What's your take on Darwin's theory of evolution then?

[Zodiac]

Surely you still don't all buy that bollox about Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden?

[tiger_rascal]

Garden of Eden?

I believe the Creation story is just as plausible as any scientific theory, such as the "big bang" and "evolution".

I often find myself straddling the fence. I believe that God got the ball rolling and that the "big bang" and "evolution" may be likely, but that God created it.

[bombastical]

Originally posted by Zodiac
Surely you still don't all buy that bollox about Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden?

I'm agnostic but I lean more towards Evolution.

[Steggy]

I think it a whole bunch of "bollox" as you like to say.

[butterfly]

The Big Bang probably happened. Evolution definitely happens, it's been about as proved as it's possible to prove anything.

Evolution is, to me, powerful evidence for God's existence. It's all about survival, rebirth and progression to a higher form of life. If we lived in a godless universe, why would evolution exist anyway?

As for the Adam and Eve story, well, I think it's meant to be metaphorical rather than literal. Unless someone can find a way of fitting it all together that I can't see?

[Steggy]

So are you saying God created the monkeys to evolve into man?

And actually the evolution theory has not been proven.. if it was it wouldn't be called a fact not a theory

[bombastical]

Originally posted by Steggy
So are you saying God created the monkeys to evolve into man?

And actually the evolution theory has not been proven.. if it was it wouldn't be called a fact not a theory

You need to study Evolution. It doesn't start with "monkeys."

[Sinister]

God created monkees to act as test pilots and midgets were made for porn.

[pinky]

Gee, thanks for that contribution to an otherwise intelligent discussion. :rolleyes:

I completely accept the Theory of Evolution, because to me, it explains things rationally. I have no problem reconciling this with my faith in the Creator, because I believe that God set all things in motion, according to a plan of development.

I also believe that we descended from the apes, but only in our physical form. The human soul is the result of direct intervention of God, since it is not part of our physical evolution, but rather a reflection of God. I believe that it is our soul that is created in God's image.

As for the story of the Garden of Eden, I agree that it is metaphorical, not literal.

[Sinister]

Gee aren't we uptight.

[Richard Tafoya]

So then God may have orchestrated the big bang and started some single-cell life forms here to put the planet's timeline in motion. Put it in the oven for a few million years, send Jesus and Buddha and Mohammed and a few other messengers down to get some evolved ideas planted in the dominant species' evolving brains and promise to check back in a few millenia. Sound about right?

[pinky]

Yep. That's about it!

Sinister, I'm not uptight. I just don't think that mentions of porn and what some view as animal abuse are really necessary in this thread.

[Sinister]

I don't subscribe to that theory btw, lol. It was an attempt at humor, however vain, lord knows we need some around here every once in awhile. If you were offended by my comments then you have my sincere apology.

[oldernow]

I just dont see how a Christian can believe that he is a cosmic accident and at the same time believe in the sovereign and the creator God. Being Christian is to affirm that Christ is the redeemer and God is the creator. As for Christianity, if there is no creation than there is nothing to redeem.

[Love2HearChristina]

i believe in evolution. i do not believe in "the creation."

[bluehorizonx10]

I believe God created man and he created animals, separate as the Bible tells us He did. The Big Bang maybe has some truth to it because that's how our Lord may have created our universe from the start, but only as it fits in His Word. You either believe in the Bible or you don't. You can't take part of it and fit it into your life as you want. We don't create the Bible as fiction in our mind. It's truth and it's all truth. That's how I believe, that's how I live. If I'm wrong I have nothing to lose and all to gain, as I've stated before in another thread. God created man in His image. His image is portrayed as His Son, Jesus Christ, in human form. That's really all the information for me to have to believe, simple really.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Well, let's see...

We are staaaardust, we are golden (Joni may have it right.)

OR

We are pond scum, products of the primordial ooze.

The verdict's still out of the Big Bang theory.

Well, y'all know me. I think the Creation story is just that, a story. Not meant to be taken literally. Just a nice creation myth like many before and after it.

[Mattio]

Originally posted by bluehorizonx10
You either believe in the Bible or you don't. You can't take part of it and fit it into your life as you want. We don't create the Bible as fiction in our mind. It's truth and it's all truth. But the bible contradicts itself.

[Mattio]

"I believe the Creation story is just as plausible as any scientific theory, such as the "big bang" and "evolution"." Yes...

[DoubleEdgeSword]

There are hundreds of creation myths. Who is to say one is more plausible than the other?

The Inca believed the first humans were carved from stone out of a mountain by a sun god.

The Norse's first human being was created when the land of fire melted the land of ice. The second being was a cow.

Chinese creation myth involved an egg that gave birth to a dragon, who in turn, created the universe and man.

The Yoruba of Africa had a pantheon of gods who created the universe from a gold chain, a white hen, a black cat and a palm nut. Humans were created from clay.

The Bible's creation myth is just one more story. This judeo-christian belief is held to be true just as strongly as other cultures hold their creation to be true.

I think they are all just nice stories.

[shining star]

Originally posted by Steggy
And actually the evolution theory has not been proven.. if it was it wouldn't be called a fact not a theory I guess gravity hasn't been proven then, either. :p

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Hi Misty! *waves*

And you're right. Neither has quantum theory or the theory of relativity. While no theory is thought to be absolute, when overwhelming evidence supports a certain hypothesis, then the theory is thought to be "fact." There are mountains of evidence that Darwin's theory is correct; however, there will always be those scientists who are open to new evidence that may change their ideas about certain theories.

It is a "fact" that gravity as we define it exists. Drop something, it falls. While it is still a "theory," I doubt anyone would accept that it is not a "fact."

To my knowledge, there is no scientific evidence that directly supports the creation theory that the Bible puts forth. I'm not talking about timing or related discoveries that have been made to support certain stories in the Bible; I am talking about cold hard evidence that supports that woman was created from Adam's rib. There are a heck of a lot of Christians out there, and I'm assuming some of them are scientists. I would think that if there were any evidence at all, someone would be shouting the news from the rooftops.

[Bazza]

If the bible is based on fact then why do all the people have British names? Surely if this story took place where it's supposedly set then it's highly unlikely that these names existed in that region 2000 years ago.

[Zodiac]

I struggle to see how anyone can believe in multiple creation stories. How can you reconcile to wildly different beliefs in that manner? How, indeed, can you choose to believe an ancient book (which is largely a mass of contradictions) over Darwin's theory which is supported by a mountain of scientific evidence?

[MerrySunshine]

I think that you'll find, Bazza, that if you read the Bible in it's original languages and not ENGLISH, that the names will sound less "British." :rolleyes: And anyway, I've never met any British folk named Herod or Nebuccanezzer. (Harrod's sure, but not Herod. ;) ) And, it couldn't be possible that, gasp!, the British actually adopted middle Eastern names like Joseph (Yusef), Mary (Mariam), Joel, David, etc. into their language BECAUSE of the Bible, whose influence has been in the British Isle since at least the 900s. No, that's not possible either. :rolleyes: I don't recall any fellow named Arthur or Charles or Edward in the Bible or Seamus or Sean (well, those are really Celtic and not Anglish, but still, from the same region).

As to Evolution. Gail made an excellent and rather CS Lewis like reason for believing in Evolution: If I believe in evolution, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The origin of the species really doesn't affect me that much in my day to day life, actually, so I don't give it much thought. But, I'll tell you this, I received the Chronicles of Narnia for Christmas from my brother (which most of you know is straight up Christian allegory by dear Mr. Lewis, mentioned supra) and I've been re-reading them. The creation story in The Magician's Nephew actually reinforced my belief in Evolution. I can't explain how, but I actually believe in pure Evolution more now than I did before I started reading the Chronicles of Narnia recently. Strange, but cool.

[young again]

Originally posted by pinky
I also believe that we descended from the apes, but only in our physical form. The human soul is the result of direct intervention of God, since it is not part of our physical evolution, but rather a reflection of God. I believe that it is our soul that is created in God's image.


I recently read an article by an Orthodox Jewish writer seeking to reconcile the belief that the Bible is the revealed word of God with scientific evidence and he essentially made the same argument. Once you stop taking the Bible so literally, there isn't any reason you can't believe in both. Scientific and religious approaches to creation are answering different questions, IMHO.

[MerrySunshine]

^I've read similar things by rabbis that I've liked and agreed with as well.

[pinky]

That's also the official position of the Catholic Church, which long ago gave up the fight against Darwin.

[oldernow]

1. God made space, matter and time, called it a day
2. Made water and air, called it a day
3. Created dry ground and all it's vegetation, called it a day
4. Created the Sun, stars, and moon, called it a day
5. Created living creatures in the water and the sky
6. Created all the living creatures of the earth including man, put man in charge of it all, called it a day.
7. Rested and said everything's good my works done, and made the 7th day holy.

[butterfly]

Originally posted by pinky
I also believe that we descended from the apes, but only in our physical form. The human soul is the result of direct intervention of God, since it is not part of our physical evolution, but rather a reflection of God. I believe that it is our soul that is created in God's image.

That's exactly how I see it too. Physically I'm a product of my parents' genes, but my soul is unique and God-given.

[bekahbeans]

Originally posted by shining star
I guess gravity hasn't been proven then, either. :p

But that's why it's called the LAW of gravity, not the theory right? ;)



I believe in evolution and I believe God created everything.