If you are religious, do you believe in any version of evolution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but I can explain why you believe what you believe. That doesn't mean that I have to agree. However in this society it is very important to be able to regurgitate information with precision.

How do you deal with the large body of physical evidence that supports evolution? Do you not look at the science? Or think it's wrong?

I am making an assumption that the OP is asking how I believe that life on earth came to be. If you are asking if I believe that certain animals and insects have evolved and adapted-sure to some degree. If you are asking if I believe that humans came from monkeys-no. If you are asking me if I believe the earth is billions of years old-no, and I won't apologize for it. However when the time comes for "the answer" I will give you the answer you want to hear and move on. It's not a big deal and my job is not to debate for a living.

You and I have different eyes. It would be like explaining the color blue to someone who has always beeen blind. You can try, and some people might have quite a way with words- but the point of reference will always be different. And most of the time, it will prove to be futile exercise.

One thing that I have learned from obtaining a PhD in a science is that just because someone says something is science, that doesn't make it so. Sometimes people apply the term "science" to concepts that do not qualify. Also, most people don't understand as much as they think they do. Like the poster below...are you asking me about the theory of gravity or the law of gravity? Do you know the difference?

Where do you have a PhD in science from? Bob Jones U?

They said "a science," not "science," so I think they mean social sciences.

It would still write off like 2/3 of the Social Sciences, as most of them rely heavily on human development (and with that, evolutionary biology & adaptation). I'm still betting it's one of the aforementioned "universities."

[Anonymous]

UU and I think 'believe in" isn't the right term. Evolution is science. I see it as a fact and not a belief. It is like asking me if I believe in chemistry or biology pr physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic and of course understand evolution (I think "believe in" is a ridiculous way to frame understanding science and fact - something either is or isn't, I don't "believe in" the theory of cell division, for example).

Lutheran, but +1.

Raised Catholic, now worship in a Lutheran church, +2.

Darwin himself acknowledged the compatibility of evolution and a belief in God:

“There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”

Evolution is a work in progress by God.

This sums up my view. I'm protestant Christian.

[Anonymous]

I'm an Episcopalian and accept evolution. I think we evolved to have these big brains that let us study our wonderful universe. There is so much more to learn.

I see no conflict between belief in God and science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow on the fossils!!

Have a relative who was both a scientist and a Baptist. Believed that the Bible was metaphorical and in evolution.

I'm agnostic and believe that evolution is a probable, mostly correct theory, but has a few holes. As with any theory.

Well, religion and the sciences are pretty much all about trying to explain the world around us.
The Bible: Full of truth but no factual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but I can explain why you believe what you believe. That doesn't mean that I have to agree. However in this society it is very important to be able to regurgitate information with precision.

How do you deal with the large body of physical evidence that supports evolution? Do you not look at the science? Or think it's wrong?

I am making an assumption that the OP is asking how I believe that life on earth came to be. If you are asking if I believe that certain animals and insects have evolved and adapted-sure to some degree. If you are asking if I believe that humans came from monkeys-no. If you are asking me if I believe the earth is billions of years old-no, and I won't apologize for it. However when the time comes for "the answer" I will give you the answer you want to hear and move on. It's not a big deal and my job is not to debate for a living.

You and I have different eyes. It would be like explaining the color blue to someone who has always beeen blind. You can try, and some people might have quite a way with words- but the point of reference will always be different. And most of the time, it will prove to be futile exercise.

One thing that I have learned from obtaining a PhD in a science is that just because someone says something is science, that doesn't make it so. Sometimes people apply the term "science" to concepts that do not qualify. Also, most people don't understand as much as they think they do. Like the poster below...are you asking me about the theory of gravity or the law of gravity? Do you know the difference?

You have a PhD in a "science"? Where is from, Liberty "university?"

I call BS on the PHD in science. You can't get a PHD in a general area such as "science" it would be in something very specific. Also, why in the world woudl you ever spend that much time and money on pursuing a degree in something you have absolutely no belief in.

[Anonymous]

PP said a PhD in "a science," not "science." I'm assuming she doesn't want to say which science her PhD is in for fewer it might identify her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP said a PhD in "a science," not "science." I'm assuming she doesn't want to say which science her PhD is in for fewer it might identify her.

BS. You can't parade that as some kind of credential, but not clarify. I'm still betting that it's from Liberty "University."

[Anonymous]

I think the bottom line is that these are not incompatible unless you are a raging fundamentalist who refuses to that G-d may work in mysterious ways such as allowing millions of years for a species to develop and adapt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am making an assumption that the OP is asking how I believe that life on earth came to be. If you are asking if I believe that certain animals and insects have evolved and adapted-sure to some degree. If you are asking if I believe that humans came from monkeys-no. If you are asking me if I believe the earth is billions of years old-no, and I won't apologize for it. However when the time comes for "the answer" I will give you the answer you want to hear and move on. It's not a big deal and my job is not to debate for a living.

Sounds like whatever "science" you got a PhD in neglected to educate you on what evolutionary biology actually says. So it's no wonder you reject it. Evolution does not say humans came from monkeys. Staggeringly ignorant statement from someone who has been awarded a PhD. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am making an assumption that the OP is asking how I believe that life on earth came to be. If you are asking if I believe that certain animals and insects have evolved and adapted-sure to some degree. If you are asking if I believe that humans came from monkeys-no. If you are asking me if I believe the earth is billions of years old-no, and I won't apologize for it. However when the time comes for "the answer" I will give you the answer you want to hear and move on. It's not a big deal and my job is not to debate for a living.

Sounds like whatever "science" you got a PhD in neglected to educate you on what evolutionary biology actually says. So it's no wonder you reject it. Evolution does not say humans came from monkeys. Staggeringly ignorant statement from someone who has been awarded a PhD. Sad.

+1. I will automatically write off any moron who says "I don't believe humans came from monkeys" as nothing but an ignorant dipshit. If you're going to be opposed to something, at least make it an educated and informed decision. Anyone who says this, clearly knows nothing about evolution and adaptation. There is no line of thinking in human biological or anthropology that suggests humans ever evolved or came from monkeys.

[Anonymous]

I accept that species have evolved over time, but not necessarily that humans and other primates share the ancestor. I took a rather in depth anthropology course and found it fascinating but there's still so much we don't know. We can't say with certainty when the first human, in our modern form, came to be or when that human diverged from other primates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I accept that species have evolved over time, but not necessarily that humans and other primates share the ancestor. I took a rather in depth anthropology course and found it fascinating but there's still so much we don't know. We can't say with certainty when the first human, in our modern form, came to be or when that human diverged from other primates.

Can you accept that evolutionary biologists who study human origins probably can say with more certainty than someone who took one anthropology course? While it's true that no one can say for certain, I think the experts have a better handle on the general time frame for this and the biological relationships between humans and other species than 99.9% of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prefacing this by the fact that I'm not religious at all anymore, but I grew up Sunni Muslim. In sunday school and otherwise, we were raised to believe in evolution, but with a guiding divine hand. Islam has a strong emphasis on science, and the Quran is riddled with things like astronomy, geology, and biology. That isn't to say that there are discrepancies with the theology and science (aren't there always?), but evolution/adaptation was not a hot button religious issue.

I think I might be an unconcious Muslim! That is spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I accept that species have evolved over time, but not necessarily that humans and other primates share the ancestor. I took a rather in depth anthropology course and found it fascinating but there's still so much we don't know. We can't say with certainty when the first human, in our modern form, came to be or when that human diverged from other primates.

Can you accept that evolutionary biologists who study human origins probably can say with more certainty than someone who took one anthropology course? While it's true that no one can say for certain, I think the experts have a better handle on the general time frame for this and the biological relationships between humans and other species than 99.9% of us.

Why is this the part that riles fundamentalists the most? What is so bad about the idea that one animal led to another? Do you REALLY think God made us in his image? Like he's a person sitting up there in Heaven brushing his hair?