For what reasons do people reject evolutionary theory?

Question

I'm studying Evolutionary Biology and Genetics, and I recently took a rhetoric class that was essentially a debate over the validity of evolution. Several interesting points were brought to my attention, but I still am unclear on exactly why so many people in America do not accept this theory. I am not trying to attack anyone's beliefs here, I am just trying to understand both sides of the debate. I would appreciate it if you would explain why you either do or do not "believe" in evolution. Thanks!

Vballaim7: I feel it necessary to clear up the two misconceptions that form the bulk of your argument:

1) At the big bang, the earth did not exist.
and
2) We did not evolve from apes. Apes and humans evolved from common ancestors. (Like how you and your cousins share grandparents.)

For the record, "it's only a theory" doesn't count. Gravity is also a theory, but I have yet to hear someone deny that on the basis of it's being a theory. I want reasons!

Answer 1

I reckon the people who reject it do so because it's so much easier to say 'goddidit' than engage with the issues.

After all, the evidence in favour has few whizz-bang, nailer-type arguments - the theory is built on an enormous, overwhelming number of little persuasive arguments, each with supporting data and experiments. Such things are easy to reject if you're hostile to the entire proposition. From Darwin's finches to the genetics of Drosophila, it's quite easy to remain unconvinced if you have a strong investment on rejecting it.

And the arguments on *this* forum seldom rise anywhere near such dizzy heights of thinking: 'I didn't come from no monkeys' is about all you get. This is invincible ignorance, and its possessors are deeply proud of it.

CD

Answer 2

(a) Some people reject evolution because they take Genesis literally and believe that the universe was created in 7 days. I believe that the "days" of Genesis represent epochs that lasted millions or even billions of years. This is still the blink of an eye to an infinite being.

(b) I tend to agree with evolutionary theologians who identify the creation of man with the infusion of a soul into an evolutionary body. The "clay" from which man was made can be thought of as the results of millions of years of careful development by God the "potter". When he had a physical vessel ready he infused it with a soul, thus creating the first human.

(c) While I have no problem with theistic evolution in general, I do have a problem with the idea of one species being generated from another by random mutations or natural selection. The development of individual species I attribute to divine intervention. For a theist this is more plausible and is closer to what Genesis describes.

(d) The weakest part of evolutionary theory, abiogenesis, is the idea that the first life form formed from chemical processes. The odds of such a life form, even something a simple as single celled organism, forming through random molecur interactions are beyond astromical. The origin of life itself appears to be miraculous.

Answer 3

1. Nobody knows what happened millions of years ago.
2. Creative math doesn't prove evolution
3. Frauds and Lies - Piltdown, Nebraska, Lucy
4. Monkey to man chart posted everywhere as if proof
5. That evolving changing specie has never been found.

To me the push for evolution, lies and all, was to prove the Bible wrong. Many people lost their faith in God thinking that Piltdown and Nebraska man were the changing evolving specie that proved the Bible wrong. Both were nothing but fraud and lies created by scientists and those are only two. Evolution created Atheist and Secular Humanism and many more false doctrine religions and the spirit of antichrist. I personally feel deceived by evolutionists. To create lies to fool people into believing their made up science theory is very, very evil. It became a stumbling block to many Christians and God will hold these deceivers accountable.

Answer 4

Because it is just that. In fact it is less than a theory its an hypothesis. It's a wild guess based in extremely improbable odds. Yes I know that the origin of life is a different science but that's really just a smoke screen that is thrown up when creationist bring it up but atheistic/evolutionist actually believe that life just happened and that for some reason unknown to anyone it decided to start evolving both to plant and animal life and for some reason unknown it decided there needed to be different species. It does not answer the fact that the time needed for this to happen is even longer than the scientists estimation of the age of the earth. It doesn't explain why or to what purpose. It doesn't explain why anything more than single celled organisms were even needed. Macro evolution would take to long, Micro evolution would leave a huge pile of evidence that they don't have.

Evolution is a faith based belief on shaky evidence and isn't even a full blown theory because you do not have the hard evidence to support it nor can you replicate it.

And for you wishy washy, no back-boned, try to appease your enemy, water down the scripture to make yourself look intelligent so called Christians. Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand!

Answer 5

Like condensation and frost on a windshield, words and ideas obstruct our vision of reality. People fall easily for images, including the ones they create and that are created for them in their minds. It has become so bad that people willingly reject what they experience and consciously sense for WORDs and Rules they can only wonder about.

There's nothing more humbling to mankind than realizing we are part of the ecosystem and the environment rather than becoming masters of it or being given reign of it.!! That truth hurts many forms of ideology. Fear also rules in the minds of those who refuse to research outside the parameters of their own belief systems. People do not want to discover that the pillar upon which they have built their life was not solid rock, but sand after all.

Answer 6

No, I don't believe in the Fairy Tale of Evolution. Molecule-to-man evolution requires a large increase in genetic information and evolutionists have yet to show that this can be possible (information theory argues against this), much less that it actually occurred/occurs. Sure, they can prove natural selection, speciation, and adaptation, but all of these only require the loss, shuffling, or duplication of pre-existing information.

Answer 7

Having long been in this debate and having gone through the work personally myself, I suggest you procure yourself the Book:
TWO BIRDS ,,, ONE STONE!!, by Denis Towers.
He published a book this year after a 9 year study [He is a specialist in Anatomy and Kinesiology] in which he discovered that Man and the snake are the precise ANTITHESIS of one another - both, behaviorally and Anatomically.

This not only immediately throws great Q over the validity of random mutation, it indicates an Intelligent design and deliberation in Creation.
It also tends to powerfully support the Adam and Eve account of the Bible, wherein it just so happened to be the snake who tempted Eve into partaking of the forbidden fruit, in order to set up opposition between man and God.

So, I think just in those few new discoveries alone you have quite a fight on your hands between evolution and Creationism.

Whatever you do now, having been told about this, don't just run to your teacher and tell him about this discovery [He'll pooh-hoo it, as he will as ye know nothing of it!]; research it for yourself.
You are becoming too grown up now to let someone else do your thnking and researching and decision-making for you.
Check this book out yourself.

Answer 8

The Bible actually agrees with the Scientific Methods. Most people don't know about it and Have never read it. Schools and Universities are not open minded enough to investigate it for themselves and are ecstatic to continue to be lemmings! In law, one has to follow certain things to evaluate truth. Scientific methods require the same and Darwin's theory has long since been debunked and proven wrong.

Look up Nihilism, Darwinism, Freudian-ism and Socialist Communism for starters! It devalues human beings as people that's reason enough. Evolution is a Theory that is taught as Absolute Truth and is not measured by Scientific investigation. Micro-evolution did occur and they do not teach it as such. Evolution is also identified as a religion!

Thanks for the Thumbs Down you know we are Correct

Answer 9

Because it is a threat to their beliefs.

Why was Galileo put under house arrest for claiming the Earth revolved around the sun? Because it was contradictory to the church teachings.

Look at the answer presented by creationists. If you are studying evolution currently you will see their reasons are based on misconceptions and ignorance.

Answer 10

Because it is only theory and it is full of falsehoods> Plus it does not go along with what God says. God warns us about false science KNOWLEDGE, and say if it isnt in agreement with His word, it is false and we are to flee from it. God told us how it all began, and therefore any science that contradicts that is false. Beside, many scientists that are christian dont even believe in evolution. Too much evidence against it. Even with a big bang, where did it all come from to explode? Please. Where did the gasses come from? and how did they collide? You are trying to convicne yourself that something as intricate as this planet, and human life was all happenstance??? No , we wont believe it. Ludicruous. and NO I dont mean to offend you.
Just stating facts as you do. Take a box of leggos that are to form like the little robot guy. Shake them all up and pour them out. Do the pieces all fit together? LEt alone, in perfect order, with intricate nervous, vascular systems, and all of that? No, still in pieces> Took intelligent design to do that. I dont have to expalin it and you dont have to believe it. God says it and that settles it. But, you cant proove your theories either. only mere suppostion. There is a natural flow of evolution that is like when a dog goes to a colder climate, he will grow a little more fur after time, but he is still a dog, he doesnt change into another species. God created all that is in this earth, all, and its not happenstance, and that one really taes a lot of faith to even try to bleieve in> Believing in God is far easier, as we see evidecne of Him all the time Wait till you see someone recieve a miracle and then tell yourself there is no God, and yes I have seen just that.
Many of us have. Seek andye shall find and all will be added unto you.