we don't even realize how deep it's influence goes. Also, the chances of us being are so low, people claim that it is not possible, however using the theory that the universe is infinite, there are infinite possibilities, and an infinite amount of results, Therefore, we must exist in one of those results. Religion undermines that by claiming that there is one "god" who made everything the way it is "'cause god did it". Also, the theory of evolution is somewhat complicated, so people who don't understand it or refuse to understand it simply turn to the "god did it" explanation, because it doesn't require an ounce of reason, or a shred of proof.

Answer 5

1. It takes a long time.
2. It takes so long, that during the course of our civilization, fundies can argue that organisms have changed, but remained the same "kind" -- e.g. gray wolves and dogs are the same "kind."
3. We don't know what the mechanism for the Cambrian Explosion was, or even if this was a real phenomenon.
4. There are plenty of fossil hominids, but none can say with determination which were our direct ancestors, and which were "cousins." The same is true of fossil equines and horses.

Answer 6

You people and the theory of evolution are hilarious. You hide behind the "proof" when in fact it is someone else's work. Did you do the research?? Can you prove to everyone that its 100% true? Evolution does occur, yes, I'll grant that. But the Bible states that man and woman were placed on the earth as pure creatures with no malice, fear, hate, and etc. That is fact! If you don't believe that, I don't think you've ever read the Bible, ever heard of the Bible or whatever. I know, you're just trying to be a pseudo-radical and Ok! Whatever pleases your dope-smoking little minds. We who know the truth will be saved, and those who don't...pack tons of shorts and tanks tops cause you all know where you're going. Ha! Burn..

Answer 7

it is hard to believe simply because it degrades people and goes against what we were taught..

most people have religions where they believe that the divine being created them.. the theory of evolution completely denies that saying that we come from apes.. people are taught a certain way and grow up with those things.. when someone suddenly comes and says "you aren't created by god" people start beasting because they have always heard and learned that god created them..

other than that, the theory of evolution degrades people.. most people don't like the idea that they come from something like apes.. apes may be cute, but coming from them is totally something most people wouldn't want to be part of.. that is what the theory of evolution says and thus people try to deny it

Answer 8

Some people insist on taking Genesis literally, and refuse to accept the age of the earth or anything that conflicts with their beliefs.

Answer 9

ever since ancient Greece, there has been a long-standing assumption than humans were seperate, different than all other life-forms, and human "specialness" was a tempting addition to theology - it enabled holy purposes to be atrributed to humans.

so accepting that humans came about from "lowly" animals is a step down to those who still prefer to see us as above the natural world.

NOTE to Supagrrrrl:
If we came from ribs and dirt, why are there still ribs and dirt?

Answer 10

"
its hard to believe evolution theory - cos if it was true there wouldnt be any more apes and monkeys running around! it doesnt make sense

"

If we evolved from neanderthals, why do people like you still exist?