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

[Anonymous]

I was dumbfounded to discover my sis in law doesn't believe in evolution at all. Strict creationism. I thought most religious people thought something like Intelligent Design. What about you? Why/why not?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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).

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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).

Another Catholic. Completely accept evolution. The ridiculousness of ultra-conservative Christianity is one of the many reasons we left the Southern Baptist church 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

I don't believe in evolution.

[Anonymous]

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).

Well, believe means to accept. I know what you mean, but I don't think the word choice is that offensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe in evolution.

Do you believe in Adam and Eve?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I believe in God AND Evolution. I also believe both should be taught in schools. I believe in our Flag, and the right to bear arms but not military assault rifles that can fire multiple rounds. I believe the government is too big and that States can make their own decisions regarding Women's choice. I believe the Chinese are hacking me even as I write this and if I get one more e- mail from a "friend" who has been mugged in London asking for a wire...I believe I will change my password or close my Living Social acct....

[Anonymous]

Evolution doesn't care if you believe in it or not. It just is. People who can't accept facts due to their beliefs in a mystical element kill me.

I feel like life in and of itself is divine, or put another way, I see "God" in science and nature as well as humanity.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Do you believe in gravity?

[Anonymous]

Catholic here and completely believe in evolution. I do not see the two as mutually exclusive. God was behind whole process in some way that mere human brains cannot understand. Don't limit God.