Question about the role of Religion and Science (Yahoo Answers Religion and Spirituality Category Regulars)?

Question

Based on this question,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070310173057AAz2JNd&cp=2&tp=2#all-answers

I notice a few patterns, one, primarily everyone who answered was liberal, there were a few conservatives. I think that has to do with conservatives are off in the politics section with their little mantra of liberals are bad,

the other pattern, is that atheists and pagans are primarily evolutionists, and with christians and jews it seems to be about half and half,

so what is it about that half of the judeo-christian religion that seems to be still in 2007 creationist?

Were Pagans evolutionists before Charles Darwin? Obviously not, so what is it about that group of religions that made Evolution something that they accept?

I'm sorry this question is so wordy.

Answer 1

Actually what i noticed is that most seemed to be not strictly Liberal but called themselved middle of the road or some of both.

I don't know abut half of Christianity being creationist but, at least in this country, a fair amount are. They look at their book at the ultimate guide and anything that could contradict it at all would be suspect. Pagans, being most were Christians originally, will accept evolution even if they do beleive in dieties and they tend to be more flexible in their thinking.They realize that scientific research and fact will not contradict their beliefs.

Answer 2

Two points:

1. I'm not so sure that half of Christians and Jews in the world reject evolution. Such a rejection is more common in the US than in other countries where Christians and Jews live. This is because biblical literalism is more common there than in other countries. It's possible your sample is biased toward US posters.

2. Darwin didn't invent the idea of evolution. The idea goes back centuries, possibly to the ancient Greeks (who were, by and large, pagans). What Darwin discovered was a plausible mechanism by which it could occur (natural selection).

Answer 3

Why do you speak of religion and science as if they can somehow be compared? O.K., yes yes I know apples and oranges are both fruits. But science is a method of knowing about nature, not about anything supernatural. Theology is about the supernatural.

Problems aeise when theologians think they have some special skill to extend out beyond the supernatural and try to tell us about the world of nature. They don't.

I have avoided your word "religion" because essentially, no matter what usage-based dictionaries say, religion is not about beliefs; it is about binding. You can be bound with people in the *ecclesia*, the church, without bringing in supernatural beliefs. The church is more basic than its members' beliefs, a point on which fundies usually err.

Answer 4

Well evolution doesn't conflict with our creation stories like it does with Christianity. In Norse mythology, for example, the universe unfolded naturally. Christians have to try to make science fit their religion, we don't.

Also, knowledge is considered a virtue among Pagans and Heathens.

Answer 5

THE BIBLE IS UNIQUE and it must be accepted as truth or as a lie.
Rejection means you must look elsewhere as to what life is about.
Any non-Biblical belief is a substitute for the truth and will prove to be of no use in the long run.
This is my personal belief and is shared by others sorry if you don't like it but I disagree with other views.

Answer 6

You are right, right wingers dominate the politics section and bash liberals,

while liberals dominate the religion and spirituality section and bash conservative values and express their own form of religious bigotry directed at Christians.

Now Go to the Politics section and ask the exact poll you just did before and compare your responses.

I think you will find that far more liberals fit into their cliche` than do conservatives.

Answer 7

Because most Pagans have to learn about religions to break away from the flock, they extend that "Study virtue," to science.

One of the usual bits of Paganism is empowering nature, and evolution does just that, in a scientifically probable, and verified way.

In short, as humanity grows in knowledge of the world, so do we. I doubt any of us see Atlas holding the world in place as true, other than as a possible personification of solar gravity.

Answer 8

Fundamentalists are deluded, one site posted here argues that civilization is no older than 3500 years old but apparently leave out civilization in Asia and other regions. The rest is quasi science and misinformation to support their superstition

Answer 9

The need/requirement in some denominations of these religions to accept the words in their ancient holy texts as literal and unchanging. There are denominations who don't see that as necessary and they account for the half that can adapt to new information.

Answer 10

Evolutionists believe in it because, having examined the evidence, have concluded that it is correct. Creationists believe in that because, having refused to examine the evidence, believe in the claptrap they were brought up with because they are comfortable in it. Religion requires belief in supernatural phenomena; science prohibits it.