Why isn't evolution proof of an intelligent design theory of creation?

Question

Its a sustainable and observable process, wouldnt god have to use systems like that to regulate and maintain the universe.

Answer 1

There are a few ways of looking at this question... from the perspective of religion and logic.

The religious side is going to sound harsh, but I really think it's true.

You see, the church has the tendancy of trying to squash any science that doesn't exactly seem to jive with what they believe. Just ask Gallileo and he'll tell you all about it.

Religious leaders would rather see evolution thrown out completely because they have their own agendas that don't involve science in the slightest.

Once it becomes painfully obvious to all but the fringe, the church will accept evolution, then try to show how God fits into it. Oh wait, Pope John Paul II said that "evolution is more than just a theory." So there's the acceptance, from all but the fringe.

In terms of science, evolution and intelligent design don't really mix. Evolution and natural selection don't need a designer for them to work. In fact, having a designer wouldn't work if you really understand what evolution and natural selection mean. From a scientific perspective, having a god hypothesis is really bad science. It's not observable, it's nothing that can be proved, it can be quantified or qualified in a laboratory environment. Scientists really don't like a theory that requires something immense and inscruitable and dare I say it, imaginary, especially when in this case nothing like this is required at all. This is essentially what Occam's Razor is for.

In addition to that, evolution and natural selection are essentially illustrations of how things went from simple to complex. To postulate an Intelligent Designer is to attempt to illustrate how things went from simple to complex by starting out with something even more complex than the product of what you're trying to prove. It sort of defeats the purpose. How was the Intelligent Designer (created) created? The same type of problematic arguement arises from people who claim life originated in space, or on another planet. (I'm not talking about UFOs or Raelians, this is an actual scientific hypothesis) While that might explain how life happened here on earth, it doesn't explain how life happened in space or on that original planet.

I hope that adequately answers your question.

It's ok though, due to the infinite regression that is Christian thought, there's nothing stopping you from believing that evolution and natural selection were processes created by God. I must warn you though, God is not required or even desired and you might have to be hit with a stick.

God is Von Neumann's Catastrophe to the Nth degree.

Answer 2

If God "created" life and the universe then evolution would be totally superfluous.

But evolutionist teach that we came from very simple organisms without an outside force.

I contend that the adherents of evolution are trying to do away with the need for God entirely. Judging by what I see in this forum, it's working.

By the way, how is evolution observable? It is a process. Have we seen this process in action?

We have seen pro-creation in action where from 2 small but extremely complicated cells grows a new individual that gets even more complicated as it develops. And that IS sustainable.

Answer 3

Hi, I am going to say a few things that may be upsetting, but they are said in the spirit of healthy debate.

Religion started when humans developed enough to ask questions about natural occurances. Usually the occurances had to do with weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, dust storms, tidal waves, the change in the amount of game to hunt and food to gather and water to drink.

Soon the only logical answers were there were Gods controlling the natural forces. Many Gods soon were recognized.

It became accepted that if sacrafices were made to Gods good things would happen.

Carry this forward 10,000 years or more and we have multiple religions in the world Each one of these (except a few) has the only true God.

So, if there were a single God, why are there still multiple ones? Which one is the right single God.

You see I am approching this from a different angle. The angle says the humans invented God to control what they can not.

Of course God workds in mysterious ways and may have created the universe and allow humans to worship multiple Gods.

There is no answer to your question. The concept of how the univeree was created is still not well understood. The concept of a universe without God is still not accepted.

You and I may or may not ever know.

Nice question though.

Dah dude

Answer 4

This is probably the very best question I have ever read on this forum...
Umm...well, if evolution is a fact, it would, indeed, be proof of an intelligent design, I would think. Of course, nobody has proven that it is, indeed, a fact, yet. I tend to think that the different species were created intact, but that they were made to adapt to their environments...which also speaks of an intelligent designer. What sort of God would design a finch, for isntance, that did not have the ability to develop a shorter beak, if the need arose? However, a finch is still a finch...it isn't a mammal, is it?
One thing I am absolutely certian of...whether evolution is a fact, or whether it is just our "best guess so far"...God is definitely alot more intelligent than any human being.

Answer 5

Many Christians do believe in some degree of evolution or adaptation. It's when they try and sell more than is proveable that people should and do rightly ask questions. Such as when some try to insert that life arose from random and meaningless purposes. Not only is that unproven but it is a bold assertion that God had nothing to do with human existance at all. The suggestion that viruses disproves intelligent design is not a scientific argument. That is a philisophical argument about why would God allow something or not but doesn't address the argument of the presence of intelligence in life that does exist. Specific complex information systems. Dean Kenyon who wrote a book called biological predestination advanced the theory that life arose from self organization has now repudiated that theory as both incompatible with empirical findings and theorhetically incoherent.

Answer 6

Well, proof it isn't because we don't even know for sure that evolution is the mechanism behind changes in species nor what the mechanism is or would be.

Why is evolution mutually exclusive with intelligent design? - may be a better question. They are not mutually exclusive. The fact is Christians do not know how God created the universe. The fossil record gives us a pretty strong argument in favor of evolution, so I think another question would be how does this ancient life fit in with God's plan.

I agree that God must work within his own laws, which are not just sprititual. They are the laws that govern the universe and he must obey them just like you and I.

Answer 7

1. Evolution involves chance (things could have turned out innumerable different ways.) Design implies a Creator who knows exactly what he wants to make.

2. God doesn't "have" to do anything. He is beyond our understanding and can do whatever he wants.

3. Us creationists believe God communicated to us through the Bible. If he said he created everything as we know it in six days, but really took millions of years, then he is a liar. People who believe in God don't think of Him as a liar. Therefore it's illogical to put the two together. Something has to be wrong. I believe it's the theory of evolution that's wrong. Some believe it's the Bible.

Answer 8

Because there is no such proof . Evolution merely measures and acknowledges the sytematic advances in the physical development of mankind and applies this evidence to theory.
Intelligent design sould require that we live in an inteliigently designed world and any microbiologists can refute that by the inherent viruses and other flaws present in the world in which we live.
peace

Answer 9

You are mixing a known and observable fact (evolution) with a fairie tale (god and the idea of creation). You are arguing a mute point since there never has been, nor never will be a god of any kind in existance.

Answer 10

Some Christians think that God used evolution to create man. But Jesus said that every man will be raised to life and given an eternal body when he returns in his glory. So will we evolved a second time or how will we get this new body? Will our dead bodys turn into ooze and over millions of years reproduce us just as we are?
Revelations :
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.