can i ask the mormons a question?

Question

thank you in advance for informative, thoughtful answers, and not religion- or science- bashing.

i know the subject of evolution can be touchy, and i have some LDS co-workers i've been talking to lately. i'm also doing research in the field of anthropology (evolution and human nature stuff). i don't want to go off on how i believe evolution can explain nearly all aspects of human behavior around them if they don't believe in the theory.

So can anyone tell me what your church's official stance on evolution is? What is ok? Evolution of humans from a single-celled organism? Evolution of non-human animals? Sexual selection? Natural selection? Genetic mutations? Genetics in general?

I have heard from some mormons that evolution is against their religion but maybe i just met some contentious ones.

Answer 1

I believe the Church issued a statement several years ago on the topic of evolution. I can't remember exactly what it said, but I believe it said something to this effect:

Evolution is real, and does occur on a regular basis. But humans did not evolve from another species. Adam and Eve were created by God and all of mankind descended from them.

I'll see if I can find anything else and post it here...

Answer 2

The Church has not officially broken it down according to those areas you inquired. However, they have certainly come out and said that mankind was created by God, in His image (as most Christians believe). We did not come from a cingle-celled organism. Now, members are able to believe as they will about science and evolution in general, so it will depend on your co-workers. I believe in evolution in the sense that there is actual evidence to support it, meaning species evolve and adapt to their environment and natural selection occurs. However, I don't believe there is evidence, at least no solid evidence, to support the theory that man evolved into man from a former species. I also believe my religion supports such theories as the Big Bang.

I think you probably have met more contentious people. Sorry about that. There are many scientists and intellectuals who are Mormon, although it does get harder, because their pride often gets in the way.

Good luck with the conversations.

Answer 3

As stated before there has been no official statement by our church on this, other then as said before, we were created by God. It is left to the individual members of the church to think for themselves of exactly HOW that creation happened. I've known some members that absolutely think it was a 24-hour-6-day creation. I've known many others who believe a day to God is probably something like billions of years and perhaps He used evolution as a tool of creation (that's what I think).

For what it's worth we are religion that puts a high value on the pursuit of knowledge (science being a big part of that). I went to BYU (the Mormon University) and was taught evolution in my Biology class, so I can tell you the train of thought of evolution as a tool of God while not being the "official statement" is generally accepted as a valid possibility.

thanks.

Answer 4

It would appear that, indeed, you 'can' ask the question..."may i ask..."