Should a Christian be expected to understand evolution to pass a biology class?

Answer 1

Only if they would like to pass the class

Likewise, they should be expected to understand economics to pass an economics class, and they might want to brush up on history if they would like to pass a history class.

On the other hand: "The world needs ditch diggers too, Danny"

Answer 2

Interesting question, whichever side of the evolution / creation issue you stand on.

Disregard for a moment your belief about that, and think:
Do we have to understand HOW thinks got here to understand that they are here now, and how they work? Biology just helps us know how we work.

For those who accept evolution, I still do not think biology is the correct class; perhaps a sub-course.

One of the major reasons for taking biology is to enter one of the fieds of medicine. I think in this area beliefs in evolution are detrimental. Why?

Well, if a needed surgery, and had a choice of two excellent surgeons, one who believed in God and the other who did not, I would prefer the one who did.

Less common now, but in the past evolution taught much about "vestigal organs" and considered such things as the appendix, tonsils, and so forth as "leftovers" from the evolutionary process.

Those who believe in God as creator believe he put all the parts there for a purpose. It has in recent years been discovered, at least in part, what the purpose of some of the organs is.

If a believer in creation was operating on me, I feel he would try to save even the parts he did not understand if they were healthy, whereas the evolutionist may not. In the past Doctors routinely removed such organs, even though they were healthy, when they were operating on other things. They felt they served no purpose, and did not want their patients to have another operation later to remove them.

(I hope I answered the question somewhere in there!)

Answer 3

Yes, yes, and yes. If you want to pass a science class, you need to understand science. Evolution is a well-developed theory (certainly far better developed than any of its competitors) and it has been developed, and continues to develop, using the scientific method: that is, formulate a hypothesis, design an experiment that will test it to its limits, and report the results in a way that other scientists can follow and replicate.

By the way, all scientific endeavour proceeds by developing theories, and theories are constantly being refined as more and more evidence comes to light. Science requires no acts of faith, or dependence on holy books, to gloss over what we don't understand. Science is the open and rational pursuit of demonstrable explanations for what we do understand, and the open and rational pursuit of demonstrable methodologies for what we do not yet understand.

(I'd love to see what would happen if some really serious human endeavour, such as the exploration of space, were to be delegated only to people whose beliefs are creationist. How many people would trust their bodies to such an enterprise?).

Answer 4

A Christian person who claims to be educated should acknowledge the existence of the theory of evolution even if they don't believe in it. I would go so far as to say that all Christians should have a basic knowledge of Darwin's theory and not just say they don't believe in evolution because the Bible says the world was created in 6 days.

Answer 5

A Christian can only serve one master. IF they feel they need to accept evolution in order to pass a biology class because they need that class to acquire their degree in what ever field they chose to have as their occupation in life... they need to pick another field of work. Because evolution is a satan's lie. Creation is God's truth. There's no middle ground here!

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Answer 6

It would be helpful if they at least understood that species evolution was a proven fact and only the mechanisms involved in the process were theoretical. Maybe they would then stop clutching at the word theory as if biological evolution were actually in doubt.

Answer 7

There are plenty of scholars. You'd never believe this, but your information is also dated. It's like you woke up one morning 20 years ago, read New Scientist magazines and haven't picked up one since. You're frozen in time. You're a cowboy calling a caveman names. Ironic, entertaining, but sadly pathetic.

Answer 8

In some states they don't even need to take biology..only need a parents note to get out of the class.

Answer 9

Yes, may need to understand the THEORY but you don't have to believe it.
If you were in quantum physics class, you would have to understand the Theory of Relativity.

Jesus said, "render to Caeser the things that are Caesar's."
So give them what they want, get an A and move on.

Answer 10

They should, but I know that my brother (who's a deacon) got his two kids excused from having to study evolution because it went against their "religious beliefs". I cannot believe the school allowed it.