Creationists: Out of curiosity, have you actually studied evolution and the biological mechanisms behind it?

Question

So often I read questions here by creationists that scream, “I really know nothing about the science but I reject it because I’m supposed to.” I have to wonder how many of you have actually studied it prior to rejecting it.

Thanks!

Answer 1

All Creationists do not reject evolution. Accelerated evolution can be witnessed in bacteria and other microbes, so the evidence is obvious. However, in regard to creation, all truth does not have to be factual. For instance parables, fables, etc., illustrate truth, but are usually not factual. The Hebrew writers were interested in the truth of a creative intelligence more than the scientific vehicle used. Most scientists agree that the creation of the Earth, by whatever theory, pretty much follows the Biblical sequence if not the exact time line. It is another great paradox of life that both are possible.

Answer 2

I haven't come across creationists like you describe, yet, but it's hard to believe that most have not studied science since it it taught in the schools and permeates most of scientific media.

I have studied evolution on my own and used to preach it. Unfortunately I did this because I rejected the notion of God and evolution seemed to be the only alternative.

I stopped believing in God because of the hell fire doctrine which I found totally incompatible with a God that could create love and beauty.

As I learned that evolution provided no satisfactory explanation of the origin of things, I also found out about the origins of the hell fire myth which is not supported in the Bible.

At that point I realized that my beef was not with God, it was with false Christianity and all the other religions that teach eternal torture.

Science is a wonderful field of study and can lead one to a better understanding of the creation and a greater appreciation for the Creator.

The non-science evolution theories (big bang, spontaneous generation) although taught as fact, are really just another belief system that has the same detrimental effect as false religion does. It steers us away from the creator. That is why I reject it (evolution). It is a false religion.

Answer 3

The obvious and correct answer is that, of course, Creationists are biologically illiterate. However, they are also pathological liars and so will deny the truth.

According to the US National Science Foundation (NSF),

•Only 45% know that antibiotics do not kill viruses;

•49% know that it takes a year for the Earth to make one circuit around the Sun. (28% do not know that the earth revolves around the sun.);

•25% think that sound travels faster than light;

•Two thirds fail to know that the universe began with a huge explosion (the Big Bang);

•Only 29% could adequately explain DNA, 16% the Internet, 13% a molecule, and 11% radiation.

http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind02/toc.htm

According to the US Department of Education, only 18% of high school graduates are proficient in science. http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/science/results/only

It probably is a safe assumption that Creationists contribute to these dismal results at a higher rate than educated Christians and Atheists.

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paczjj15 --- nothing you say of science is correct. Are you sure you were in the right classrooms?

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Earl D –

Did he tell you the difference between a ‘living’ molecule and a ‘non-living’ molecule? Did he tell you that it is just a biochemical reaction driven by reasonably well-understood natural processes?

Do you know that it would have been more of a miracle if life had not occurred on earth?

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angeltress ---

I’m just here to enjoy the holier-than-thou ignorance. Thanks for the entertainment.

Answer 4

Yeah, have you

I spent four hours this morning learning fundamentals of Organic Chemistry from a Harvard PH D

I learned about isomers, conformity, molecular rotation. Did you know close to 20 kilo calories strike everything all the time here on Earth and that force is enough to spin the molecules of n-butaine at a speed of a billion RPMs and they've proven this with recording devices.

Do you know how many JOULES that is

Do you know what a JOULE is!

I learned how moleclues are organized and where the carbon and hydrogens can bond. And how the SAME chemical formual is a different permutation (e.g. 2,2 methyl-pentaine)

Still don't know what it all means yet, I have to finish the course.

God has to have been a genius to do all this stuff.

I can't happen by accident

They Harvard guy even said how much FORCE it would take to un-bond and re-bond.

Did you know about staggered and eclipsed molecules. The more complex they are the higher the ratio in any given moment of an eclipsed motif starting at 1:100 and go up astronomically from there. Next jump is 1:10,000

And there's a 3 kilo calorie engery differntial between the staggered and eclipse modes in the first "taine" and it follows a sine wave

Pentane follows an irregular sine wave with different wave heights and vastly larger kilo calorie differences between the favored and least favored mode. This is do to the extra axis points of the CH3 and the C bondings.

Answer 5

You've got some terrific answers here, o Grim one...I could not do as well, I'm sure.
But I do have to ask you...why do you even ask such a question? You know you aren't really interested in the answer, unless it vindicates your view of Christianity.
Good luck choosing a "best answer" on this one...looks to me right now, as if your only choice is gonna be good ol' Axel, up there at the top.
Amazing, isn't it, how very thoughtful and intelligent your ONE atheist response was?

Oh, yeah, I forgot...you didn't ask this question of atheists, did you? So, of course, no "real" atheists would butt in where they were not asked, would they?
Of course not.
Still looks like Axel's gonna get the ten...

HEY, look at that, I was wrong...Buly came in just ahead of me, with a very educated answer!
He even knows which gene, I'm seriously impressed!
So, now that he's found the gene, any chance we could get him to locate the common ancestor? Cuz...he still appears to be missing...
Not to mention all the other really good answers given that totally refute Buly...
But, anyhow, too bad, Axel! I thought you had it wrapped up!

Answer 6

Yes, I have looked into evolution quite a bit. Personally I don't think I have ever read what you have read here on YA. Personally I don't know any Christians, and I know thousands, that believe what they do because they are "supposed to". In fact that person would not be a Christian because belief must come from the heart, not out of obligation. I could also ask you if you have ever studied creationism as it is talked about in the Bible. It would take you several years, it is a massive teaching int he Bible.

Answer 7

I know plenty about evolution and the biological mechanisms behind it. I had to study it in middle school, high school, and college. However, it provides even more questions for me. If you completely believe in what science tells you, then here are some of the things you have to look at:

- The universe came from nothing, when scientific laws state that matter can not be created or destroyed.

- A random combination of gases came together at a perfect distance from a star to create a planet with an atmosphere that could sustain life.

- Life was started from inanimate matter when science says that the only way to create new life is from existing life. Though some proteins and amino acids have been created in experiments, nothing capable of sustaining life has been created.

- Life evolved from a simple single-celled organism to a complex human, and had to go through transitional stages in which organs wouldn't work but would be necessary for survival, such as the lungs, digestive system, and immune system.

- The theory of survival of the fittest suggests that the strong will survive and the weak will die, but humans were among the weakest mammals, yet they survived and thrived.

- Humans developed a moral system when the survival of the fittest would suggest that they should do whatever is necessary for survival, in which morals would actually go against that.

You might be able to explain the last two, but the rest are tougher. In some cases, you're going against your own laws in believing some of the things you do. In my opinion, it takes more faith to believe completely in evolution than it does to believe in God.

Believers in God might not be able to explain everything, but there is the possibility of everything with God. At least there's an explanation no matter how much non-believers don't like it.

Answer 8

Yes, I have studied the various theories. I particularly like (but don't believe) the one that explained life as Spontantous Generation.

This is where life just sprang from the waters.

While that one was accepted as fact for generations, it was replaced by the THEORY of Evolution.

What comes next? Alien Creation? I know that some people actually believe that life on Earth was created by Alien beings (Science Class homework?).

There are other theories in the past and more will come in the future.

But do you realize Creationism has been around the longest and has NEVER been disproven?

Answer 9

Yes. Biology. Earth Science. Anatomy.

Answer 10

There are too many inconsistencies in the theory of human evolution. Science is supposed to let evidence dictate the thesis. I already answered two or three questions about the same thing for the day. Sometimes I wonder if people ask questions just for the sake of asking them. Refer to similar threads and you will see many questions are being asked over and over again.

I host a radio show and I come on the answers programme to relax--to unwind. It is amazing--the same questions over and over. At least on radio, people listen and they refer to points made earlier and they add to or encourage discourse. there are real people who will put in precious time if you genuinely want answers. However, if they get the impression that you are asking questions just to be cute, they will turn off and you lose the opportunity of interacting with people who do not mind sharing wisdom. Remember that a blog site is as good as the participants and the level of discussion.