The Theory of Evolution, Misunderstood.

[whereismynotecard]

I was in my mom's book shop today and she has lots of used books which she re-sells, so I was reading one which was supposed to be an educational book about babies, how they are formed and whatnot, but the title also mentioned that it was a Christian family book. I was curious as to how a factual book could be distinctively Christian, so I skimmed through it. I actually felt upset when I was through reading the bits I looked at. A huge part of the book was just attempting to refute evolution, but they defined evolution wrong. So now, any children who are taught with that book will get false information about evolution.

I don't care if people believe in god and I don't care if they try to refute evolution, but to make evolution sound like an idiotic theory by spreading false information about what the theory actually is makes me sort of frustrated. It sucks that people are teaching their children that those who believe in evolution are idiots, and it sucks that logically, the children will agree after seeing evolution as an idiotic theory based on false information.

I know there is really nothing that can be done about this, but I just wish some people would understand what the theory of evolution is before they try to say how stupid it is. If that book had been my only introduction to evolution, I would think evolution is a stupid idea too.

I'm not saying that I want everyone to believe in evolution, but it would be nice if those who oppose it so greatly actually understood the theory at least...

 

[monta]

So ,Evolution is ridiculous, but don't learn anything about it because, if you do you will start to believe it

You have to laugh.

:biglaugh:

 

[whereismynotecard]

I do love to laugh.

 

[TheKnight]

I was in my mom's book shop today and she has lots of used books which she re-sells, so I was reading one which was supposed to be an educational book about babies, how they are formed and whatnot, but the title also mentioned that it was a Christian family book. I was curious as to how a factual book could be distinctively Christian, so I skimmed through it. I actually felt upset when I was through reading the bits I looked at. A huge part of the book was just attempting to refute evolution, but they defined evolution wrong. So now, any children who are taught with that book will get false information about evolution.

I don't care if people believe in god and I don't care if they try to refute evolution, but to make evolution sound like an idiotic theory by spreading false information about what the theory actually is makes me sort of frustrated. It sucks that people are teaching their children that those who believe in evolution are idiots, and it sucks that logically, the children will agree after seeing evolution as an idiotic theory based on false information.

I know there is really nothing that can be done about this, but I just wish some people would understand what the theory of evolution is before they try to say how stupid it is. If that book had been my only introduction to evolution, I would think evolution is a stupid idea too.

I'm not saying that I want everyone to believe in evolution, but it would be nice if those who oppose it so greatly actually understood the theory at least...

If it makes you feel any better, it's not the only BS that's being dissemenated nowadays. It's just a small drop in the mighty sea of BS being spread by all sorts of different sources.

The sad thing about evolution and relgion is that you only really get problems when either side starts to make speculations and assumptions. If you just accept what we know, and stick plain to the facts, there's really no problem at all.

 

[darkendless]

If you just accept what we know, and stick plain to the facts, there's really no problem at all.

When religion is concerned this could be somehwat of a problem. Religion and facts are not always easily connected, especially when people can find verses to refute anything they want.

 

[painted wolf]

I think a big part of the problem is the fact that those who are religious literalists have a very weak faith... they need to insulate themselves from anything that could call that literalism into question.

It's easier to lie about evolution than to risk your soul.

wa:do

 

[Magic Man]

I don't care if people believe in god and I don't care if they try to refute evolution, but to make evolution sound like an idiotic theory by spreading false information about what the theory actually is makes me sort of frustrated. It sucks that people are teaching their children that those who believe in evolution are idiots, and it sucks that logically, the children will agree after seeing evolution as an idiotic theory based on false information.

But, but...that's the only way they can get their kids to believe such silliness. If they didn't spread false information about it and teach their kids a strawman version of the theory, then their kids would see the obvious and accept evolution, which, of course, could then lead to rejection of the parents' entire religion, and that would be a catastrophe.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I think a big part of the problem is the fact that those who are religious literalists have a very weak faith... they need to insulate themselves from anything that could call that literalism into question.

It's easier to lie about evolution than to risk your soul.

wa:do

My thoughts exactly!!!
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/general-religious-debates/80860-how-weak-your-faith.html

 

[TheKnight]

When religion is concerned this could be somehwat of a problem. Religion and facts are not always easily connected, especially when people can find verses to refute anything they want.

Eh. I guess it all depends on how you look at it.

 

[Sunstone]

In a way, it kind of reminds me of the tactics some folks use to attempt to scare teens off sex. That is, they lie about sex in their efforts. Here, they're lying about evolution. Can you imagine what it would be like to be a kid whose parents lied to you about evolution, sex, and maybe some other things? Maybe someday you would find out your parents were liars. I wonder if it would matter to you?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

When the truth doesn't correspond with your personal agenda, what else do you have to fall back on but lies? Other than rethinking your position, of course - but that's just silly.

 

[Nepenthe]

I think a big part of the problem is the fact that those who are religious literalists have a very weak faith... they need to insulate themselves from anything that could call that literalism into question.

It's easier to lie about evolution than to risk your soul.

wa:do

My thoughts exactly!!!
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/general-religious-debates/80860-how-weak-your-faith.html

Maybe, but saying literalists have a weak faith assumes faith is a positive thing. I like Twain's definition: "Faith is believing what you know ain't so."

At times I have to assume creationists know they're wrong yet cling to their delusions out of fear that if the book of Genesis isn't a historical account then what's to say many of the other tales in OT and NT aren't historical events?

I used to enjoy debating creationists online but really shy away from it (and rarely discuss it on RF) since it's an enormous waste of time. I just don't have the patience. That's probably why I never pursued an academic career.

Well, that and I suck as a teacher.

 

[painted wolf]

As a person of faith I do tend to think faith is a positive thing.

wa:do

 

[Nepenthe]

I know...

Maybe I should refine it to "faith in literalist interpretations of religious text".

 

[whereismynotecard]

In a way, it kind of reminds me of the tactics some folks use to attempt to scare teens off sex. That is, they lie about sex in their efforts. Here, they're lying about evolution. Can you imagine what it would be like to be a kid whose parents lied to you about evolution, sex, and maybe some other things? Maybe someday you would find out your parents were liars. I wonder if it would matter to you?

Well, first off, I was pretty upset when I found out my parents were lying about Santa Claus. It makes it harder to trust them when you know they'll lie to you in order to keep you obediant... Santa won't give you gifts if you're bad... It was all lies to scare me into being "good."

But anyway, teachers at schools and television does the same thing with drugs too. I know there are some drugs that can really **** you up, but some of them aren't so bad, and schools try to trick you into thinking they'll all kill you... It's stupid, really. If adults would just tell their children what is and what isn't, without sugar-coating or exagerating anything, it would be better:

If you have sex, you might get STDs, and you might get pregnant, but if you use protection, you probably won't. If you smoke marajuana, you might get lung cancer, but it's no worse than smoking cigarettes. But don't smoke cigarettes, because you could easily get addicted.

 

[TheKnight]

In a way, it kind of reminds me of the tactics some folks use to attempt to scare teens off sex. That is, they lie about sex in their efforts. Here, they're lying about evolution. Can you imagine what it would be like to be a kid whose parents lied to you about evolution, sex, and maybe some other things? Maybe someday you would find out your parents were liars. I wonder if it would matter to you?

I agree. Part of the problem with our current education system is that kids are told lies because "they can't handle the truth." The sad thing is, like it or not, most kids will eventually figure out the truth and when they find out that you lied to them all their gonna do is not listen to you anymore. Hence the large amount of disobedient children.

Maybe, but saying literalists have a weak faith assumes faith is a positive thing. I like Twain's definition: "Faith is believing what you know ain't so."

I agree with this also. Faith is foolish in my opinion.

At times I have to assume creationists know they're wrong yet cling to their delusions out of fear that if the book of Genesis isn't a historical account then what's to say many of the other tales in OT and NT aren't historical events?

I think it's more that a lot of creationists do not really understand what evolution is. I used to see evolution as false (when I was a Christian) but then I realized that there really isn't any conflict between religion and evolution.

Well, first off, I was pretty upset when I found out my parents were lying about Santa Claus. It makes it harder to trust them when you know they'll lie to you in order to keep you obediant... Santa won't give you gifts if you're bad... It was all lies to scare me into being "good."

But anyway, teachers at schools and television does the same thing with drugs too. I know there are some drugs that can really **** you up, but some of them aren't so bad, and schools try to trick you into thinking they'll all kill you... It's stupid, really. If adults would just tell their children what is and what isn't, without sugar-coating or exagerating anything, it would be better:

If you have sex, you might get STDs, and you might get pregnant, but if you use protection, you probably won't. If you smoke marajuana, you might get lung cancer, but it's no worse than smoking cigarettes. But don't smoke cigarettes, because you could easily get addicted.

All too true. If schools and parents would be honest. Chances are their children won't end up doing the wrong thing. When they lie to their children, when educators lie to those they're teaching, and they find out that you're lying (it's not if, it's when), then they're going to stop trusting you.

The worst mistake an educator (be it parent or teacher or mentor) can make is to teach morality with immoral tactics.

 

[tumbleweed41]

Well, first off, I was pretty upset when I found out my parents were lying about Santa Claus.

Wait....what? What's this about Santa!!!!
Please, tell me he's real!!!!:run:

 

[whereismynotecard]

Wait....what? What's this about Santa!!!!
Please, tell me he's real!!!!:run:

I'm not even going to lie to you... It would just make this all the more crushing if I let you continue to believe the lie... So I'll tell you the truth: Santa... is dead.

 

[Chuckii]

I was curious as to how a factual book could be distinctively Christian, so I skimmed through it. I actually felt upset when I was through reading the bits I looked at. A huge part of the book was just attempting to refute evolution, but they defined evolution wrong. So now, any children who are taught with that book will get false information about evolution.

Out of interest; what exactly did the book say? How was it incorrect? (NB I fully believe in evolution, am very curious as to how it interpreted evolution)

 

[whereismynotecard]

Out of interest; what exactly did the book say? How was it incorrect? (NB I fully believe in evolution, am very curious as to how it interpreted evolution)

I don't recall exactly, and I don't have the book with me, but I know at one point it was refuting the idea that embryos went through stages of evolution in the womb as they developed, such as a "lizard-like stage" and a "bird-like stage" and there was something else, but I honestly don't remember what it was... If I can find the book again later, maybe I'll quote something from it.

Oh! I remember that it was saying stuff about scientists who believe some organs are "useless left-overs" from evolution are wrong, because they used to think tonsils were useless left-overs and would remove healthy ones, even though they do have some sort of use. They made no mention of the appendix, however, whose only use is to possibly rupture and kill you...