I've Sacrificed my belief in Evolution for Religion

[NathantheProfit]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

 

[sayak83]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

Is this meant to be sarcastic? Why would you join something that you know to be propounding false ideas about reality?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Why are you going to back to the JWs? Because you really believe it or just to fit in with your family?

 

[Jesster]

I don't understand why you would want to manipulate your thinking like this. Why reject the evidence to try to fit in? This goes far beyond just pretending to believe what others do just to appease them. I'm not even sure it's possible to choose your beliefs like this anyway.

I think all you can do is look at the evidence and form your beliefs based on what shows up. If the results are different from what you would prefer to believe, oh well. I guess you'll have to pretend.

 

[YmirGF]

Is this meant to be sarcastic? Why would you join something that you know to be propounding false ideas about reality?

Talk about Psychological Pretzel Making 101

 

[Sunstone]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

Basically, you're trying to betray your true self or nature. I can imagine very few things more foolish.

 

[SomeRandom]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

Why would you even want to do that? Reject your God given brain to become a dullard. (Note that is not a shot at any religious belief structure.) Isn't that insulting to God? And why would you want to twist your mental facilities to accept a lie in your own mind? That's just plain stupidity, not faith.

 

[idav]

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

Humans have the knack of being able to imagine all sorts of things. Pick one of those imaginings and place conviction in it, that’s faith in what is not seen. Of course, for most people it’s easier to believe what we see but it’s posible to believe what ever fancy you like.

 

[NathantheProfit]

Why are you going to back to the JWs? Because you really believe it or just to fit in with your family?

Yes. I'm in desperate need of help.

In the past I've been able to will myself to believe all sorts of absurd things. I used to think that 80% of the world was clones. Lately I'm too level-headed to will myself into accepting radical beliefs like that.

My logic tells me if I could believe that 80% of the world is clones I could formulate a theory that I could believe in about either an unmoved mover or an eternal dimension that could somehow create life.

I think an eternal dimension that is connected to all other universes (I assume there is an infinite amount [though that belief is also forbidden by J.W doctrine]) and is powered by the chemistry that produces the most powerful emotions could be a sustainable model. It paints an origin picture without either a material universe from nothing or an infinite regress of universes. It raises questions as well but not as many as is raised by believing in pure naturalism, in my opinion.

 

[Father Heathen]

Talk about Psychological Pretzel Making 101

Exactly. It would only be a practice in denial and self-deceit. That's the sad thing about many religions; they fracture families over no win ultimatums.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

Dont.

Evolution isnt a belief system. Follow JW (if thats in Your heart) and focus building your spiritual self.

How does believing in evolution affect your belief in christ? It has no stipulations, no traditions, and no culture. Instead of changing your logic, ignore it for whats more important to you.

For example, I know christ exist in the eucharist. I dont need to get rid of that to follow The Dharma. It has its place. I dont entertain it. It just is.

 

[LuisDantas]

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

You don't. Not if you care for your own sanity and environment.

 

[NathantheProfit]

I don't understand why you would want to manipulate your thinking like this. Why reject the evidence to try to fit in? This goes far beyond just pretending to believe what others do just to appease them. I'm not even sure it's possible to choose your beliefs like this anyway.

I think all you can do is look at the evidence and form your beliefs based on what shows up. If the results are different from what you would prefer to believe, oh well. I guess you'll have to pretend.

I treat my mind like a Ginea pig. I'm an epistemic utilitarian. Utility is more important than truth, in theory. I only act this way because I'm not in a position of power and have no influence. If I was a teacher I wouldn't be acting this way.

Right now I still 'believe' in evolution. It's like I'm fat and and if I want to stay fat I just need to keep not exercising. That's a horrible analogy, but oh well.

I'll probably go insane trying to convince myself that the agent that created the iphone and traveled to the moon didn't ascend from microscopic bacteria.

 

[sun rise]

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

My answer is that you really can't.

To me, the issue is a false dichotomy. I have no problem believing in God and in evolution as the working out of God's will. This is not science but it is not opposed to science either. Atheists might object to a theory that God guides evolution in a way that makes it look like an random process. But no one can prove this idea true or false - it's in the realm of belief not science.

But don't the JW's insist that you adopt each and every piece of their doctrine? If so, I personally can't go along with such an authoritarian system.

 

[Subduction Zone]

My answer is that you really can't.

To me, the issue is a false dichotomy. I have no problem believing in God and in evolution as the working out of God's will. This is not science but it is not opposed to science either. Atheists might object to a theory that God guides evolution in a way that makes it look like an random process. But no one can prove this idea true or false - it's in the realm of belief not science.

But don't the JW's insist that you adopt each and every piece of their doctrine? If so, I personally can't go along with such an authoritarian system.

You don't even need a God to guide evolution. An omniscient omnipotent God could have set the universe up so that life evolved as he wished. Or he could have made enough worlds so that intelligent life had to evolve on some of them.

 

[FlyingTeaPot]

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

You can manipulate your logical facilities into submission by suspending them altogether. You cannot genuinely reject that which is demonstrably true. You can, however, genuinely accept creation (as in, some thing had to have created everything. The name that you give this something is up to you.)

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

This is a joke, right?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I treat my mind like a Ginea pig. I'm an epistemic utilitarian. Utility is more important than truth, in theory. I only act this way because I'm not in a position of power and have no influence. If I was a teacher I wouldn't be acting this way.

Let me have a crack at this, since I have some small understanding.
I decided long ago I wasn't especially interested or invested in whether free will is an actual thing, or merely an illusion.

My thinking here is that I am best to act as if free will is real. For me, that maximises me taking ownership of my own actions, personal responsibility, and to maintain my sunny, optimistic, and otherwise amazing personality.

I don't try to do this by convincing myself that free will is real. I simply acknowledge to myself that there is utility in acting as if it is.

So, if you're determined to follow the JWs because...err...stuff....despite not believing in a key tenet of their faith, I would humbly suggest you simply acknowledge to yourself (if no one else) the truth of your position and why you hold it.

Much less intellectually dishonest, and even more importantly less fooling yourself, which is one epically bad habit to get into.

 

[Jumi]

I treat my mind like a Ginea pig. I'm an epistemic utilitarian. Utility is more important than truth, in theory. I only act this way because I'm not in a position of power and have no influence.

You have a position of power over yourself, are you not also important? If you treat yourself cruelly, how will you know love for fellow humans?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

I've recently committed to rejoining my family's religion (the Jehovah's Witnesses). In doing so I'm obligated to give up my belief in evolution. This is hard for me because I find evolution so logical.

To combat my resistance to rejecting evolution, I've been researching all the objections to evolution and studying all the arguments for creation. It's not working. I can't seem to give up my belief in evolution, despite the fact that it goes against Jehovah's Witness theology.

What should i do?

How do I manipulate my logical facilities so that I can genuinely reject evolution and genuinely accept creation?

Pray to Jehovah.
Meditate on 1 Corinthians 2:11-15 and do some digging (research) in the JW Online Library about those verses' meanings.

You have to make the truth your own, i.e., prove to yourself that what the Bible really teaches is accurate. That takes time for research and meditation, and prayer to Jehovah.

You can only worship Jehovah for yourself, you have to be genuine. You can't do it just to please others. Again, you're just starting out to learn....give yourself some time and effort studying the Scriptures, and ask for Jehovah's help. I'm sure those studying with you..... is that a family member?.....will want to help.

If you require help with gaining a better understanding of ID,
I'll provide it later.

Or search for Stephen Meyer on YouTube.

Take care.