I have no problem whatsoever with evolution. The Bible tells the "why" and science the "how." This past summer, I drove out to Nevada. While in western Wyoming, I saw the stratification of the rocks....and it showed me that the Earth was far older than the 5 or 6 thousand years the literalists would want us to believe. The sheer might of God was apparent in those rocks....and I came away with a stronger belief in the Almighty after seeing that.
It always seems to me that evolution is like moving from version 9.0 to version 9.1 of a complicated piece of software. It definitely happens, and 9.0 definitely eventually dies out and is replaced by 9.1.
But it doesn't say anything about where version 1.0 came from.
Faith can never conflict with reason. The Pope's statement on Galileo and science/scripture conflicts.
In fact, the Bible does not concern itself with the details of the physical world, the understanding of which is the competence of human experience and reasoning. There exist two realms of knowledge, one which has its source in Revelation and one which reason can discover by its own power. To the latter belong especially the experimental sciences and philosophy. The distinction between the two realms of knowledge ought not to be understood as opposition.The Pope's 1996 statement on evolution. Physical evolution is not in conflict with Christianity. Excerpts:
It is necessary to determine the proper sense of Scripture, while avoiding any unwarranted interpretations that make it say what it does not intend to say. In order to delineate the field of their own study, the exegete and the theologian must keep informed about the results achieved by the natural sciences.Today, almost half a century after the publication of the Encyclical, fresh knowledge has led to the recognition that evolution is more than a hypothesis. It is indeed remarkable that this theory has been progressively accepted by researchers, following a series of discoveries in various fields of knowledge. The convergence, neither sought nor fabricated, of the results of work that was conducted independently is in itself a significant argument in favour of this theory.
You don't believe the Bible when it purports to tell the "how," then? "How" God directed Noah to build the ark, for example, or "how" Jesus was crucified, or how humanity came into sin?
Just so. I feel exactly the same way when I look at exposed strata as when I look at photo images of the outer limits of the Universe. The earth, and the rest of the Universe, are unimaginably old. God is unimaginably awesome.
Stratification of the rocks does not prove evolution, just that the Earth is old, which any idiot should be able to figure out.
The Bible gives a very specific timeline of why animals came to be, and does not allow for any possible gaps in creation that could allow evolution to occur.
Therefore, I just don't understand why people say you can make evolution and Scripture compatible. I don't think you can.
One is either right or wrong.
If Scripture is wrong, Christianity and Judaism are shams based on books with untruths. And I don't believe that.
and it showed me that the Earth was far older than the 5 or 6 thousand years the literalists would want us to believe. The sheer might of God was apparent in those rocksThis has got to be a mistake. It can't be this difficult, this dynamic, this involved, this intricate to understand.
But, then again, I'm still struggling with why he sent his son to die - for us and for our sins. It defies the meager amount of logic I have available/at my disposal to understand this.
BTW, can any of the strict creationists here explain the creation and timeline of the stars, and why, as we visit them (like Mars) we find out they aren't just twinkling little bits of foil lodged in some overhead sphere (like decorations on the celing of the Astrodome?).
Then you know nothing of the Biblical account. Evolution literally labels the Scripture a lie on its face. There is no reconciling the two.
Scripture says Death came to the world because of the sin of man. Evolution contradicts that on it's face. Therein is the entire basis for the Old and new covenants. And that's only one point where evolution contradicts scripture; but, in one swoop, it's destroyed the need for a sacrificial system for the Children of Israel and subsequently for a Savior for all of us. You are decieved, ignorant of scripture, or a liar. I don't know which; but, I'd recommend remedying it. Grace & Peace