Are all atheists evolutionists? What is the difference between theory and religion?

Question

I do not have a strong background in theory of evolution, I am a religious person and have never looked any further into existance other than God. I've been researching Darwin's theory a little here lately out of mere curiosity......I was just wondering if evolution is the only other explanation for human and worldly exsistance besides creation.
My other question....everything I have researched about evolution so far has given me the impression that because there are so many discrepancies and errors in it, people rely on faith more than or as much as science when it comes to believing the theory. So is the differerence between the two simply that religion=faith in god(s) and theory =faith in sciece?

then the question still remains: If science relies on facts and religion is just made up than where does theory come in?

then the question still remains: If science relies on facts and religion is just made up than where does theory come in? Evolution has never been made into a fact, just as religion has never been made a fact....

lol, did not mean to repeat the add on, I didn't know that hitting the back button would do that:)

Answer 1

No idea if all atheists do, but I do.

"a theory is defined as "a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences and tested hypotheses" (National Academy of Sciences 1998: 7)."

That should give you a little understanding in the Theory of Evolution. In science, a theory is a higher standard than a fact.

The misunderstanding of the term 'scientific theory', is a very commonly made mistake. Gravity is also a scientific theory.

edit: Evolution is a theory, that is supported by an overwhelming list of facts. Evolution can be tested, is still being tested, and as up today every test proves Evolution to be true.

However, it's also a subject (When you talk simply about the evolution of humankind) that took place over millions and millions of years. In our generation you will never hear any scientist say 'evolution is a fact'. Simply because the subject is too huge. We've only been working on proving Evolution for 150 years or so now. Which is a really short period, when you think about the fact that we've been evolving for millions of years.

Hope this clears up a little :)

Answer 2

Well, FOR ONE, if evolution were a religion, it wouldn't be so universally accepted. And if one theory is a religion, why not every theory? Why not gravity?

It isn't as if atheists uniquely accept evolution and everyone else rejects it.

It's that ONLY fundamentalist Christians and Muslims reject it. Hindus, Buddhists, mainline Christians, Catholics, etc. all accept evolution.

EDIT: When we talk about facts and theories, let's be clear. Technically a theory is never "promoted" to be a fact... Facts are these: fossils are very old, they show progression between species, species seem to change when stimulated, etc.

A hypothesis is an explanation of those facts. A hypothesis is consistent with the facts, but isn't really demonstrated to be true. When a hypothesis is validated in some way -- a repeatable test, a prediction of other facts, or a simple preponderance of evidence, it becomes a theory.

So, for example, in being struck by the diversity in nature, Charles Darwin had a hypothesis that diversity was created by a process of natural selection. The word evolution never appears in Charles Darwin's book, The Origin of Species. (Many people are unaware of that.)

Contrary to popular opinion, evolution was WELL UNDERSTOOD to exist before Darwin's work. But no one knew what caused it. Darwin provided that key framework about why species change slowly over time.

At this point, all the evidence we have incontrovertibly supports Darwin's theory. So while it's still called a theory, in that it's a documented explanation, that isn't to say that it's still waiting some key piece of evidence.

If you define fact as something you know based on a preponderance of information, evolution fits. God creating the universe is seven days isn't exactly supported by the evidence we have, so it's neither a theory nor a hypothesis.

Answer 3

Atheism means nonbelief in God. Given that atheists do not believe a god created the world, evolution is a plausible explanation of the origin of Man. Someone could attribute everything to aliens which would exclude God, but not include evolution.

While religion is faith in god, theory is not faith in science. A theory is a based on evidence, relies on critical reasoning (often in the form of an attempt to disprove), makes predictions that can be tested by additional evidence, and survives repeated testing.

Answer 4

Science is based on things that can be proven, like the fact that dinosaurs existed millions of years ago because they have found their bones and have proven their age with carbon dating. For thousands of years no religion has yet been able to prove that there is a man living in a cloud. And when questions are raised as to why God didn't intervene on 9/11 when the Hijackers said, "We're doing this for God". All thats given are excuses. For the 2004 Tsunami when 300 thousand people perished, mostly Muslims who prayed 5 times a day why didn't God intervene, again excuses. No intervention when priests were molesting children, again excuses. If science was so prevalent with excuses it would be laughed at but, religion gets away with it. Do you think that God will intervene if Iran tries to use an Islamic Bomb on those who won't convert? They better prepare some more excuses in case there is someone left to listen.

Answer 5

Science, unlike religion, is constantly questioning everything around it. Always looking to prove or disprove something, constantly changing "evolving", looking for facts. Religion is all about no questions and blind faith. If you question it you're a heretic! Evolution is real, religion is made up in the mind of humans.

Answer 6

its about where you put your faith ,
regarding why we are here,
darwin puts it that life grows by set steps of evolution into higher being ,that is quite revolutionary because it infures some thing comming from the first undefinable nothing ,
ie no god just accidents then adjusting as we mutate into higher incarnations ,and while this is true spiritually it dosnt apply to flesh and blood creation
religion puts belief in god ,an eternal god who allways was who created us from dust and water ,dust god made from nothing , but it ascribes our now being by giving that we are as being from god ,who allways was ,is and will be.
i just call that first nothing of darwin and religion god

while only aspects of certain religion ascribe to re-incarnation i feel it is a progression of spirit ,that we come from lower being rising up to and then beyond our human incarnation till we reach the highest of mans being as revealed by the works and person of christ [and budda /chrisna/ etc]

they all are but theories because man can choose to be above the animal need and see the higher rebirths of spirit ,to come into the highest heavens by the goods we do /have done or the lower animal reincarnational pits of the l;ower hells should we fall back of freewill into being beast.
but we can believe anything ,thats freewil where we put our faith,
well thats the choice
is our choice theory or test depends on our faith.
god =good ,love =god ,god is the light that sustains life to love
to live to love life ,in faith that we do the best we can be.
know evolution is yet only a theory
not a science

Answer 7

Science relies on facts, not faith.
Some facts are open to interpretation. But no fact of science would lead to a belief in creationism.

Answer 8

Theory is man opion, Religon is God's

Answer 9

Good question,if you believe evolution then people are no better than the animals.

Answer 10

To be a scientist. you must change your mind when the evidence demands it. Religious devotion, however, demands that you never change your mind, no matter what.

I'd say that almost all atheists are evolutionists...I've never encountered one who wasn't. The terms. however, are not synonymous.