Posted on 11/17/2004 7:13:45 PM PST by naturalman1975
Hooo, boy. I got in here early!
The whole world is going nuts ping.
ping.
Creationists have no leg to stand on to criticize Science, because they can't get their story straight on exactly what it is they believe.
My personal belief is that God used Evolution as His preferred toolbox. I see no conflicts. But I do see damage done to the conservative movement by Creationists. And I also see damage done to some faithful people who participate in this Evolution argument and decide that there is no God.
Religious Creationists and IDers are being stupid to disbelieve Evolution in the first place because there is a huge amount of evidence to support it. And they're being stupid because it harms their stated goal of bringing people to God. They're Double stupid.
We should listen to the Darwinists instead. They have their own pet theories, none of which are provable and are constantly changing. They certainly know what they are talking about.
Once circumnavigation of the globe occurred, the religious zealots caught on to the idea that the world was no longer flat. It took that sort of proving to get many to question their understood truth that the world was flat.
I'm curious; what would have to be proven or disproven for you to question evolution? Or is it possible to shake your belief in evolution? This question requires no response, just a thought on the topic.
Thanks for your attention.
"Religious Creationists and IDers are being stupid to disbelieve Evolution in the first place because there is a huge amount of evidence to support it. And they're being stupid because it harms their stated goal of bringing people to God. They're Double stupid."
Your comments just proved that people do not evolve to higher levels.
And just how many scriptures teach about how God made life? Emphasis on the "how". Grand total, there can't be more than a few hundred words in Genesis about the beginning of the world. How definitive is that?
Combine this with the undeniable fact that there are dozens, perhaps hundreds of different religious denominations that follow the Bible. None of them can agree on exactly what the Bible says about a great many important things.
Of course they can't agree on Creation either. "Proof", if you're ready to accept it, that humans cannot know exactly what God is saying in the Bible. So you're so certain that Evolution isn't allowed in Genesis? I respectfully disagree.
The fact is that many denominations do believe Evolution is how "God did it".
This isn't a fight nearly so much between the faithful people and non-faithful, so much as it is a doctrinal fight like those over many other details of religious belief.
It's just that the danger is that if you listen to the Creationists who say that you must believe their way, or else you have believe that God doesn't exist at all. The sad fact is that some will choose the second. And that's not Evolution or Science's fault. That's the fault of stubborn Creationists and IDers who are being stupid by driving faithful people away from God.
Your criticism didn't touch on my point that believers are being driven away because of this unnecessary fight. I'll assume you agree with me about that.
No problem. I'm glad to respond.
It would take a huge amount of contrary evidence in many different disciplines. I'm sure you're about to send me one of the many of the list-o-links on Creationism, or ID, or whichever non-Evolutionary bent you happen to be on. You needn't bother. Been there, done that.
The fact is that there are a great many disagreements between denominations over religious issues. Important issues. This is proof that humans can't possibly read the same Bible and understand the same things.
Religious people have no leg to stand on vs. Evolution when it comes to poking holes in each others understanding of the world. There is far more agreement among scientists over Evolution than there is among religious people about God.
That's not to say that I'm not a believer myself. But I am humble enough not to pontificate about EXACTLY what some chapter in the Bible means.
Particularly when the subject of Creation isn't that important to begin with.
What do you mean, exactly?
I believe God created "chance". Therefore, he created Evolution.
Please read my other posts about how this Evolution fight damages the faith of some people who come to believe that God doesn't exist.
A Christian who builds a stumbling block that can lead someone away from God truly is stupid. Completely aside from their views on Science.
Don't have the links...wouldn't send 'em.
Just a question of thought, that's all. It usually does take pretty strong evidence to shatter someone's belief system, whether it be scientific or theological.
After we determine our beliefs, we tend to doubt or dismiss evidence to the contrary, as is our nature. Evolutionists and Creationists share this in common.
I can't disagree.
So where do you come down on my point that the Creationism/Evolution fight is itself a danger to the faith of some people? Do you agree that some people could decide there is no God because they were forced to chose between Science vs. faith?
I think the majority of people believe in Intelligent Design, or some hybrid thereof (i.e. God used evolution).
Most hard line Creationists (me) or Evolutionists are pretty solidified in their system of beliefs. To answer to question directly, no I do not see a danger in the debate. From a perspective of faith, I say pursue the truth, whatever it may or may not be.
For anyone who has had to address the "Synoptic Problems", the truth sometimes requires more in-depth research than anyone wants to put in during one lifetime. Hence the reason I think most people adhere to some form of the Intelligent Design version of creation.
Even at the cost of the salvation of another? That's cold. About a subject that isn't pivotal to any faith I know of. I'm stunned.
There are so many "truths" that could be studied in the Bible. Yet so many choose this one silly issue that really isn't that important.
You can argue many points in the Bible, pro or con. But if my goal was to destroy religion, this this is the argument that I would start.
I wonder on what side many people who write Creationist/ID publications are really on.
I lotta people have tried to out think God. Their batting average is .000 .
Believing that we were created by God, instead of evolving by chance, is CENTRAL to Christianity. One who says otherwise is making up a new, novel form of Christianity.
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