Creation vs Evolution

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Originally posted by Steve Winer


Excellent point, cgannon64. There the Christians and Evolutionists can have common ground. Great Idea.:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

I must disagree. Religious beliefs commonly lapse the judgement of scientists. I was in a bio seminar, and the instructor actually said, "When God made us." That absolutely sickened me. Believe what you will, but just remember: if God made us, what made God?
 
Originally posted by Steve Winer


Excellent point, cgannon64. There the Christians and Evolutionists can have common ground. Great Idea.:goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

Actually, it's a very old idea, and it hasn't helped evolutionists and creationists find MUCH common ground yet. ;) There are a plethora of Creationist's theories that try to fit in evolution too, (Scofield's idea, modern gap theory, prophetic day theory, day-age theory, pictorial day theory/sacred week theory etc.) yet we still argue here. :D Truth is, atheists have no reason to need to believe in God and literal day creationists have no need to believe in evolution. :king:


Originally posted by newfangle
I was in a bio seminar, and the instructor actually said, "When God made us." That absolutely sickened me. Believe what you will, but just remember: if God made us, what made God?

I was reading my biology book when the author actually said, "When mammels evolved millions of years ago..." That absolutely sickend me. Believe what you will, but just remember: if the universe spawned us, what spawned the universe?
 
Originally posted by Becka

Believe what you will, but just remember: if the universe spawned us, what spawned the universe?


A series of random collisions, geese what Hawking have you been reading :crazyeye: .
 
Originally posted by newfangle
A series of random collisions, geese what Hawking have you been reading :crazyeye: .
As brilliant as Hawking is, he is just one voice in many. I also don't recall his thoughts on atheism.

Also keep in mind that there are many religious texts in the world, some older and some newer than the Christian Bible. Is the Creation that is being discussed here ONLY Christian Creation theory? I often find that arguments get very heated when both sides are using the exact same words, but loaded with VERY different meanings. For example, you mention Catholic School in your upbringing, and if my math is correct this has accounted for more than 2/3 of your life. That's intense (seriously).

Perhaps this affects your view on things in a way that I can't understand, having nothing comparable in my life. I have no problem understanding a world where a version of Creation caused a Universe which includes the Theory of Evolution. And I figure most people will land on one side or the other from my opinion, and few if any will likely see my views exactly.
 
Originally posted by Sanaz
As brilliant as Hawking is, he is just one voice in many. I also don't recall his thoughts on atheism.

One reason Hawking is a genius: he never brings up theology at his seminars. ;) :lol:


Originally posted by Sanaz
Also keep in mind that there are many religious texts in the world, some older and some newer than the Christian Bible. Is the Creation that is being discussed here ONLY Christian Creation theory? I often find that arguments get very heated when both sides are using the exact same words, but loaded with VERY different meanings. For example, you mention Catholic School in your upbringing, and if my math is correct this has accounted for more than 2/3 of your life. That's intense (seriously).

The reason is quite simple: Christianity, with 1 billion followers (I believe) is the largest in the world.

Originally posted by newfangle
That absolutely sickened me. Believe what you will, but just remember: if God made us, what made God?

You are obviously an atheist. I think EVERY religion believes that God has always existed, and always will. You may respond that "Well, He had to have been made by something..." but then you get into the mental trap: a God made by a God made by a God made by, etc. (sort of like the Earth on a turtle on a turtle... ;) :lol: ).

CG
 
Originally posted by cgannon64
You are obviously an atheist. I think EVERY religion believes that God has always existed, and always will. You may respond that "Well, He had to have been made by something..." but then you get into the mental trap: a God made by a God made by a God made by, etc. (sort of like the Earth on a turtle on a turtle... ;) :lol: ).

CG

I don't see what problem people have with a God whose always existed. :confused: I mean, if He can create our universe and the world, why can't He create our perception of time too? :hmm: Ah well.
 
Originally posted by Becka


I don't see what problem people have with a God whose always existed. :confused: I mean, if He can create our universe and the world, why can't He create our perception of time too? :hmm: Ah well.

You are right Becka. Catholic doctrine (I think) states that God is outside of time, therefore he has always existed and always will, because times does not effect Him.

CG
 
Originally posted by DamnCommie


You've been making a heck of a lot of sense in this thread up till now, but I have to take issue with this one assertion.
The entire goal of science is to formulate an hypothesis, and then try to disprove it in as many possible ways as the entire scientific community can come up with.
When a hypothesis accumulates enough evidence to back it, and resists all attempts to dissprove it for long enough, then you call it a theory (like evolution). A definite answer would be a block to continued learning. There is always more about a thing that can be known, and studied. This is what drives most of us to be scientists in the first place. Love of learning.

To those of you saying that evolution is "just" a theory, you should keep in mind that gravity, electricity, magnetism, the cellular basis of life, and many other things are also "just theories". The difference is, they don't happen to conflict with any religious dogma, so the only one's still questioning and testing them are the scientists themselves.

If you folks who claim to really doubt the theory of evolution, my recommendation to you would be to sign up for some biology courses, and become evolutionary biologists. Sharp minds and fresh perspectives are generally welcome in any scientific field. Then, when you understand the vast evidence (archaeological, ecological, and genetic evidence mind you, evidence from vastly different fields, all pointing to the same conclusion.... hmmmmm) supporting the theory you will be in a far better position to attempt to refute the evolutionary model, by testing its predictions scientifically. You will no doubt encounter some resistance, but if your data is good, and demonstrates a clear problem with the theory, then the theory will be replaced, or at least adjusted to fit with your new data. That, my friends, is science.

This may sound a bit tongue in cheek, but I am in fact very serious. If you feel strongly against a thing, don't just sit here and blather incoherent, half-baked reasons why its wrong over the internet. Get out there and hit the books. Learn as much about it as you can and try to formulate actual reasons and present them to the scientific community for review.


I agree with you, wholeheartedly.

I didn't say that science has these 'definite facts' at hand.
That is what scientific formulation is about, dissecting the data, until there is no doubt.

But I am not attempting to argue for either side.
It pointless, because most here have made their minds up already...
You can talk sense all day to some people, but if they have been rasied on a certain flavour of dogma, it is hard to get around that.

I am for evolution because the alternative is illogical (to me).
 
Some evolutionary evidence

Fossil Record - Fossils that shows an increase in complexity over time.

Genetic links- We share many of the same garbage genes as our evolutionary cousins which slowly decreses with evolutionary distance

Vistigial Organs, Useless bodyparts that are inherited from evolutionary ancesters, an example would be whale pelvises

I'm come back later when I think of more
 
My Catholic schooling only fueled my distaste for religious formalism. I don't like any of the christian churches' views on liberal rights, such as homesexuality, premarital sex, masturbation, abortion, as well as the power of the church that is used improperly.
Ah well. By gones......

Just know now that I find the idea of a God quite unrealistic. (I think this post may have shifted my agnostic beliefs fully to atheism).
 
Some thoughts.

According to creationism, God created the stars to light the Earth. The first star, however, didn't appear in the Earth sky till four years after Creation. All that we see today took a million and a half years, that is, the span of our Galaxy in ltyrs. The Jews believe the Earth to be around 4000-5000 years old, IIRC. The age of the Earth according to the Christians never came within half of the current 4 bil year age predicted by U238-Pb dating, which is unimpeachable since it relies on simple math and known chemical data. Quite simply Uranium decays at a constant rate to Lead [it takes 4.5 x 10^9 yrs for 100 g of U to convert to 50 g U and product lead]. By measuring the ratios of U and Pb in rock, we can get an average guess of the age of that rock.

Regarding the arguments pertaining to intelligent life I have nothing to say, except maybe life has formed that doesn't follow the same chemical model as we humans? That is entirely different and unexpected? Thus throwing off the calculations...

"Well, the popes you are talking about had mistresses and answered to secular nations."

That's putting it lightly. Have you heard of Lucrezia Borgia?

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 1 Cor 3:19,20"

Taking into context, I hope, that Jesus was firmly antiestablishment and in every way a rebel, consorting with the lower levels of society like pubkeepers and tax collectors, and therefore would take any chance to dismiss the status quo, especially wisdom and science which was a big industry back then, especially among the Jews, who preserve that tradition today! ;)

"Even if i didn't believe the bible and take it as truth, i'd be more willing to take the big leap to believe in god, than the millions of big
leaps to believe in evolution."

On the contrary, that is why they call it a LEAP OF FAITH: because faith is literally a leap, a skip of logic. Logic is dropping a pencil 100 times and predicting it will fall the same way on trial 101. Faith is believing I can part the Red Sea God willing. Logic is medicine, faith is resurrection. Logic is science, faith is mysticism - Jesus was a mystic himself, as was Moses.

There are NO leaps of faith in REAL SCIENCE, only hypotheses and syntheses. Yes, there is quack science. But nowhere in real, credible science are the massive gaps and suspensions of belief as there are, on a regular basis, in faith.

Not insulting faith, btw! ;)

"Let's put it this way, 6 days to God is alot of years to us."

This is a standard example of CBD, that is, Christian Back-Down. In the Middle Ages you would have been burned for heresy for saying that. Now you're seen as a moderate. As science uncovers more truth you will need to change your interpretation of the literal word to fit what is undeniably true. For example, no Christian says the Earth is flat anymore, although dogma supported that long ago... already the words are twisted way beyond what the actual scribes of the Bible believed they were saying. To keep up with truth, faith will soon be unrecognizable to us at the crossroads. Sad :(

"Technically, Pythagora only has a theory too."

TheorEM. A proven theorY.

Neither creationism nor evolution is a theorem, that is neither are proved - or IMHO provable.

"
Originally posted by CurtSibling
Belief in god cannot repair a broken machine or cure a disease.



Sure?"

Hasn't been tested. Can't know for sure.

"a monkey doesn't turn into a man."

Common misconception of evolution. Man and monkey aren't parent and child, they are like cousins evolving from a common ancestor, which is now extinct because its niche was stolen by the apes and man. Man started to diverge from apedom a few million years ago. And YES, we do have austrolopethici/neanderthal skeletons that DO prove that humans were once more apelike.

"
If you folks who claim to really doubt the theory of evolution, my recommendation to you would be to sign up for some biology
courses, and become evolutionary biologists. Sharp minds and fresh perspectives are generally welcome in any scientific field. Then,
when you understand the vast evidence (archaeological, ecological, and genetic evidence mind you, evidence from vastly different
fields, all pointing to the same conclusion.... hmmmmm) supporting the theory you will be in a far better position to attempt to refute
the evolutionary model, by testing its predictions scientifically. You will no doubt encounter some resistance, but if your data is good,
and demonstrates a clear problem with the theory, then the theory will be replaced, or at least adjusted to fit with your new data.
That, my friends, is science.

This may sound a bit tongue in cheek, but I am in fact very serious. If you feel strongly against a thing, don't just sit here and
blather incoherent, half-baked reasons why its wrong over the internet. Get out there and hit the books. Learn as much about it as
you can and try to formulate actual reasons and present them to the scientific community for review."

That's what I plan to do. I have some problems with the current model of astronomy and I'm going into that career personally. But that's nothing to do with evolution....

By the way, Jesus was advocating a pretty strong social revolution HERE on Earth, no matter what he said about heaven. Most Christians seem to ignore his protoleninist preaching however. That's convenient because a moderate gains more support than a revolutionary, even a revolutionary Son Of God.

"If your Catholic school taught you that life is predetermined, they could be excommunicated,"

Is excommunication literally a part of Catholic theology to this day? No kidding? Woah.
 
Originally posted by The Troquelet
Some thoughts.

According to creationism, God created the stars to light the Earth. The first star, however, didn't appear in the Earth sky till four years after Creation. All that we see today took a million and a half years, that is, the span of our Galaxy in ltyrs. The Jews believe the Earth to be around 4000-5000 years old, IIRC. The age of the Earth according to the Christians never came within half of the current 4 bil year age predicted by U238-Pb dating, which is unimpeachable since it relies on simple math and known chemical data. Quite simply Uranium decays at a constant rate to Lead [it takes 4.5 x 10^9 yrs for 100 g of U to convert to 50 g U and product lead]. By measuring the ratios of U and Pb in rock, we can get an average guess of the age of that rock.

Please stop mentioning Bible literalism. I think most (or all) of the "creationists" that have posted in this thread have agreed that the Bible, when taking literally, is full of holes, like the ones you mentioned. I and others have agreed on this: you must look at the Bible in the context it was written (500 BC science), not in the context now. A 5000 year-old earth made a whole lotta sense back then; not now.

Originally posted by The Troqulet
Taking into context, I hope, that Jesus was firmly antiestablishment and in every way a rebel, consorting with the lower levels of society like pubkeepers and tax collectors, and therefore would take any chance to dismiss the status quo, especially wisdom and science which was a big industry back then, especially among the Jews, who preserve that tradition today! ;)

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but: Jesus and the Bible writers weren't scienists. They probably had very little knowledge of the world compared to what we have today. I have made this arguement before, but I'll make it again: If Jesus went up and said "God created the universe in 14 billion years, and we evolved (that term didn't even exist then, for goodness sakes!) from apes." We would be dismissed as another crackpot. We shouldn't go around beleiving the scientific theories of 2500 year old men. If we did, the world would still be flat and the universe revolves around the earth. (BTW, I'm agreeing with you, Troqulet!)



This is a standard example of CBD, that is, Christian Back-Down. In the Middle Ages you would have been burned for heresy for saying that. Now you're seen as a moderate. As science uncovers more truth you will need to change your interpretation of the literal word to fit what is undeniably true. For example, no Christian says the Earth is flat anymore, although dogma supported that long ago... already the words are twisted way beyond what the actual scribes of the Bible believed they were saying. To keep up with truth, faith will soon be unrecognizable to us at the crossroads. Sad :(



Pretty much what I was saying, but better said. ;) :D


Is excommunication literally a part of Catholic theology to this day? No kidding? Woah.

I think the last guy excommunicated was in the late 1800s/early 1900s for teaching his villagers (he was a missionary) some pretty wacky stuff. They don't really do it anymore, I was just trying to make a point. I never really was a fan of excommunication; I don't think Popes should have the power to ban people from Heaven.

CG
 
"In the beginning, God..."

If you can deal with that much, the first line on the first page, then the rest is simple. I happen to be all for literalism, where possible, but Genesis 1 is not such a place. Even there however there is substance without form. Look closely and you will see that the Bible does not speak of creation out of nothing, but of giving form to what was already there.

Concerning scientists. Many a respected theorist, biological or physical, has taken the stance that evolution does not explain everything. This is the jumping off point for his/her own theory. Even Darwin freely admitted that his premise is flawed in the transitions. There are major jumps in the whole thread, no matter how it is constructed. Stellar evolution has problems with the initiation sequence. Planetary evolution has problems with atmospherics. biological eveolution has problems with cell formation, organ development, speciation, specialization and so on. So we get the "Galactic Seed" theory, and the "Big Bang", etc., all "legitimate" scientific theories.

A scientist who is a person of faith, and many of the very best are people of faith, puts the issue aside and concentrates on the mechanics that can be understood now. To me it is incomprehensible how anyone can look at the world and its subtly interlocking intricacies and not see a guiding hand behind it. It is as logical as finding a guiding hand behind the creation of a watch found in a forest. In other words whether one chooses to believe that the world is painted by an artist, or that a massive exploding star managed to spit out a PC, the study is in the means and methods.

J
 
Does there have to be a definitive answer?

Some questions have no answer, but are merely philisophical.

"If a man speaks in a forest, but there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong?"
 
I'm playing the devil's advocate here to perhaps give some insight as to why I believe in Creationism rather than evolutionism.

Originally posted by Perfection
Some evolutionary evidence

Fossil Record - Fossils that shows an increase in complexity over time.

What if there are flaws? Since I have neither the know-how nor the time or money to do my own research, I have to have faith that the scientists weren't 1.) horribly biased 2.) grossly incompetent or 4.) poorly educated. What if they miss or purposely ignore something important? Keep in mind, I don't doubt that scientists trying to support creationism would do the EXACT same thing, though. ;)

When I think of how many fairly "complete", say, t-rex skeletons we have discovered (I have NO idea how many this is, probably only a few) and then I think how many "complete" skeletons of man's anscestors (anscestors that were more man than ape or whatever), I see a discrepency. Shouldn't there be at least as many remains of early man (NOT modern human, I mean) if not more than there are of some species (like dinosaurs) that lived before man evolved? :confused: I would think that the span of time between the death of the dinosaurs and the time which we dug them back up again would be ample time for many more fossilized specimens to be destroyed through natural causes.
And to a layman like me, it seems that everytime they find remains of early man, all they have is a TOOTH, or a thigh, or a jaw, or a skull, or if we're really lucky, a tooth, thigh, jaw AND skull. :p Then however many months/years/whatever later, we learn that that was NOT remains of early man, but part of it was from a monkey, and the rest was from a "modern" human. Or worse yet, it was a hoax. :ack: Or somebody gives reasons that the remains are not human or something, and again, one does not have time/money/oppertunity/education to study these things deeper. Even if you went to library and aquired books about the subject, they would likely be (or at least seem) biased towards one theory or another. I get so confused I don't know WHAT to believe anymore, so I just get sick of it all and give up. :cringe:


Genetic links- We share many of the same garbage genes as our evolutionary cousins which slowly decreses with evolutionary distance


To a layman, that is much more complicated to understand, but a much better point than the fossil record.


Vistigial Organs, Useless bodyparts that are inherited from evolutionary ancesters, an example would be whale pelvises

Another place where we've been burned. Years ago they thought there were a LOT of vestigial organs. Then they figured out what a lot of them do. Some of them, not yet, and maybe they don't have a function, but it makes you wary to accept it.
 
Now this is not an attempt to attack anyone's precious beliefs.
I felt like commenting on this thread today...
But can any pro-creation posters explain/confirm this;

You believe in god; therefore you are convinced that everything you say about creation is correct and unchallengeable? Correct?

Well say I announce that I think that the universe revolves around a static Earth, which is flat.
And that the world was created by Santa Claus.

What makes your beliefs any more feasible than mine?
Because more people are adhering to the christian creation theory?
Nope.
By creationist logic my beliefs are real and infallible because "I said so!"
That is the way I see creationist's arguments.
You offer no real challenge to evolution, only a childish refusal to accept anything other that the viewpoint that a mythical god created earth and its creatures.

(This is my view)

Obviously Science has shown us that the Earth revolves around a predictable orbit and is quite spherical, but you must see my point.
Just because you all believe something does this mean it is true?
I know this goes for Evolution too, but I am talking about logical thought here.

In my view the universe created the earth naturally, much the same principle as a rock formation is formed on earth.
Only on a grand scale...
In my view and the creatures on this planet evolved due to perfect environmental conditions on this world for life.

Please try and see beyond dogma handed down from non-scientific clerics from an ancient age.
2000 years ago the world was a different place, why set stock in the words of someone from that time...
500 years ago was an ignorant time even.
Creationists, please accept that your religion does not answer everything, as it was written by people who had never even seen anything as advanced a bicycle.

Why people from a mighty and advanced nation like America should ditch science in favour of illogical thought is beyond me.

People...feh!

:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by cgannon64
I don't think Popes should have the power to ban people from Heaven.

CG

I think you all should be banned from getting a visit from Santa this year too..!

That is how much threat excommunication carries...for me.

Medieval logic, why do people still have it?

:confused:
 
This whole argument comes down to the following for me.

Evolution - Theory not proven but a lot of evidence.

Creation - Theory not proven but little evidence.

That is why I believe in evolution and not creationism, that and the fact that I am an athesist and don't trust what any religious books says.
 
What makes your beliefs any more feasible than mine?
Because more people are adhering to the Christian creation theory?
Nope.
By creationist logic my beliefs are real and infallible because "I said so!"
That is the way I see creationist's arguments.
You offer no real challenge to evolution, only a childish refusal to accept anything other that the viewpoint that a mythical god created earth and its creatures.

(This is my view)

Fantastic argument. :goodjob: I agree 100%.

To add to the example of creationist logic. It's like me saying that SID is god and In order to go to Civ Heaven we must play Civ everyday for at least 4 hours :lol: ;). So start PLAYING :lol:

Anyway I understand that people needs to believe in something, but why not turn to the logical evolutionary theory instead of an old "story" that has been written 2000 years ago and actually has been rewritten several times. Further we haven't heard anything from him/she/it for 2000 years? Why? If someone could give me a good explanation for this I would love to hear it. I think many believe in a higher existence because it's so much easier and simple to believe, than the fact that we actually evolved from apes, that we won't go to heaven when we die but will be ate by worms.
I understand that it can be hard to understand and even imagine how we evolved and how the universe was created. I don't understand and I don't think anyone do or ever will, because the history of the universe (and earth) is so complex and incredible.

Even though I am an evolutionist I will not argue against when
Creationists say that GOD exists. If I do I will be just as ignorant as when creationists say that the evolution theory is false. Why, because we don't know enough (actually almost nothing) about the universe and we have so many things to learn as humans yet before we will be closer to an answer if ever. There might be a God, but I have to admit that I find it very unlikely. If God is out there he/she/it will probably be a very smart Alien, who will be able to do things things that will look like magic.

And a few quotes from Arthur C. Clarke:

I don't believe in God but I'm very interested in her.

I don't pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God-but to create him

The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion

A very wise man! :) :D. Especially the last one. It's brilliant ;)
 
"Even though I am an evolutionist I will not argue against when
Creationists say that GOD exists. If I do I will be just as ignorant as when creationists say that the evolution theory is false... There might be a God, but I have to admit that I find it very unlikely."

Exactly! It's possible, and a logical viewpoint will admit the possibility. But a Creationist will admit no other possibility than 'God did it', no matter what evidence to the contrary.
 
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