As in, a lot of things in the Bible are symbolism, and God made man THROUGH evolution? For example, the Adam and Eve story is symbolism for larger events that our tiny brains can't comprehend...
2007-05-14 06:41:35 · 19 answers · asked by Sri 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no, creation is a myth
evolution is a scientific theory
2007-05-14 06:45:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 2⤋
See, the problem with the bible is that if you try hard enough, you can find symbolism for anything, anywhere, anytime for any reason to fit any argument.
This used not to be the case. Its only been in the last 50 years or so that, all of a sudden, the bible became not the EXACT word of god, but symbolism. What's the next step?
Anyway, I'll be happy just being a Darwinian junkie and let religion figure out on its own where its going to go. No, I do not think Creationism and Evolution can work together, they are opposite poles.
2007-05-14 13:48:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, they are mutually incompatible and exclusive explanations.
Creationism is the belief that humanity, Earth, the universe, and all the life in it were created by a supernatural deity. Evolution is the cumulative change in populations of organisms over generations, stated this simply it is not a theory but an observable fact of nature.
Since Creationism states that all species were created by God, and Evolution shows that species developed from other species, the strict answer would be no. However, many Christians adopt a kind of in between approach, believing that evolution was "guided by God". Strictly speaking they are no longer Creationists at this point.
Evolution is a theory that does not NEED God. The whole point is that these are accumulated RANDOM changes that are selected for by environment. RANDOM means that no God is involved. No creation, no creator. Creationism has no logical basis, if one is a creationist they have given up on logic and rational thought and rely solely on faith.
2007-05-14 13:58:36 · answer #3 · answered by thesaintofelsewhere 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'd speak for your self on the tiny mind thing, no offense intended. Man is and has been a fairly intelligent creature throughout its existence on this earth.
But if we do accept creation through evolution (even though that's a real stretch), the bible still has problems with non-existent floods, exoduses, periods of darkness, the temple curtain that was not destroyed until 71 AD etc... Taken as a whole, it just doesn't add up to a credible source.
2007-05-14 13:51:11 · answer #4 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
There is proof of evolution. "Creationism" is just a sentimental notion, or a rhetorical dodge, with no proof whatsoever of its premise even being possible.
If you want to say "Ok, evolution is occurring, but it's just the mechanism put in place by God," fine; but you have to understand that that's just the way you make yourself feel "good" about the data. It's not part of the data and it never will be.
"Religious" people would really do themselves a great service by learning as much about science as possible. No, "God did it" does NOT contradict evolution theory; but only because it's just a made-up explanation for the ultimately inexplicable.
All this species of "reasoning":
"The universe is here. I wasn't always here. Therefore it came into existence. Therefore it required a cause which/who preceded it and brought it into existence. Therefore the universe was created..."
is complete hogwash. How do you know the universe wasn't always here? Because you can't conceive of something NOT having a beginning and an ending? Well, then what about "God?" But you're willing to make an exception for God, because you've made Him up, so it's your prerogative to define Him as you will. And there the debate ends for you, because that's where you've chosen it to end - with your postulated God. You are explaining nothing, you're getting nowhere; but you've decided to be satisfied.
The objection to this is that it's simply not honest. You reach the Ultimate Question, the question that no human being can really answer; but instead of admitting this, you invent God and call it a day.
2007-05-14 13:46:10 · answer #5 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Catholics teach God created EVERYTHING ... including evolution. This is called "Theistic evolution".
In regards to Adam ... "Adam was made in God's image" ... so this doesn't deny the possiblity that a primate evolved and then God gave the primate his features making Adam the first to be spiritually, & physically in the image of God.
In fact, humanity has been on the quest to tame "animal" behaviors to obtain divinity in all cultures regardless of religion. This is the divine breath that God put into us. This is why we burry our dead ... are the only mamals who have sex for recreation (vs only for pro-creation) ... and why humans strive for the greater good of mankind vs pure survival.
(Blush) I'm kinda a Star Trek freak; but I'd never go to a convention (Ieeek) , sounds like I've been watching it a bit much in my answer here ... (blush)
2007-05-14 13:58:23 · answer #6 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since they are both facts, they have to go hand in hand. Truth cannot oppose truth. The universe is here. I wasn't always here. Therefore it came into existence. Therefore it required a cause which/who preceded it and brought it into existence. Therefore the universe was created. Science cannot provide information about this event because it was not a natural event and science by definition is the study of the natural universe in natural terms.
Science has however clearly demonstrated many of the changes that have occurred in the post-creation universe, chemically, geologically, geographically, and biologically. We know as an incontrovertible fact that new species have replaced earlier species ever since life began on earth. We know for a fact that living things gradually increased in complexity over time. If these proven facts conflict with someone's personal interpretations of the Bible, then obviously their interpretations are wrong!
This should hardly be surprising given that there are thousands of Protestant denominations whose biblical interpretations conflict with one another on virtually every point, which clearly indicates that many if not most of them are wrong, because once again, truth cannot conflict with truth. So it is hardly surprising that some of these objectively erroneous interpretations of the Bible are also in conflict with truth from other sources.
2007-05-14 13:48:56 · answer #7 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I have no problem with it. I, unlike quite a few others, do understand that our science tells us _how_ a thing is accomplished, not _who_ did it.
AFAIC the 'big bang', evolution, etc are only God's method of creation.
It's all moot anyway since there is not a thing that we can do to influence or change any of this.
2007-05-14 13:46:22 · answer #8 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The story of Adam and Eve is bull sh!t. Evolution is the most logical way us humans came into existance.
2007-05-14 13:47:24 · answer #9 · answered by mac_eleven 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Watch this Video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8141887480656996234
2007-05-14 13:47:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually most Christians outside the US have no problem with reconciling Evolution.
2007-05-14 13:44:06 · answer #11 · answered by Julia Sugarbaker 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋