Evolution vs. Creation?

Question

In what ways do you feel the the "thoery" of evolution has harmed the christian faith? And isn't evolution an atheistic "faith" since there are some many unexplained gaps in the "theory." And since when was a "theory" taught as fact?

These are all things that frustrate me with science today. If you are going to teach evolution let it remain a theory and teach creation along side so that people are completely informed and not missguided by oneside philosophies that scue the human mind.

Just to clarify for everyone what a theory is I looked it up.
A theory is...
a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.
contemplation or speculation.
guess or conjecture.

In other words a theory is a hypothesis that has not yet been disproven, and is therefor "assumed" to be fact for lack of a better explaination.

And to clarify one more point. For evolution to work they way it is claimed a species must mutate and become another species entirely. If that is the case and humans "evolved" from greater apes then why are those apes still in existance? I have done my research and many evolutionary scientists can not give a straight answer on evolution because they don't have one.
It is my opinion that science has confused adaption with evolution. You might want to consider the fact the God provides what is needed for survival of all species. I am more well versed in both subjects than what my questions lets on.

Please do your research before you answer. I wants "facts" and not "opinions."

Answer 1

It is true that a belief in either creation or a non-personal random evolutionary process must have elements of faith to be believed. There is no 100% concrete evidence to believe either side. I believe the literal 6-day creation creation account as recorded in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. There can really be no mixing of a belief in the evolutionary process and still believe in all that the Bible says. Also, a combining of the 2 accounts does not solve the problem. If God worked and created through the evolutionary process over billions of years, that means He would have used death to bring about a variation of life. Romans tells us that the wages of sin is death. If there was no sin, but still death, how is that verse true? What then do we do with the death of Christ for us on the cross?

The fact is that we must take the Bible for what it says. Belief in evolution or creation does take faith. I find there to be substantial evidences for creation, and I believe it because that is what the Bible says.

Answer 2

I don't think that the Theory of Evolution (ToE) has harmed the Christian faith. Evolution is not an atheistic "faith." The "gaps" are in the fossil record, which is the set of facts that the ToE is designed to explain.

Science works by taking a set of facts (in this case a somewhat incomplete fossil record) and trying to figure out a theory that best explains the available facts while simultaneously predicting future events. In terms of the Theory of Evolution the facts it explains is the seeming change in species over time that can be observed by examining the fossil record. However, the fact that species change (evolve) over time is a clear fact based on the fossil record.

The Theory of Evolution provides an explanation of how the facts work. It also predicts instances of speciation resulting from selective pressure. The reason that Creationism is not a robust alternative theory is that creationism does not make those same predictions.

Answer 3

First you must understand what a scientific theory is. It is not a guess, it is not just some idea without merit,

In science, a theory is a mathematical or logical explanation, or a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition.

Creation on the other hand is merely a fairie tale story in a collection of parables called the bible. There is absolutely no scientific facts or even theories involved in the story of creation. It is a myth and deserves to remain being taught within the narrow confines of religion.

Answer 4

How many times must this be repeated: In science, a theory is a hypothesis which has been tested and found to be accurate. It is not just something that people suggest as a possibility. It is taught as fact because it has been proven so many ways as to be undeniable. What remaining gaps there are do not make the theory untrue, they are simply gaps that have yet to be filled in. There is no reason whatsoever to teach creation in a science class, as it is not even a hypothesis, as there is no way to test it. In any case, why would creation be the logical alternative to evolution? Even if evolution didn't happen, that doesn't mean that creation did.

Answer 5

so, by your logic, we shouldnt teach anything, because everything is based on theory.

The bible is based on a 'theory' that there is a god, so we shouldn't teach the bible.

Einsteins 'theory' of relativity, we shouldn't teach that either.

Pretty much everything you will get taught in maths will be theoretical.

you are an idiot.

Evolution vs creation, it's not even a contest, here are the comparisons.

Evolution : Based on academic study, research, experimentation. When written about, it cites it's sources and references, it is based on the work of others, and is constantly being updated and refined.

Creation: Based on a story written over 5000 years ago, that has subsquently been mistranslated into hundreds of different languages, (you can't even get the main guys name right, it's Yeshua, not 'Jesus'). Has been written up only once, it is not based on academic study research and experimentation. It does not cite any of it's sources. 'God' is not a source, I cannot go and take 'God's book out of the library, he hasn't written one, and if you say the bible, well i'm already reading that so it's not a reference.


It really is no contest.


Atheism isn't a faith. It hasn't harmed christianity, it has only opened the eyes of some of the blind sheep that follow christianity.

Answer 6

Science can only deal with the observable facts. So technically neither are relevant as such. Now I believe that God created the Universe in 6 literal days, but I can't prove it. That is my belief. So I guess that if they want to teach evolution then it should be taught as a faith or a belief, NOT as a fact.

Answer 7

I thought I'd clarify some first.

First, you seem to be confused about the word "theory". In common usage, it can be seen as equal to "guess"; in scientific usage, it's not, it simply means logical explanation, a model to be tested.

Second, sciences rarely deal with absolute truths, all science is theoretical, its function is to approximate reality to the best of our ability. Science is a process, not a commandment.

And no, evolution is not faith, you're making the same mistake again. Semantics isn't your strong suit, religious Faith is believing without evidence (or against evidence). The everyday meaning (as I use it for example) is equal to "I think that's as close to truth as possible". You have Faith in god, I have faith in my ability drive during winter. One is religion, one is based on experience.

Now, to get back to your original question...

As an atheist, I have no idea how evolution harms christian faith.... I can only guess it makes believing harder by introducing evidence to the contrary?

Theory, is pretty commonly taught in schools. Einstein's theory of relativity explains gravity pretty good, just because it has the word "theory" in the name, doesn't really make gravity invalid, does it? In mathematics, you'll encounter set theory... In psychology you'll see theory of mind... see what I mean about the misunderstanding "theory"?

Evolution is science, creation is religion. They're not equal, and I for one would prefere that schools taught science, not religion. I don't mind if christians teach their faith to their own children, I just don't think everyone should be forced to study it.

Think of religion, there are thousands of different religions, correct? Would you like to see schools teach every one of them, just so people wouldn't be misguided? Or better yet, would you like to see your church forced to teach them all?

As to one-sidedness (real word?), I'm afraid that's a simple result of science. The earth orbits the sun; do you also demand that the opposite should be taught for fairness? How about flat-earth? We always teach the best theory, not all of them. Why teach something that's less accurate, or proven false?

I'll make a deal with you, I'll support your creationist demands if you support my own mathematical theory where 2+2=7? You let me teach your kids to do maths the wrong way, and you teach mine creationism? Ok?

Answer 8

The problem seems to be that folks feel that, if evolution is NOT, indeed, "a fact", then the only other alternative is Creation.
To accept that evolution is not proven...and I have yet to see any laboratory experiment in which one species evolves into a completely new species...would mean that the possibility that there is actually a Creator would have to be seriously considered.
And that would mean that...oh, my...there really IS a "Higher Power"....

"Evolutionists"...that is, the hard-core extremists...completely refuse to accept the idea that evolution may simply be a tool, used by the Creator. The idea that there might be an Intelligent Designer behind the universe is abhorrent to these folks...


Why???
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Answer 9

Evolution

Answer 10

In science a theory is an explanation which best describes the facts. In biology evolution is the one and only theory, because it is supported by all known facts of biology. creationism is not a theory because there are no facts which support it. Teaching them as equal would weaken science education.

There are no "gaps" in evolutionary theory. I have examined the so-called gaps put forth by creationists and all are shameful lies, distortions and misrepresentations. Shameful for people who regard the "bearing of false witness" as a sin against god.

The argument against evolution only weakens Christianity by putting it in opposition to reality.

Answer 11

the church said the world was flat and until there was pictures taken from the moon you would all be condemning the non beleivers for saying it's round...
You do the same about evolution... the world evolved.. the proof is even your religions had to evolve to keep up with the changes in nature....

the church did the same thing with gravity... the christian position was (and through the experience of your reaction to evolution still would be) there are holes in your theories of gravity... well if you drop something it still falls to the floor... christianity seeks to condemn humanity to perpetual ignorance.. there are many such laws in nature but you all seek to prevent the human race from understanding them.... in the end.. you are all still idiots.. you are so self rigteously deceived that you stick your heads up your asses and call it fresh air..