...why do you believe in it? Can you list different GOOD reasons?
I'm an atheist and have read a lot about evolution but can't seem to actually believe in it, at a certain extent I guess I do believe in it, but not completely. Thanks in advance.
2007-02-23 10:58:21 · 11 answers · asked by Alterna 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Luckily for you, you don't have to believe in it. There is no need for faith when there is evidence.
You could say that you don't believe in gravity, but it won't make a blind bit of difference should you decide to jump off the empire state building.
You could say that you don't believe in relativity, but if we didn't take the effects predicted by it into account, then we would never have landed safetly on the moon.
You could say that you don't believe in quantum mechanics, the computer you are using now relies on it.
You could say that you don't believe in evolution, 47 out of the last 50 nobel prizes in medicine and biology used the theory of evolution in their papers. The TB vaccine you have is updated to take into account of the evolution of strains of the disease.
2007-02-23 11:05:31 · answer #1 · answered by Om 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can see it. I can see how changes can occur in DNA and how these changes can change an expressed trait. Natural selection is quite obvious but I think most people lack an undestanding of how DNA, RNA and cell structre work and how DNA can actually hold genetic code. I think without that understanding, it seems so impossible that changes can be made as quickly as they are. I can see that humans change our environment and in doing so we have slowed our own evolution by removing some of the environmental pressure and forever changed it by creating new pressures. I can see the way anatomical structures and physiological events are caused by and affected by the environment and how that could change a species. I can see that human development is a record of the development and evolution of most extant life.
I honestly believe the biggest hurdle for people to believe in evolution is in the understanding of it. The understanding of what it means to say mutation and how mutation can occur. I think that most people, especially in America, lack an actual knowledge of biology, and how our own bodies REALLY work. I think that Americans are sadly deprived of scientific knowledge and especially the anatomy, and biochemistry that is the basis of their existence.
2007-02-23 19:16:46 · answer #2 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not really a matter of believing--scientists accept it as fact. I had to take an evolution class last semester because of my major and it took away many of the misconceptions I had toward it. We already know microevolution is true and can see it in shorter periods of time. macroevolution is harder to believe but the changes took a very very long time.There are evidence in fossils and morphology that support evolution. I'm not an atheist btw
2007-02-23 19:06:02 · answer #3 · answered by E.T.01 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First off, if you have read books on this subject and still don't believe in it then what makes you think we will help?
I will answer your question anyway. I believe it because it is the most logical theory. It also has proof! Take lucy for example, she is the oldest human found and yet she is alot different and less evolved. Even today, viruses evolve and change to try and get past our "defenses".
I hope you can come to a decision.
-Seeker
2007-02-23 19:05:32 · answer #4 · answered by Seeker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1) It's accepted scientific knowledge.
2) Microevolution has been observed in many different cases: the famous peppered moth example, and bacteria, which evolve extremely quickly.
3) The fossil record clearly shows a progress from simple to complex life, and different related varieties of animal at different times.
4) We look JUST like the great apes, and share a massive proportion of their DNA.
5) Much of this DNA is dormant - the instructions for making a tail, for example. There's no reason God would put that there; the only explanation is that it was kept when apes split from monkeys.
2007-02-23 19:01:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Above all the other evidence, the fossils found in rocks show evolution of organisms with time.
For example, in the Cambrian period about 600 million years ago you will find say fossil Trilobites. Why don't you find say fossil dinosaurs or cats ? Because they did not evolve until many millions of years later. They did not exist 600 million years ago.
2007-02-23 19:17:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a resonable theory for why we are here. It explains why we have fossils, wisdom teeth, why animals have different body stuctures, and other stuff.
But you don't have to force yourself to believe it, believe what you want to believe. You could even come up with your own theory or explaination for why we're here, who knows maybe it'll catch on.
2007-02-23 19:05:57 · answer #7 · answered by Darcy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is the idea of complexity coming from simplicity that's bothering you, I suggest reading about complexity theory. It shows how simple processes can create complex designs.
For more direct evolution information, here's a website:
2007-02-23 19:02:27 · answer #8 · answered by nondescript 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Nobody believes in evolution, it's just a scientific explanation, which requires no faith or belief.
Therefore, it is only widely accepted
2007-02-23 19:02:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I believe in it because its right before my eyes...everything is evolving around you as we speak...we didn't just come from the ground like zombies one fine day...
2007-02-23 19:18:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋