Why do christians think that Evolution is the only factor challenging their religion?

Question

Many christians seem to be obsessed with Evolution. It's like a God vs. Science attitude. Not all Athiests are scientists, and i'm sure a small minority would reject the notion of evolution. (I say a small minority, because when presented with the evidence, it is very difficult to reject evolution)

It seems to be the case, that Christians are of the opinion that the truth is out there for us to find. If we reject the notion of christianity, they ask us what our explanation is? Many assume we automatically favour with theories such as evolution and the big bang.

Answer 1

why do some atheists know what christians think?
evolution is being crammed down the throats of americans as being FACT.
it is the lamest science ever... haven't you seen we are closer genetically to PIGS than monkeys?
did we evolve from pigs, now?

Answer 2

I think that it tends to be the most common topic. I was really surprised when I first came to YA that so many people are arguing this topic. In fact, I would say just the opposite that it is the atheists that use evolution as their main reason for not believing in creation.

Personally, I don't find evolution to be a challenge of my faith in God or the creation. It is quite obvious from scientific research that the earth is quite old. I do have some problems with evolution that those who claim evolution is entirely fact cannot always justifiably link ALL of the dots. There are gaps, for example, in finding fossils from intermediate species. I would think that if on older fossil was found and a newer fossil was found, then a sample of the intermediate fossil must also exist if indeed the intermediate species did exist.

I question why species through out the ages just stopped existing. We have yet to make a definitive answer as to what happened to the dinosaurs. And even if we did evolve, why didn't more different kinds of intelligent species evolve. I am talking about more species intelligent enough to create complex tools. Intelligent enough to create complex social organizations. Complex shelters and the such. Complex languages that include a written languages. Why are we the only ones to have developed this kind of intelligence?

I've not heard a good explanation for these questions. I would love to hear them if anyone can.

Answer 3

Michael,
Very good question!
I am a Christian and I don't think that Evolution studies, Science challenge my beliefs.
On the contrary, it adds to it and opens new fields, visions and comprehension and excitement..
I am a scientist myself (small one, I must say).
Science is a ladder with many, many steps towards knowledge. The more you climb, the more steps you need to climb. It looks like a fractal, like an exponential equation.
And the more I do research, discover things, learn and dive into knowledge, the more I feel the presence of a loving and caring God. I used to be an atheist, but not any more.
ALTHOUGH, I do not use all this to prove the existence of God, or the legitimacy of Jesus as my Saviour. It is far, far beyond all human knowledge and higher than one can reach in the next century.
Peace, Michael!

Answer 4

actually evolution has never been proven, it is merely something they came up with. Scientist cant seem to be able to completly wrap their minds around it because thats not how it happened.

you said, "It seems to be the case, that Christians are of the opinion that the truth is out there for us to find. If we reject the notion of Christianity, they ask us what our explanation is?"
thats funny because i was thinking just the opposite of that with you evolution folk

and the big bang idea isnt understood by scientist either. the thought they of "cause and effect" doesnt follow here. because then you would need a cause for the "big bang". regardless, who is to say that God didnt create the universe with a "big bang"?

Answer 5

This is an old story though and you gotta recognize it for what it is - people with power wanting to maintain power over others. That's not what religion is suppossed to be but that is what some people turn it into. So when Galileo said the Sun rotates around the Earth he had to renounce his own belief less they set him on fire for going against the well established truth written by God that the Earth was the center of the universe. The sad truth is that religious leaders/preachers have a very bad track record in getting facts of the universe right. On the other hand, scientists have a pretty good record. Next time you need to know how something works, who you gonna call?

Answer 6

You have asked several different questions here.
Are you assuming that all Christians think the truth is out there?
Why would it matter to a Christian what theory you believe in?
Why would you assume that it's easy to accept the theory of evolution when presented with the evidence? Wouldn't it make an educated person more educated to research other theories OTHER than the theory of evolution?

As well - I would counter your first statement with "why are atheists and non-believers so obsessed with always asking why Christians state their beliefs and theories about creation, both scientific and faith based?

Answer 7

The preoccupation with Evolution comes from a specific interpretation of the Bible (one which I understand but do not share). There are three salient points for understanding the preoccupation:
1. The Bible is literally (historically/factually) accurate.
2. God, being perfect, created the world as a perfect world, meaning one free from sin and death.
3. Death entered the world because Adam and Eve (literally) sinned.

So, if you believe this interpretation, you CANNOT accept evolution, because that would mean there was death before Adam and Eve sinned. And if Death existed before Sin, why did Jesus have to die for our sins? etc. Once you undermine one piece of the puzzle the whole thing comes toppling down.

So, rather than turning towards one of the many interpretations of scripture which do not depend on any or all of these three points, they find it easier to reject evolution.

Again, I don't agree with this point of view; but I know enough people that hold it to know where they're coming from.

Answer 8

I'm a Christian and I know for a fact that many scientist are actually starting to find a similarity between Genesis (The first chapter in the Bible) and the big bang theory. God created science....Everyones right!

Answer 9

I do not think that evolution challenges Christianity at all. I believe the theory that god created every thing to evolve and that the first part of Genesis in the bible is symbolic. The Vatican supports that Genesis shouldn't be literally read.

Answer 10

There are Christians who take everything in the Bible literally. Evolution in language doesn’t even matter to them. Literal is whatever the current meaning of the word happens to be. So their entire stack of literal meanings come crashing down if the Genesis story is not taken literally.

This group, commonly called fundamentalists. may feel threatened. Most Christians do not. We know that God surpasses all human understanding.

Answer 11

Imagine a row of dominoes lined up (you've played that game)...push over the first one, and it begins a "Domino Effect", leaving all of them lying down. If the book of Genesis is a fable, what about the rest of the Bible? This is why we defend the Biblical account of Creation so much. I was taught all the "evidences" of evolution in high school then in college, but after I really examined the supposed "evidence", I came to be a creationist.