I very commonly hear a theist say on R&S:
'It takes just as much faith to believe in evolution than it does in god.'
Whether or not someone decides to believe in evolution is up to them, but I think they should at least have valid evidence to make the decision. I am not saying evolution is PROVEN, but it is a theory backed with such an overwhelming amount of evidence it can not be rationally challenged by even a dogmatic believer's mind if it is understood.
If you are one of the people who have a vague understanding of evolution like 'So your saying we came from monkeys...that's dumb.' ..I suggest you start here:
http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/essays/courtenay1.htm
If you are believer who has a vague understanding of evolution, wants to skip the link and make a response like: 'Radioactive dating doesn't work. They date fossils by the layers, layers by the fossils'..or something to that effect please start with the 'back' button.
If you are a believer who had read the...
2006-12-23 06:40:50 · 24 answers · asked by Poo 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
article, and still has a logical argument against evolution. Please state it because that's what understanding the world around us is all about. =P ..and people who disagree with me with a logical argument are my favorite kind.
2006-12-23 06:42:23 · update #1
I noticing I am getting some answers that are telling me evolution is not anywhere close to proven but not stating why they think this. Plz state why you think this. I love to learn new things. =)
2006-12-23 06:47:56 · update #2
Angela, you make a good point but you have to notice that christianity's main source of evidence is the bible, and the bible very clearly expresses that evolution had nothing to do with how anything came to be. When you look at the bible, and notice it is supposed to be written by some divine source, you can't help but wonder why it states that. Or you could just decide for yourself that you think christianity is a hoax, invented in the 1st century by someone with an advanced understanding of psychology and manipulation of the human mind, like I did. But it is up to you.
2006-12-23 06:53:20 · update #3
"Every entity is in a state of flux; moving, reacting, adjusting, and changing. The amount of change is, of course, dependent on its ambient environment, outside stimuli, and its basic (foundational) characteristics."
The Scientists call this "evolution".
The Creationists call it (by) "intelligent design".
The only academic debate is related to when it all started and who started it. OK, it started 550 million years ago, the paleontologist call it the explosion of life on Earth (Cambrian period?)
So, now, the only debate is who or what entity started it.
Very recently most Scientists, Atheistic Scientists, have concluded that Earth could not have evolved by happenstance.
They say that something or someone or some entity outside our solar system seeded this planet to start the proccess of evolution.
Well, that's all for now. See you later.
PS: I have a funny theory about evolution:(my personal theory, I discovered it by contemplating my navel)
"Evolution, given enough time, will lead to eternal life."
2006-12-23 06:44:35 · answer #1 · answered by MrsOcultyThomas 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a theist myself, but I am not anti-evolution. I believe there are some very convincing pieces of data (having taken AP biology last year).
Embryology, the study of unborn animals and people, shows that we have what are called vestigial parts-- parts of the body that now have no function but would have a function if we were, say, a dolphin. A good example of this is the tailbone.
Also, the drastic change in the makeup of the soil about 2 billion years ago suggests that there was a mass production of oxygen; this is concurrent with the appearance of CO2 respirating bacteria.
However, there are also some very large puzzles about evolution. For example, a scientist recently found what she thought was a fossil of a dinosaur; however, it turned out to still contain tissue, which should not be possible given the professed age of the dinosaurs.
There is also archaeological and medical evidence that supports the bible.
Tablets have been found in Egyptian vaults relating the story of Moses.
Before attempting an excavation near Jerusalem, some of the archaeologists drew a conceptual map according to what they found in scripture. When the excavation was done, the conceptual map and the real thing looked exactly alike.
(Geez... I feel like I'm writing an essay.) Anyway, to conclude, I don't believe that the two are incompatible, especially if we choose not to take the bible literally, which is more reasonable. There seems to be ample evidence for both, and it is not a life-and-death matter, so I am content to say I am not all-knowing on this issue but am confident that it can be resolved.
2006-12-23 07:20:50 · answer #2 · answered by Aisatsana 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do non-believers assume all believers (in any God but mostly Christianity) are uneducated dropouts? Most of the Christians I know are by the least college graduates with a full understanding of science. I do not reject evolution...I just think there is a masters hand behind it all.
BTW: God isn't pr oven either..., but he is also a" theory" backed with such an overwhelming amount of evidence.
I don't think it has to be a one or the other situation here. The word evolution is nowhere in the bible. I could bore you with the links between science and the bible but I get the feeling it wouldn't make a difference anyway.
2006-12-23 06:47:53 · answer #3 · answered by Stiletto ♥ 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
As a theist, I would concur with those who state that belief in evolution is a matter of faith. Quite the contrary, evolution is based on science and matters of empirical evidence. Most theists are not knowledgeable of the historical context of the scriptures they attest to adhere. But there are those of us who have delved into the exegetical meaning of the scripture and do not adhere to the literal interpretation of ancient scripture. This knowledge empowers and liberates us to understand the contextual message of faith within the text within binding us to the limited understanding of creationism. In my opinion, God is quite able to work outsides the confines created by the finite minds of those who profess to know God on a personal level.
2006-12-23 06:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by Turnhog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're asking people to make a case against evolution when you haven't presented a case for evolution.
And since you are informed on the topic, you will know how many times evolutionists have changed positions on issues. That undermines confidence in present theories.
2006-12-23 06:59:04 · answer #5 · answered by sickblade 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its true though, if its the opposite of what they think, they wont even take the time to see if it could possibly be true or not. The vast majority of the people here are close minded.
TTC said, "did you know many atheist are completely ignorant about Christianity". Whats funny about that is most atheists were Christians before they were Atheists (like me).
The average Evolutionist knows more about Christianity than the average Christian knows about Evolution.
Arguing that any religion or belief is "true" or "wrong" is ignorant.
2006-12-23 06:49:26 · answer #6 · answered by Dr. Douche 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, it's pretty hard to miss that fact. Almost every anti-evolutionist post amounts to nothing more than "I'm too stupid and/or lazy to understand things, so I'll just ridicule them instead".
Oh, yes, and you have those who just simply deny the fact that there is overwhelming evidence in favor of evolution. They're just lying.
2006-12-23 06:43:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The pastor at my church is totally ignorant about evolution. Half the time I want to stand up and say, "have you EVER taken a college Biology course? Well I have, and you are misrepresenting evolution to all of these people in your congregation. Do your research before you preach on something."
That's one reason why I'm leaving soon....
2006-12-23 06:43:48 · answer #8 · answered by chad5871 2 · 6⤊ 1⤋
We know that-if they really knew the facts of biological evolution and the wealth of sound evidence proving it happens they'd be mortified that they'd ever been so pig ignorant as to believe in creationism.
2006-12-23 06:45:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
For people who need a literal interpretation of the Bible, there's the little-spoken and often hinted at notion that other information must be never examined again. Namely, scientific information. They are making themselves intentionally stupid.
Why the rest of us have to build an economy to support these people is beyond me. Can't we exile them somewhere?
2006-12-23 06:46:07 · answer #10 · answered by Good Times, Happy Times... 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋