Fellow Christians: Does EVOLUTION matter?

Question

I think that whether God used evolution or not to create life (there's alot of evidence that he did) has NO effect on achieving salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that the Holy Bible's purpose is not as a science textbook, rather focuses on Jesus Christ and the world to come. Since the 7 "day" creation story was written before the rise of modern science, I think that it shouldn't be taken literally. Do you agree that If you take accept science's discoveries, such as the earth revolving around the sun, then one should also accept evolution?

agree??

Answer 1

Evolution from the standpoint of common ancestry is actually not science but philosophy. If you can't observe it or if you can't test it, it's not science. This is one of the greatest failures of our society today, they have failed to make a distinction between the two. To prove my point, try applying the scientific method to the type of evolution that says birds can come from reptiles...

1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena.

2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation.

3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations.

4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments.

Step one never happens because no one has ever observed a reptile become a bird, or a monkey become a human. We have only gathered data and made predictions apart from observation. Thus, step three results in circular reasoning and step 4 becomes impossible to perform.

Now, is evolution vital to Christianity?
There are some good points brought up by a friend of mine who practices apologetics.

" A. Christianity claims that there was no death until Adam sinned. Evolution says that there was death from the beginning (natural selection).

B. This makes God the author of death and suffering and makes a mockery of the incarnation.

C. Why would God seek to save us from that which he created? If his creation is good, then death and suffering must be good, and therefore we would have no need to be saved from them.

D. Evolution also posits that we have progressed from a lesser to a more developed state. Therefore sin is also part of God’s creation, and we have no need to be delivered from it.

E. Christianity claims that everything God created is good, and that it was man’s rebellion that brought death and sin into the world.

F. Man has fallen from a greater to a lesser state, and needs to be saved from this lesser state."

Perhaps you can explain to me now how evolution is reconcilable with Christianity.

Answer 2

Here's the problem. If you believe in evolution, you must reject the Adam and Eve account. If you reject Adam and Eve, then where did original sin enter the world through humanity, and why is there death and sadness in the world? If you somehow don't reject Adam and Eve, but still postulate evolution, why did things die before the curse?

Without the stain of sin being on all humanity, there is no need for a Savior, so the Gospel message is rendered useless.

By the way, there are a number of 7 day alternate theories.
1) What defines a "day" for God?
2) Cosmic time, from a specific frame of reference (we're still in the 7th day according to that theory)
3) Gap creationism (an indeterminate time period between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2)

Answer 3

Sure. I think those who constantly, in a number of creative ways, throw "evolution!" at Christians really do think that it will knock out such a crucial piece of Biblical support for Christianity such that if this one falls, it all falls. And they would like nothing more. But it's not quite that simple. The truth of the Gospel is not dependent upon who wins the evolution vs. creation argument.

I also think that if we can embrace some of what science has learned about our universe -- macro and micro -- then we must accept it all. And again, that is not at all incompatible with belief and faith. We can see, and believe; we also can believe in what is unseen.

Answer 4

Yes it does matter, because evolution is not a fact. It’s a hypothesis that has never been proved.

Evolution is not a science Evolution defies mathematical probability. Evolution defies laws of physics (second law of thermodynamics.)

Evolution theory is a religious belief that fundamentally requires adherence to the religion of atheism and/or the religion of pantheism. “Evolution” is a hypothetical, unobserved process (without any known scientific mechanism) by which all things in the universe are said to have created themselves from nothing without needing the existence of a Creator. Evolution is a hypothetical process of onwards-and-upwards self-improvement where all things somehow create themselves and somehow increase their complexity of their own accord.

Answer 5

Evolution, or the lack of it, has no bearing on my existence whatsoever. Except, of course, in the "minds" of the monkey-thumpers who, for some curious reason, are fanatically dedicated to forcing me to accept and believe in it whether or not I agree with it or them.

Answer 6

John 3:16 - they say that's the bible in a sentence. Doesn't say anything about God sending us creationist literalism so that we may have everlasting life. It says he sent his only Son.

Answer 7

i like your idea better, because i cant stand the creation story.

but the jesus and god thing?

still not going with that, for many other reasons.

where would god come from, and i couldnt care at all who jesus is.

Answer 8

a million. Do you think of it incredibly concerns how a Christian believes God created existence? no longer as i've got heard as yet. 2. isn't the purpose of Christianity to have self belief in Jesus Christ? To believe ("pisteuo" stable's selection 4100) for salvation, particular. 3. Has the advent vs. evolution debate taken our ideas off that purpose? i think of it has with some human beings, particular. i think of evolution is between the main important non-subject concerns around. it is not important one way or the different no count if God created existence with the help of evolution or with the help of on the spot manifestation, as I see it. I take place to have self belief that God created all existence, and what the existence resides on, and the universe in His own time classes He desperate. 4. collectively as God incredibly condemn somebody in keeping with how they interpreted Genesis? it incredibly is approximately Christ, as I reported. he's the adaptation between the wrath of God or peace with God. 5. does not he choose human beings on no count if or no longer they have been saved with the help of Jesus incredibly of no count if or no longer they take a youthful-earth or previous-earth stance? particular! 6. Do you think of its stunning to have evolution, a valid theory supported with the help of valid information, thoroughly eradicated from public college curriculum? do no longer you think of our infants could be uncovered to different view factors so as that it does not look like we are enslaving them? I assume the international to like it incredibly is own. yet i'm no longer of the international, for He has taken me out of the international, hence the international hates me. it incredibly is a paraphrase of what Jesus reported interior the Gospel of John, financial disaster 15. they are no longer meant to trust the actuality God laid out, and that they are meant to guard themselves against it. we are no longer meant to assume their cooperation. So i ask your self why some are appearing stunned.

Answer 9

No, since evolution hasn't even been observed since the Torah was written ~1500BC.

Answer 10

No, it really doesn't matter. How it occurred is not the fact to focus on, but rather that He is the Mastermind of it all.