Robert Landbeck
Member
The considerable friction between evolutionists and Creationism, while having may facets, might well boil down to a singe idea that includes most of monotheism. That is the idea that man is 'created' in the image and likeness of God. The assumptions attached to this 'idea' which is so primary to much of religious identity, and yet have little scriptural warrant in detail, stand in stark contradiction to Evolution. And has been unraveling for most of history.
For a species that is so dominated by materialism, which the just past holiday period makes so self evident, so excessive that the planets very capacity of maintaining life is coming under question, it is more and more difficult to even describe ourselves a 'spiritual'. As for morality, our species being the most destructive and self destructive on the planet have little claim to that title! We might honestly call ourselves 'Aspirational' but those aspirations remain unrealized. Those wishing for a more rational, more just, a greener and peaceful planet, who hoped for a sighting, even a glimpse of that dream coming to fruition, a reflection of human intellectual, moral and spiritual progress, have been disappointed. History continues to be written otherwise! That potential within the human condition would appear to be limited, like all species by the evolutionary root to which we are tied and unattainable by any means of measure of that of human understanding both scientific or religious. Thus the question is What is it to be and how are we are created 'in the image and likeness of God' ? For which there is no compelling and satisfying answer! And without that answer, I must presume that religion, in the truest sense of the word has yet to begin!
For a species that is so dominated by materialism, which the just past holiday period makes so self evident, so excessive that the planets very capacity of maintaining life is coming under question, it is more and more difficult to even describe ourselves a 'spiritual'. As for morality, our species being the most destructive and self destructive on the planet have little claim to that title! We might honestly call ourselves 'Aspirational' but those aspirations remain unrealized. Those wishing for a more rational, more just, a greener and peaceful planet, who hoped for a sighting, even a glimpse of that dream coming to fruition, a reflection of human intellectual, moral and spiritual progress, have been disappointed. History continues to be written otherwise! That potential within the human condition would appear to be limited, like all species by the evolutionary root to which we are tied and unattainable by any means of measure of that of human understanding both scientific or religious. Thus the question is What is it to be and how are we are created 'in the image and likeness of God' ? For which there is no compelling and satisfying answer! And without that answer, I must presume that religion, in the truest sense of the word has yet to begin!
So-called "Creationism" is entirely out of proportion with the actual degree of atriction with their scriptures.
At first glance, it looks like only strict literalists would feel bothered by Evolution. But that is obviously not the case.
Could it be not so much due to what the Theory of Evolution says about the origin of species as because of the perceived lack of respect for God's plan and promise to humanity?
After all, Evolution can't ever disprove a Creator God, but by 19th century standards it may well look blasphemous and disrespectful. Those were the times of Comte's Positivism, of Manifest Destiny (a term coined in 1845, while Darwin's work took form somewhere between 1838 and 1844), of the last few decades of true pretige of the idea that Monarchs had rights given by God.
The 19th century was very troubled by the slow, painful realization by an Eurocentric society that the world was not destined to develop in such a way as to immortalize their history, yet Darwin's findings pretty much stated that humanity lucked out into its privileged position and was far more likely than not to eventually fall from it.
It is my educated guess that for many people of the time that idea was unbearable. Many Christians seem to think of their faith as basically a religion about a promise from God (not unlike Islam), and right there was a strong indication that such a stance was at odds with actual facts. Discrediting the Theory of Evolution became too much of a temptation.
Any thoughts?