Does Evolution Require Atheism? Options

[Tung]

Well does it? Most religious people and hardcore scientists today are often incline to believe that atheism and evolution are rigorously intertwined. According to the majority (us), we are thought to believe that if one is to accept evolution as the explanation for life on Earth, it usually leads that person to become an atheist.

The problem I have with this assumption is that I don’t agree with it. Contrary to popular belief, evolution actually doesn’t explain anything about the origins of the universe, the world, or life in general. You can say Evolution is more of an explanation on the development of life.

I personally believe a person can accept evolution as an explanation for the advancement of life, and the diversity, while still being able to believe that the Earth and life were first caused by God. Therefore, there’s no reason why a person can’t be a theist and at the same time accept the theory of evolution.

Thoughts?

[Rhianann]

no.

-edit

tung, im ranting here.

why is it that you're coming off as a 'hey, i go to college so i know more about you. i can insult God all i want now because i am a biology major and that makes me smarter than all of you. ' ?

honestly, tung. it's called arrogance. you have it. quit being a dick.

and for those of you who say evolution and atheism are not entwined are ignorant. evolution is now the marching banner on which atheism marches to.

ALSO, when evolution tells me that everything i do is subconcious, and even doing things such things as skipping in line is some sort of subconcious way for me to try to get ahead of the gene-battle?

that says a lot. that tells me something about how evolution speaks about life.

tung, if you are starting bio 1, don't come across as some dick with some bits of knowledge. i've read your topics in here, they don't come off as intelligent. in fact, all you do is have a ' f**k you ' demeanor while successfully avoiding the actual debate/question.

I saw nothing in what Tung said as being arrogant. Everything you do is subconscious? That's not evolution, that's psychology. There are believing and non-believing psychiatrists out there so can't blame that on a belief system.

I do concede that the perspective of a theistic evolution-believer would have a far more serious consideration into the idea of a day (in Genesis) not being a literal twenty-four hour period. But, it's really not convincing. And, further, the suggestion from the believer to redefine the day in order to satisfy conflicting ideas is a clear psychological trait of cognitive dissonance. The proposal is merely designed to cure the believer of his conflicting discomfort but still retain the "feel-good" rewards of holding his beliefs.

Anyone else heard of the Parable of the Invisible Gardener?

I think some of you are using the bible as being fact. There is a difference between fact and opinion. Belief in the bible is an opinion. Nothing it says can be proven. I'm not saying I don't believe there's a God; I'm just saying I don't believe in christianity and I certainly don't believe anything the bible has to say. I call it the grapevine theory. With each telling the story changes a little. Before the bible information was passed on mostly orally since hardly anybody knew how to read or write. Oral history is a very inaccurate source if information.

Actually he is right on the origins of atheism. Check the Theism and Atheism section on Wikipedia or something of the sort.

Wikipedia has been well known to be inaccurate. Anybody can add information to it.

Uh, yeah, considering the little ocean-dwellers evolved to later step foot on land. Scientists have found a fossilized fish who exhibits evidence of these evolutionary traits.

And there definitely has been change in the human DNA in the time we've been on earth. For one, we're much taller than our human counter-parts in the early middle ages (their height only usually ranged from 4-5 feet as adults). Plus our appendixes (which used to be another stomach when we couldn't get enough food) have withered away and become useless. And our pinky toes have become progressively smaller over time.
Oohh, I saw this really interesting documentary about that on the history channel once! The same thing could have happened with any book back then though, including the Qur'an, when the only printing methods are having a bunch of monks copying shit down over and over again in candlelight.
lol no, in fact, it IS the truth, whether you like it or not.
A baby is born without a coherent thought in its head, let alone any societal concept of God.

And I'm not a Satanist, as I don't believe in Satan or hell, and I really don't dig ritualism.

Could someone please enlighten me on satanism? I have read the satanic bible and it seems full of contradiction. They say they have no belief in God or Satan. They are against altruism. But the book is full of rituals and witchcraft type things that all say "Hail, Satan!" at the end of them. What is Satan exactly to these people? They slam organized religion, but they themselves seem very organized.

I know I'm nitpicking here but it's not appendixes, it's appendices.

Her, thanks.
The fact is that we are born without any belief system whatsoever, and by definition we are atheists. This is where atheism originates. Atheism is as old as the human race. Theism is only as old as its prophets.

This is historical fact, whether you like it or not.

Not too long ago after mapping the human genome, they have found the "God" gene. A gene that makes us predisposed to believing in a higher power. Not saying it WILL make you believe in one, just a predisposition for it. Unless they've changed their position on that. That's the last thing I heard about it in the news.



To answer the person who started this thread; I believe there is a God although I know it can't be proven. I also believe in evolution as being the only logical answer for how we are here. I don't believe any of the hocus pocus, mumbo jumbo the bible says. I know some people in here will try to slam me for being contractictory. I'm only contradicting YOUR beliefs. There's no rule that says I have to believe what the majority believes in. By majority I mean if you believe there's a God you must also believe what the organized religions say. I believe God isn't here. We're on our own, sink or swim. My parents were athiests and they taught me one very valuable lesson that I'm always grateful for. Question all authority! I'd have to say that questioning authority is the church's worst enemy and something they have striven (or is that strived?) to crush. I can see no other purpose for the church other than as a vehicle for controlling people. I know lots of nice people who use church as a means of comfort but the ones behind the scenes pulling the strings.....I question their motives. I think God takes care of the "why" we are here for some people. Evolution takes care of the "how".

I am new here and already I am seeing a trend. To some of you posters here: resorting to personal attacks only means you've lost the argument. It also makes you look less credible.

[BadCraziness]

So basically, Rhiannan, you're a deist.

I used to feel that way, but I think the probability of the existence of god is much, much lower than the probability that he does not exist. Bertrand Russell's celestial teapot, anyone?

So I'm an atheist in that I'm strongly inclined to disbelieve the existence of any god, but I do recognize that there is a possibility, however small. You might call that agnosticism, but agnosticism requires you to believe that the probability of god's existence and his nonexistence are equal, which just isn't the case.

I'm pretty sure the major belief of Satanism is just doing whatever pleases you, giving into your passions, etc. etc. That comes above everything else.

And that God gene is really nothing but a hypothesis. In addition, the experiments Hamer ran don't really seem that conclusive or credible to me at all.

[shoryuken]

you ppl all idiot..

stopp fukin sayin tha smalll chancee dat go(o) exist.. n den say tha low chancee go(o)d dun exist.. FUK go(o)d...

yes.. tha sum1 out tha butt it maibi go(o)d or not... so STOP FUKIN SAYIN THA GO(O)D N shiet..