Religions and Evolution- why can’t they coexist?

[Peace4all]

Religions and Evolution- why can’t they coexist?

I know the topic of evolution has probably been beaten to death- so here I present a new idea. It seems to me that there are two sides; “Its all god side” and the “We all evolved from apes side”. Don’t both theories have middle ground?

The idea that It went fish-monkeys-humans seems kind of like an extreme to me. On the other hand, complete denial of the theory of evolutions seems extreme also. What if god initially created humans and the universe, then other species adapt their characteristics based on their needs for survival in that given environment.

Am I making sense?

 

[Popeyesays]

I believe in both. One can watch the development of a human fetus and watch the fetus pass through fish, amphibian, reptile, and mammal. At the same time one be amazed at the greatness of God and the intricacy of a natural process.

Regards,
Scott

 

[angellous_evangellous]

They can co-exist, as long as your religion accepts evolution.

 

[Francine]

I believe in both. One can watch the development of a human fetus and watch the fetus pass through fish, amphibian, reptile, and mammal.

Roe vs. Wade allows women to abort the fetus when it's still in the reptile stage. And righties have a problem with that.

 

[Autodidact]

Religions and Evolution- why can’t they coexist?

I know the topic of evolution has probably been beaten to death- so here I present a new idea. It seems to me that there are two sides; “Its all god side” and the “We all evolved from apes side”. Don’t both theories have middle ground?

The idea that It went fish-monkeys-humans seems kind of like an extreme to me. On the other hand, complete denial of the theory of evolutions seems extreme also. What if god initially created humans and the universe, then other species adapt their characteristics based on their needs for survival in that given environment.

Am I making sense?

It depends on whether you take much stock in science. If so then no.

However, millions of people see no contradiction between the truth of the theory of evolution and their belief that God created the Universe--they just believe that God created evolution.

 

[Popeyesays]

It depends on whether you take much stock in science. If so then no.

However, millions of people see no contradiction between the truth of the theory of evolution and their belief that God created the Universe--they just believe that God created evolution.

Quite true, guess we can agree sometimes.

Regards,
Scott

 

[Draka]

I actually think a lot of people believe they co-exist. Many believers, regardless of religion, have no problem with believing that a deity created everything through evolution and other scientific principles. I mean, if you believe in some deity, and that they had some hand in creating everything, then it should stand to reason that they had a hand in creating the scientific forces that rule our world. Therefore, it is quite reasonable to assume that deity created via science.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Evolution cannot account for emergence. The sum is sometimes awesomely more than the constituent parts, and this creative capacity of the cosmos is magical.

 

[Peace4all]

Evolution cannot account for emergence. The sum is sometimes awesomely more than the constituent parts, and this creative capacity of the cosmos is magical.

Right on. When people try to account evolution for our existence it becomes fictitious rather than scientific.

 

[Fluffy]

Plenty of people believe in the theory of evolution and also believe in God. In fact, probably the majority of people who accept the theory of evolution are also theistic.

 

[Somkid]

Because god is fiction and evolution is fact it is that simple.

 

[Fluffy]

Because god is fiction and evolution is fact it is that simple.

*shrugs* demonstrate that god is fiction. It certainly shouldn't be a proposition accepted by science.

 

[logician]

Plenty of people believe in the theory of evolution and also believe in God. In fact, probably the majority of people who accept the theory of evolution are also theistic.

That doesn't prove anything about the actual existence of some god.

 

[Smoke]

Because god is fiction and evolution is fact it is that simple.

But that doesn't mean one head can't hold them both.

I think what's hard for theists, oddly enough, is letting go of their anthropocentric viewpoint. Many theists believe in evolution, but believe god guided the process, giving a little nudge here and there to achieve the desired result -- our species. Others believe god set the cosmos up as a kind of wonderful machine that could run on its own and eventually produce our species. What's more difficult is for theists to really face up to the implications of natural selection, one of which is that there's no particular reason why it should necessarily have led to rise of our species, and another of which is that the process can reasonably be expected to go on after our species has died out. Evolution implies that we aren't as special, or as central to the plans of god, as we like to think we are -- that we are not the chief end of the cosmos -- and that's difficult for most theists to accept. However, they can do it; Kenneth Miller, for example, can look reality in the face and feel that it enhances his belief in god.

 

[Fluffy]

That doesn't prove anything about the actual existence of some god.

I agree. However, the OP implied that the compatibility of the two beliefs is unusual. I disagreed.

 

[Autodidact]

Evolution cannot account for emergence. The sum is sometimes awesomely more than the constituent parts, and this creative capacity of the cosmos is magical.

Well, since the only thing that evolution tries to explain is the diversity of species, I don't see why it should.

 

[Azakel]

But that doesn't mean one head can't hold them both.

I think what's hard for theists, oddly enough, is letting go of their anthropocentric viewpoint. Many theists believe in evolution, but believe god guided the process, giving a little nudge here and there to achieve the desired result -- our species. Others believe god set the cosmos up as a kind of wonderful machine that could run on its own and eventually produce our species. What's more difficult is for theists to really face up to the implications of natural selection, one of which is that there's no particular reason why it should necessarily have led to rise of our species, and another of which is that the process can reasonably be expected to go on after our species has died out. Evolution implies that we aren't as special, or as central to the plans of god, as we like to think we are -- that we are not the chief end of the cosmos -- and that's difficult for most theists to accept. However, they can do it; Kenneth Miller, for example, can look reality in the face and feel that it enhances his belief in god.

I do believe in Evolution, I'm not sure if the Gods all have a part in it or not really.

 

[Somkid]

This is one of those topics that goes nowhere those who believe will not change their minds no matter how much evidence is provided instead they have lack of evidence or empirical truth those who do not believe are willing to change their minds if there is proof and evidence so, I would say just like in situations in life the burden of proof is on the theists as the atheists have made all the valid arguments and the theists are not willing to see reason.

 

[Autodidact]

This is one of those topics that goes nowhere those who believe will not change their minds no matter how much evidence is provided instead they have lack of evidence or empirical truth those who do not believe are willing to change their minds if there is proof and evidence so, I would say just like in situations in life the burden of proof is on the theists as the atheists have made all the valid arguments and the theists are not willing to see reason.

Actually I have seen creationists change their minds. Many of them have no idea what the theory of evolution is or what the evidence is in support of it. Once they understand it, many find it quite reasonable. Maybe that's why proponents of creationism don't want the truth about the theory of evolution taught in schools.

 

[Draka]

But that doesn't mean one head can't hold them both.

I think what's hard for theists, oddly enough, is letting go of their anthropocentric viewpoint. Many theists believe in evolution, but believe god guided the process, giving a little nudge here and there to achieve the desired result -- our species. Others believe god set the cosmos up as a kind of wonderful machine that could run on its own and eventually produce our species. What's more difficult is for theists to really face up to the implications of natural selection, one of which is that there's no particular reason why it should necessarily have led to rise of our species, and another of which is that the process can reasonably be expected to go on after our species has died out. Evolution implies that we aren't as special, or as central to the plans of god, as we like to think we are -- that we are not the chief end of the cosmos -- and that's difficult for most theists to accept. However, they can do it; Kenneth Miller, for example, can look reality in the face and feel that it enhances his belief in god.

I believe that it is entirely possible for a deity to have set everything in motion. I do not, however, believe that we are, or ever were, the end goal. That would be very egotistical of us to believe. First off, we are not taking into account life on other planets in other areas of the universe. Second, who's to say we are done evolving? It's pretty sad if we are the pinnacle of the evolutionary ladder. We're not done yet. We could be what our common ape-like ancestor is to us to whatever we become in the future. Whatever we eventually become could look into the past and study us and think of us as we study and think of our evolutionary ancestors.