Am I a hypocrite?

Question

I believe in evolution, yet I also believe in the existence of god

yet people say I can't believe in both at the same time.

I say why not? what stops God designing the concept of evolution? why must the two things be seperate?

I also believe in the possibility of reincarnation.

why is it so hard for people who wonder whether all of these things exist hand in hand?

why must all these theories be seperate?

Answer 1

According to the Catholic Church, evolution is considered closer to reality than intelligent design. However, God is the one in charge of the evolution.

Anyway, that's the best I can remember what was said. So, you're not alone on that one.

As far as reincarnation, I used to believe in that too. I don't now. I don't really know what the afterlife holds. I just remember what Jesus said (being a Christian) and try my best to believe that. There's way too many things going on that I could be a part of for me to worry about what goes on when I die. I want to know what goes on while I'm living. Maybe that's what keeps you living, you know?

It's perfectly ok to ask questions. When I was looking for God I once got approached by a group of Christians who asked me my beliefs, then ridiculed me for them. Told me I was lost. Then they asked if they could pray for me, I said they were free to do what they want, but leave me alone. Go somewhere else. Instead they said that and prayed for me, right there, out loud, and ridiculed me to GOD.

DAMN that pissed me off. Blew my high too.

Yet, around the same time another set of Christians approached me. Asked me about my beliefs, listened as I explained. Then asked me if I wanted to hear the Gospel. I said no, I'd rather find it on my own. They said ok. Very friendly. Very cool.

So...one never knows.

God said that all who seek him will find him. You've just got to be open enough to accept him when you do.

Personally, my search WRECKED me. Yet, I believe now. Some people just want to push you along quicker. Yet what they don't realize is, if you want to show someone your faith, do it with your actions and not with your words.

Answer 2

It's not that they must be, per se, but they must be vis-a-vis mainstream interpretations. The Bible says it is appointed once for a man to die, and then the judgement. But what is a man? Is a man the physical body or the spirit? Could it not be that a physical body must die, the spirit is judged by God, and then comes back to earth in a different body (as a different man)? It's just another interpretation, and not necessarily one which I hold, but it is possible. As for evolution, it is possible that in the "week of creation" each day is a period of time, rather than a 24-hour day. Earth could, indeed, be billions of years old. It could have had a pre-Adam history. And mankind could have evolved according to the guidance of God. Or perhaps not. But that, too, is possible. Blessings in the Light of Christ!

Answer 3

Some may call you a hypocrite, but that's OK. you can't please everyone. God certainly can create an evolutionary process. These beliefs are the outer ring of the theological question. If your core beliefs are sound, Salvation through faith in Christ, the other stuff is peripheral. That stuff is going to be argued the Jesus comes back. I think we will all have some surprises when we find out we were wrong on some issues and right on others. Don't worry about the name callers Christian or atheist. Blessings.

Answer 4

What stops evolution from being true? Well the problem is what God has revealed through Scripture. The Bible doesnt teach that we came from animals, the Bible teaches that we came from the dust.

We really start to go wrong in our beliefs when we start rejecting what Scripture says in favor of adopting parts of atheistic philosophy.

You arent a hypocrite, just trying to be more worldly. But our goal as believers is to reject this world and focus on Christ. How can we do that when we are adopting atheistic philosophy in order to appease unbelievers?

Answer 5

I think Carl Sagan said it best, just before he died: "Well, we'll see who's right about this one." Like myself, he was an Agnostic; we acknowledge that we don't know. (As you may have heard/read, the first step to learning is to acknowledge what you do not know or understand, and working from there.) I've seen things in my life that make me think that there really could be a God, or something like that; however, I've also seen things that make me wonder how such a being could let other, horrible things happen. But to me, these theories aren't really separate; however, I don't know (yes, again) that all of them are valid, false, or otherwise. Hopefully, all will be revealed, but we may never see the whole picture while still living in this reality. But the best thing you can do is to follow your own thoughts and feelings. If anyone tells you to do otherwise, question them and find out why they think they're right. Who knows? Maybe one of them might come up with an original answer.

Answer 6

It sounds to me like you just have a very open mind, I am the same way. Noone knows for sure, it's about faith, and believing without proof. What's important is that you are spiritual and that is a good thing. Alot of books of the Bible were omitted by the Catholics hundreds of years ago, and some of them seem to point to the existance of things that hardcore religious types would probably call sacriligious, and the interpretation of the texts from hebrew to english lost alot in translation, sometimes to the point of giving a totally different meaning in some cases.

Answer 7

The blogbaba never had a problem with God using evolution as a tool for creating or at least diversifying life, so I agree with you on that point.

As for reincarnation, I must shy away from it, because I tend to retreat from anything that leans towards the occult. I do not claim to know exactly what a soul is, but there is an energy that animates each living person, and that energy (like matter) cannot be completely destroyed, so it must go somewhere after we die. I leave such things to God, He has dealt with them so far, and when I die, hopefully He will deal with mine as well. Call it faith if you must label my reluctance to over step my ignorance on the subject, but I tend to leave that which I don't understand to God and His will.

No, your not a hypocrite.

Answer 8

Dear irrel,

Being a hypocrite has to do with actions that are contrary to what you claim to believe. First and foremost we are all hyprocrites from time-to-time as Romans in the Bible says: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God- that's why we need Jesus Christ.

As a Christian the basis for our faith is the Bible. And so the Bible teaches us that God created man and man did not descend from apes. i think that it's not so simple though as just saying that you're a Christian you believe in Creation- but for you there probably is sitll a lot of questions and studying that needs to be done. i've found every word of the Bible to be true- but i have also read, learned, and reasoned to come to my conclusions.

There are a great many books written by scientists (some who weren't even Christian who became Christian after studying science). The two are alway diametrically opposed as some would suggest.

i think you really have to explore what are the basis of your belief. i have found that whatever basis i have for my belief- it is not more reliable than God's word. God's word has proven itself to be true time and time again.

Anyhow feel free to email me and i'd be glad to research or refer some books to you on whatever particular topic or questions you might have.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 9

You are not a hypocrite. A hypocrite is one who says one thing, but does another. You are not doing that. What you are engaging in is idolotry. ie one who is customizing a god to his own world view.

Do not think that your custom made religion will be acceptible to God. If you are going to serve the God of the Bible, you need to believe what He says within His Word.

The math of evolution requires an infinite physical time span. However, science has discovered that the universe had a beginning--so there is not enough time to make evolution even remotely possible.

Since God is infinite, you should have no problem with the concept that the perfection of Creation could happen in a 144 hour period. The Greeks believed that this was accomplished with just a word of command. This was referred to as the "Logos"--ie "The Word".

John 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Answer 10

If you believe in the God of the Bible you must believe His word or else you have made your own God.His word says "It is appointed once to die and then judgment".
The Bible doesn't allow for evolution.Even the dinosaur (behemoth) mentioned in Job ch.40 was said to be made along with man.Read that passage very carefully.People have tried to put in behemoth's place a crocodile,elephant and hippo but they won't work.
Now the interesting thing is there probably is a gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.Because in other parts of the Bible it talks about Lucifer in the Garden of Eden before he fell,and after making Adam and Eve he tells them to REPLENISH the earth.What was there before that they had to re stock?Interesting?
There may have been several catastrophes before he made Adam and Eve.Nowhere in the scripture does it say 6,000 years.That was some ol' Catholic bishop named Usher who came up with that.I think you could walk back a billion years ,stop, and Jesus would be there to meet you.Time is only relevant to us.Even the Bible says"A day with the Lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years but a day"(Peter quotes that out of the Old Testament).