Just curious.
2007-10-10 23:27:00 · 14 answers · asked by Link strikes back 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's true that some so-called 'sects' of Christianity insist on repudiation of the evolution theory by members. The Jehovah's Witnesses come instantly to mind. They will not baptize anyone who does not agree with their interpretation of Genesis (e.g. that the 6 days of creation were each 1,000 years long). They have written books and articles attacking evolutionary theories and, to a man (and a woman) all baptized JWs will publicly state they don't believe it. Nor have I met a JW who privately felt evolution to be scientific.
On the other hand virtually every other denomination makes no rules about it but leaves individuals free to believe what their conscience leads them to. The Bible Belt in America has been mentioned as actively 'attacking' evolution, but even that is a sweeping generalisation because you would find myriad individuals in that group who DO believe evolution played a significant part in developments. Most Christians today feel God was in charge, started everything off, but perhaps millions of years of gradual development did take place before he specially created humanity, in his own image. Others say he did absolutely everything, with no evolution. There are many variations on interpreting the length of the creative days, plus the point is made that the universe and planet Earth had already been created before those six days began.
2007-10-11 00:41:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The great majority of so-called Christian denominations (Christianity does not have denominations) do not specify whether early Genesis should be interpreted literally or allegorically. There are virtually no denominational scholars in major universities or seminaries who take the literal route, and most educated church people treat fundamentalism as bordering on insanity. The few that differ are mostly in the southern USA. Enough said, eh.
Among ordinary Christians, most now take Gen 1-11 as chiefly allegory; but those few (mostly over 80 y-o) who do not, _do not_ make a point of it. That is the crucial difference. The fundamentalist is very vocal, and makes more of literal Genesis than of Christ. The Christian is interested in Christ and obeying him in daily living, first, second, third and fourth, and does not much care how God created the universe.
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2007-10-11 01:56:04 · answer #2 · answered by miller 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Individuals, but it is more common in certain sects. American Christians are far more likely to disbelieve evolution than Europeans, particularly Bible Belt Christians. The pope is fine with evolution, so officially Catholics should be alright with it. In truth, they're all over just like everyone else.
Edit to Adam: Only in the sense that some people choose to disbelieve it.
2007-10-10 23:32:39 · answer #3 · answered by Bob C 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The explicit disbelief in evolution is basically confined to two groups of christians: protestant revivalist christians in the United States (and to a limited extent in Europe, although this kind of Christians is a very small minority there), and conservative Christians in countries with a very poor level of education, mainly in the Third world.
Apart from that, most Christians (including the vast majority of educated Europeans, including Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and so on) understand that this is a question for secular scientific research - not for literalist Bible interpretation (which is also the official Roman Catholic point of view, as far as it is not based on a specific materialistic worldview).
The question why "modern" Americans in this question, as regards the theoretical analysis, take side with the most uneducated elements in countries with a marked lack of free thought, free press and free education remains a mystery, to say the least.
2007-10-11 02:03:18 · answer #4 · answered by juexue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is likely both. Many of the individual denominations (Pentecostal for example) deny the evolution from the 'primordial ooze', or evolution as it is described in most science classes today. There are other denominations which seem to think it possible, Methodists (the more liberal) and Presbyterians, and appparently Catholicism can tend to support evolution theory, yet within those groups are doubters of the scientific communities' conclusions about evolution. Even amongst the Methodist church is some disagreement as to the validity of evolution as described in textbooks and scientific reviews.
I for one attend an Evangelical Methodist church. I am a Creationist as are the majority of the people who go to this church. I imagine there are a number who think evolution holds water. At this stage, I think the attitude is agree to disagree and go on about the work which Jesus commanded us to do.
2007-10-10 23:54:11 · answer #5 · answered by thankyou "iana" 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Evolution is from the worlds view. As Christians, we SHOULD believe what the Bible says, but many of them are vulnerable and get influenced by the world that evolution did actually happen because scientists say so. But look at both sides of the argument, you will see that their is actually a way to prove the Bible Scientifically.
2007-10-11 05:38:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
christiannty in itself doesnt promote the teaching of evolution, however most people accept that it is the truth.
People that dont would be highly devote individuals and groups.
I think most Christian accept that the Bible is a book of stories to help teach people about God and they shouldnt all be taken totally as truth, maybe the messages behind the book is the truth!
Although I know that untill recently in the UK Catholic schools didn't teach evolution theories!
2007-10-10 23:31:57 · answer #7 · answered by hopper13 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
really all Christians should deny evolution. It is incompatible with the believe that God created man in his own image.
This is why there is such an argument about creationism in the USA, evolution starts to unravel the bible as false. If one part is wrong, then maybe all of it is.
2007-10-11 00:03:01 · answer #8 · answered by tanjaneeka 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it would be all of Christianty.
As far as I know, all Christians believe during the Creation, God created man and woman--just as they are today. That is, that He didn't create organisms that then eventually evolved into humans.
I'm guessing that most other religions that believe in a Creator are the same, such as Judaism, Islam,...
2007-10-10 23:33:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes and some sects believe that gravity does not exist and we are all intelligently falling by design.
I would agree with the idea that Christianity and reality are incompatible.
2007-10-11 00:31:13 · answer #10 · answered by Freethinking Liberal 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋