Evolution vs. Intelligent Design, convince me...?

Question

I have heard many an Atheist talk about how teaching either Creationism or Intelligent Design is brainwashing, however by allowing only Evolution to be taught in school which is a scientific "fact" (and scientific facts change every few years as new things are discovered) is this not also brainwashing? I'm not asking to start a big controversy, and please only respond with serious, non insulting answers.

Having read and reviewed literature about evolution, and all the different views sound very much like the denominational different views on Scripture, I have come to the conclusion that it would take just as much faith for me to believe in the "Theory of Evolution" as it would for me to believe in a Creator.

Intelligent Discussion will hopefully ensue...

BTW literature that I read was written from an atheist scientific view, nothing done by anyone even remotely Christian or Theistic that I could discern.

"One has evidence, one doesn't" does not convince me, I mean come on, anyone could say those words, and I've heard them plenty, how about putting a little thought into it.

Answer 1

Dear J.R.,

i think you hit the nail on the head when you say that it takes as much faith to believe in evolution as it does creation.

People who are opposed to creation often insult the Bible. And i want to first clarify that the Bible never proposes itself to a science book. So when people ask me questions about aliens or other stuff concerning the Bible--- the Bible doesn't always answer all of those questions. The Bible- is God's revelation to man about his plan of redemption and reveals to man everything man needs to know to have a right relationship with God.

That being said while the Bible never claims to be a science book- the science that the Bible teaches is correct. For example: For many years scientists argued that the number of stars could be counted. But as telescopes became more and more advanced they came to a conclusion that the stars were innumerable (the Bible declares that the stars are innumerable). In Genesis the bible says that when man was created from dust and God breathed life into him (interestingly when we die- our bodies decompose and we become dust).

i think when i look at the complexities of the human body (how well self-sustaining it is) it points to the idea of an intelligent designer. Also evolution does have its flaws.

Anyhow i point all this out to say- that the Bible is not against science... it's just not a science text book, but the science of the Bible is to me accurate and when it comes to how man came to be the Bible describes it as Creation.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 2

The problem here is this concept of "fact". Any scientist will tell you that there really is no such thing as a fact, if we mean something that is unchanging. Science has theories, strong and weak, and even the strongest theory is subject to revision as out understanding of the subject grows.

Evolution is a theory. It is a strong theory and the more we learn about it, the stronger it becomes. It is not analogous to scripture in any way.

Students should be introduced to evolution and taught what it is. It is up to them whether or not they want to believe it. I also believe theology should be taught in school, however, not alongside evolution. It should be taught as a seperate class from a neutral viewpoint simply because I think it's important that people be educated on the many religions in the world.

Answer 3

It is a fact that biologic entities evolve. Evolution is both a fact and a scientific theory. There are still the hows and whys that are in the process of being worked out, but it is as close to fact as fact can be.

Creation/Idiot design are not scientific theories. they are not based on observed evidence, like the ToE is. Thus they require brainwashing to get seeming intelligent people to buy into the creation/Idiot design B.S.

I highly doubt you have reviewed any literature other than ID B.S. When you say that tire old creationist/IDer line about Evolution taking more faith than religion, I know for fact you haven't reviewed jack and are just parroting other religious loons that are clueless.

Answer 4

I Hear This Evolution is science & Creation isn't
well Science is science
Does it Show evidence for one or the other
Theres NO Scientifical Facts That Prove Evolution , NONE
Never Has Life Been Made From Non-Life
& Observable evidence Points to Creation
Peoples Confidence in Teachers & what some Colleges are teaching or Just saying, is somehow science or Fact, Not


Every Time They Find a Tyrannosaurus Rex
Its a Tyrannosaurus Rex
Not More Evolved Not Less

Same w/ All The Other Creatures

Brontosauruses

Trilobites (Millions)

Archeopteryx( Like 9 But There all the Same)
What are the odds if evolution was true That Even 9 creatures Would all be exactly the same [evolved]
Two in the same area Maybe
But Two in a Different area(Less than 50/50)
Either More or Less evolved should been the finding just on the 2nd one, But 9, That's Like 10 to The 9th Power
a tenth evolved 20% evolved 30% evolved 110% evolved , But not the same every freaking time

And Many More of other Dinosaurs a Lot More Than 9 were Found Think about it

If I Had a Deck of Cards & Said Draw a card it will Be a 10 of spades & you Did & it Was & I said do it again Another 10 of spades over & over again

Don't Take a scientice to tell ya, The Deck is Stacked, The conclusion is Odvious Unless your a Fool Professing to Be Wise

Hello ......

haha Daja vue

Answer 5

As for intelligent design, there isn't any sound science behind it. We have the Creationism Museum here in San Diego County (in the Santee area) and I went there as someone who supports evolution but was trying to keep an open mind. I didn't intend to have my opinion changed, but I wanted to try and better understand the perspective of the Creationist. Their "science" was just not logical.

There is so much evidence to support evolution but none (aside from faith and biblical stories -- which are not scientific in nature) to support creationism. Evolution isn't completely figured out, but that doesn't weaken the theory, it just means there is more to learn.

Answer 6

Evolution is based in science. Therefor it is taught in science classes. Scientifically, it is the only valid theory. Creationism is taught it anthropology and mythology classes. So teaching creationism in science class, like many want, would be brainwashing kids into having a certain (wrong) view of what science is and what it is based on. They would also have a wrong view of what creationism is about and what it is based in.

Answer 7

another novel...im not going to read it all! but its real easy i assume most of us are born with common sense at least i was so just about everything that explains religion goes against reality and fact therefore that should be your answer in its self...it obvious that animals and humans of some sort have lived for thousands of years but when is the last time god floated down from cloud 9 and shook your hand? people believe in god to explain away the unknown period...when is the last time you saw a man split the red sea or any sea for that matter? well the answer is never because it is impossible...and the last time a burning bush spoke to you was when? well maybe if you ever had a good high this might have happened but in the reality of a sane mind this never happened but hey the bible i guess it could be considered good entertainment for people who like books of fiction

Answer 8

Its all faith, you are exactly right.

Relatively speaking, man doesn't know jack squat.
We just recently figured out indoor plumbing, but suddenly we know the origin of life and the universe because someone came up with a theory that has supporting evidence but is ultimately unprovable because of our limited frame of reference?

We're talking billions of years, billions of light years, subatomic particles too small to see, possible dimensions we may never know, forms of life and energy we may not be able to comprehend, the idea of infinite time and space, and so many things we see every day and STILL don't understand. Yet given the last few rotations, on this tiny speck of dust we call earth, we've got it all figured out....

Anyone who claims to know the answer is an idiot, and there's nothing wrong with admitting that we DO NOT KNOW.

Our frame of reference is just too small, and possibly our minds too.

Answer 9

Evolution has evidence. Intelligent Design has none. Evolution has survived 150 years of rabid assault. ID is crumbling in the courts because the experts have nothing to show. The theory of evolution predated Mendelian genetics and molecular genetics, which show the mechanisms. The process is repeatedly demonstrated in experiments (I'm only showing on experiment.) Evolution does not demand faith, it requires study.

Answer 10

As an atheist I have no problem with creationism or intelligent design being taught in schools. I do have a problem with it being taught in a science class, I do not believe that is where it belongs. I would be fine with my children being taught about the major points of any religion in a mandatory theology class. Evolution is science, religion is not.