Why are so many ppl against evolution? or y do they not even want to consider it or learn about?

Answer 1

Well, this is tied to a certain, exceedingly narrow view of religion, that holds that the Bible must be read absolutely *literally*. They equate faith with *literalism* ... and therefore that anything that contradicts the *literal* word of the Bible, contradicts religious faith itself. So they equate evolution with atheism ... which leads them (understandably) to oppose evolution with every fiber of their being.

However, it is clear that this is a complete *misreading* of religion and Christian faith:

1. It is absolutely NOT true that theologians universally claim that evolution contradicts faith or religion.

2. The Catholic church, home to 1.1 billion of the world's 2 billion Christians, officially recognizes that it sees no contradiction between Christian faith, and evolution.

3. Over 11,000 Christian clergy members have signed the Clergy Letter Project supporting evolution and the idea that faith and science can co-exist happily.
(The letter is beautiful and worth reading ... only 2 paragraphs:
http://www.butler.edu/clergyproject/religion_science_collaboration.htm

4. About 40% of the overwhelming majority of scientists who fully accept evolution, also believe in God.

So the real question is ... where does this pernicious LIE come from that evolution = atheism?

And second, why is this LIE so persuasive with rank-and-file Christians in the United States? (As creationism is far less common in all other developed countries ... with the possible exception of Australia.)

The answer is that both religious education, and scientific education, in the U.S., are *TERRIBLE*. They are stripped down, *CARTOON* versions of both religion and science. Religion is presented as *literal* reading of stories such as Adam and Eve, and Noah's Ark, even though these stories *make no sense* when read literally (although they are *powerful* paths to real, deep Truths when read as they were intended ... as metaphor). Similarly, evolution is presented as something about humans evolving from monkeys ... which again, is a CARTOON version of the scientific theory of evolution.

In other words, Americans are not taught to think *deeply* about these things. Deep religious *theological* thought includes the ability to extract deep meaning from metaphor and allegory. But who are our great "theologians"? Where once we had theologians like Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine ... the modern "theologians" are ... Pat Roberton and Jerry Falwell?! American fundamentalists have no ability to deal with the Bible as metaphor whatsoever ... if Genesis isn't *literally* true (right down to the number of cubits of gopherwood used to build the Ark, or the specific number of generations from Seth (Adam's son) to Moses (which is how they compute that the earth is a ridiculous 6,000 years old!) ... if Genesis isn't understood *literally*, then they don't know how to understand it at all!

So the answer, in a nutshell, is Biblical literalism being taught as a substitute for actual faith and deep theology.

Biblical literalism leads both to bad science, and bad theology.

The fundamentalist leaders are *FAILING* the very Christians they are supposed to be leading.

Answer 2

Well they can think they are against it. But evolution is scientific fact, just like gravity, and the sun rising in the East. It is actually ignorant to take a stand against evolution for the reasons the Creationist use. Evolution is science, science is not at war with religion. People can "believe" anything the want. Science is not something you believe, you either accept it or deny it. If you think you know better than science, then it is up to you to prove you are right and science is wrong.

The America primary education system has failed many students. This is obvious, students entering college are failing basic introduction science classes, biology, chemistry or physics and math. At the universities it is students from Asia that are getting all the great grades, scholarships and honors. If you don't understand basic science you can not begin to understand evolution.

Answer 3

Well evolution is a fact just like gravity. Evolution has been observed under the microscope. How else would you explain super-bugs? Yet, neither evolution nor gravity have been fully understood and the current explanations are theories.

Important Note: Theories take a long time to get where they are. They are highly scrutinized and undergo years of criticism before people begin to understand how the idea works. I'll include the link for how the scientific process works: http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html

Theory of Natural Selection, however, is well a theory. The reason Gravity is explained using theories is because physics has yet to find what causes mass (remember photons are massless). In the same way, evolution is explained using various theories because of the holes in our understanding.

So we either need to teach Intelligent Physics (this would further the understanding of Hell, Heaven, how angels fly, and how Satan fell into Hell) alongside Intelligent Design or just continue the advancement of science.

Also, as stated above, evolution has a negative influence on the influence of many religions. On the other hand, the Catholic Church has already stated that they acknowledge evolution of species, but claim that God granted humans the soul.

Basically, it comes down to this Jonathan Swift quote:
"It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"

NOTE: I don't believe in Christianity nor have I fully tried to reason through the bible. I have read various verses in the Quran, Bible (New/Old Testament), Torah, and Mahabharata/Ramayana and don't believe in any of the aforementioned religions.

I don't, however, understand Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica or On the Origin of Species. Yet, for some reason I believe these men more than any religious expert on these subjects.

Answer 4

It is not the case that people against evolution do not consider it or learn about it; it is the only curriculum you will learn in the American public school systems and universities; there is no other alternative teaching other than Darwinism (In fact, a lot of the evidence for evolution in modern textbooks has been revealed to be forged! Examples include Kettlewell's peppered-moth experiment, and Haeckel's falsified drawings of embryonic development). The question should be why people do not want to consider or learn about Intelligent Design.

Most people are not against evolution in the sense of natural selection, since there is direct, observable evidence of it. It is not changes in traits that is at debate (e.g. selective breeding of animals for a particular trait such as color). The heart of evolution controversy concerns the origin of the universe, where one side says that life came out randomness and nothing (Darwinism), and the other at the creation of an Intelligent Designer. There is strong evidence that supports the theory of Intelligent Design, and nobody has been able to refute or come up with a good answer to a lot of the arguments. Such evidence that favors Intelligent Design include chirality (right- and left-handedness in molecules), irreducible complexity, and I am only naming two.

I think there is good evidence for a theory other than that of Darwinian evolution. I don't think it is a matter of people being closed-minded, but being open-minded and considering all the evidence that is out there, and they conclude that the evidence leads to Intelligent Design.

There are a lot websites out there with solid evidence for Intelligent Design. I invite you to look at the scientific evidence and arguments for Intelligent Design and decide whether it or Darwinian evolution stands up to test.

Answer 5

Theologians are against evolution because it goes against their bible beliefs. They don't want to give any ground on any of the issues because it means they could be wrong on a lot more bible issues. However,I see more people in today's society moving toward evolution than before and more are likely to speak their minds on the issue than in the past. But one must realize that even though one doesn't necessarily believe in creationism, they must understand that a lot of good people do and that these people should have respect for their beliefs just like any others. To some creationism means a great deal and wouldn't believe in evolution even if it were proven without a doubt. So why force it on them? Just like when they try to force religion on you or me, we try to rebel. I guess it's only natural.

Answer 6

As a creationist I have studied quite a bit of evolution. If anyone wants to call himself or herself a creationist, then they have to do a LOT of research on evolution and creation. Where do you think we get all of those quotes, facts, and statistics that irritate evolutionists?
On the other hand, many evolutionists do not want to consider or learn about creationism. In many classrooms the problems with evolution are never discussed. Many people here in Korea have never heard of creationism or the criticism on evolution. That is something I am currently working on.
Wish me luck...

Answer 7

evolution is proven through science. I agree with evolution 100%.

Answer 8

I think it's because they have been brainwashed all their life that a God exists and use God as a tool to cope with life and feel a sense of security if they have a "powerful" God that loves and cares for them and will resovle their problems for them. So to let go of that theory would be too difficult.

Answer 9

It's 'cause, God bless 'em, they're only getting used to opposable thumbs themselves and you're asking them to receive one concept too many.

Answer 10

the theory of evolution contradicts most religions in the world, mainly the big three (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism). If God created Adam and Eve, and we are all descendants of them, then how could we have started off as monkeys?