Medical science and evolution?

Question

Just like humans, disease-causing organisms evolve. This is why bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. However, bacteria multipy much faster and have a more accelerated life span than humans, so within a few human generations, we can see how they have evolved- and develop new treatments accordingly.

If you are a person who discredits evolution in the name of creationism, I would like to know if you would feel comfortable being treated by a doctor who also discredits evolution? In other words, would you like to be treated with antibiotics or with prayer?

Ivan B- You have amazed me. Not only do you seem to think that new strains of bacteria do not come about, but you also believe bacteria are not even ALIVE. I would really like to know where you got your education, so I never send my children there. And by the way, you are wrong.

Answer 1

Viruses are even more evolved. Every time humans adapt to a new virus, it changes its antigen structure and comes back as a different form. That's how HIV works: It keeps changing its antigen and attacking again whenever the infected person's immune system adapts. Science has identified something like 150,000 different viruses that cause the common cold; they've been able to trace them back to a single source.
It's either further support for evolution or proof the gods have a sick sense of humor.

Answer 2

I would not go to such a doctor -- he would be breaking his oath to ignore medical (and biological) science.
There has been exactly *1* actual scientific study done, with proper methods, on the benefits of prayer for healing. It was even done by christian researchers who were sure there was an effect. On the contrary, the experiment showed that prayer has no effect whatsoever on helping people who are sick get better -- if anything, there was a slight negative effect, but it was within statistical variances and so could be discounted.
You believers go ahead and pray to get better -- I'll stick with science, and be toasting my own health long after you're gone :)

I don't know why believers go to doctors or take medicine at all -- their bible says god will give them anything they ask for, that they'll be healthy if they have faith, etc. So why do they need doctors, why doesn't god keep them well in the first place, or heal them if "he" missed something and they got sick? I guess these people don't really have any faith at all -- if they did they'd never go to a doctor. Hypocrisy in the highest degree.

Answer 3

What you describe is what some people call "micro-evolution". Certainly bacteria change, or evolve, if you prefer but this is not to be confused with "macro-evolution" where a species evolves into something else. To use your example, nobody has ever seen bacteria evolve into something other than a bacteria. Nobody has proven that any living thing can evolve into something else. Therein lies the controversy over evolution.

Answer 4

Because of the way that bacteria, viruses, and some insects reproduce so quickly, it's easy to see the change from generation to generation.

Insects have evolved resistance to pesticides. And a reliable bird flu vaccine is so elusive because the virus keeps evolving.

Evolution is proven on the microscopic level every day.

Furthermore, prayer studies have been conducted, and concluded that there are no noticeable effects of prayer on medical patients.

Answer 5

There are some who renounce some medical treatments as it interferes with the work of god.

Every now and then you hear of a court taking a kid away from a family because the family did not give the kid the medication or treatments that the doctors said would save the kid from a disease or cancer.

Answer 6

I'm not sure that all of what you have typed follows.

Many religious people become doctors and even scientists, they find a way to compartmentalise their lives. Even if an MD believes in creationism that doesn't mean he foresakes medicine for prayer.

Answer 7

antibiotics (but only if I really needed them, I wouldn't want to contribute to the super germ evolution)

But it would seem to me, that religion wouldn't exclude antibiotics, even if God created the universe, germs are part of that universe, along with a way to keep them from succeeding too well. I believe science and faith are not mutually exclusive, science is just a way of understanding how our world works. Maybe God doesn't work through miracles and magic, or maybe science is the miracle, which is why it can be so hard for us to understand.

Answer 8

bacteria do not evolve! They do become resistant to antibiotics, but the bacteria did not change into a new strain of bacteria, microevolution has proven to be as dismal in producing evolution as all of science, and even if the bacteria did evolve does not mean that it it is a living cell, and that it would evolve into something that is totally contrary to what it began as.

As far as being treated with prayer and antibiotics as well as modern medicine I accept it all as healing, these things aide in healing the doctors will tell you that if you would ever truly listen, it is the body the becomes disabled to heal itself, these thigns help replace that which becomes disabled, prayer is the greatest activity any one can do and do for others. Nothing greater can be done through faith in God.

Answer 9

Good point. I would also like to know if people who are against stem cell research would be willing to wear a wrist band that says "Do Not Use Stem Cell Therapies On Me".

Answer 10

what do you mean evolve? variations are found,everywhere. that bacteria will always be bacteria. creationist like myself don't believe that we came from a common ancestor with apes. that has never happened and doesn't happen today.