Christianity and Evolution

If anyone says that evolution is not believed in Christianity is a liar. As a christian myself, I believe in Macro Evolution, just like everyone else in the scientific community these days. I also, like most people, believe the universe is about 13.7 Billion Years old. The Bible says that God created the heavens and the Earth, along with the animals, the sky, the universe, and, at that point, everything. However, it does not say HOW God created all that. I believe that He did, but not in one week as usually believed. I believe that God used evolution to create the animals we have today. I believe that, a certain amount of time ago, humans were apes, if you will. Anyone who says that Christians cannot also be Evolutionists is a LIAR!

Did somebody say that?

So what's the point of having god around then?

If anyone says that evolution is not believed in Christianity is a liar. As a christian myself, I believe in Macro Evolution, just like everyone else in the scientific community these days. I also, like most people, believe the universe is about 13.7 Billion Years old. The Bible says that God created the heavens and the Earth, along with the animals, the sky, the universe, and, at that point, everything. However, it does not say HOW God created all that. I believe that He did, but not in one week as usually believed. I believe that God used evolution to create the animals we have today. I believe that, a certain amount of time ago, humans were apes, if you will. Anyone who says that Christians cannot also be Evolutionists is a LIAR!

Well the bible does say that God created the world in 6 days, and contrary to popular belief, the word used for "day" in the bible is "yom" which in every instance that it's used in the bible apart from in genesis, clearly means 1 24 hour day.  Is the genesis book wrong?  Why would they use a different definition of the word in just that book?  Why do we have a "sabbath" if the genesis story isn't true?

I don't believe that genesis is true, I believe that the whole book is mythology, but at least my beliefs with the book are consistent, I don't believe some bits and not others.

Franc. T:

To you, there is no point in having a god. You just live your life. The only time that a god in itself matters at all is in a religion, no matter whether its Islam or Christianity. As a Christian, God matters because He is the only way to eternal happiness. To you however, I suppose there is no use in a god, if you don't believe in a religion. The only time a god matters is in a religion that relies on a God to receive a path to heaven, eternal happiness, or whatever you religion believes.

beast:
"Well the bible does say that God created the world in 6 days, and contrary to popular belief, the word used for "day" in the bible is "yom" which in every instance that it's used in the bible apart from in genesis, clearly means 1 24 hour day.  Is the genesis book wrong?  Why would they use a different definition of the word in just that book?  Why do we have a "sabbath" if the genesis story isn't true?"


-I believe the reason "day" in Genesis is not "yom" shows that the word "day" that was used is a greater length of time. Example: Back in my grandpa's day..... Now "my grandpa's day" wasn't an actual day but a time period. I believe that Genesis uses a different "day" to show just that, that it took millions of years and possibly longer to create what he did.

You're wrong.  The Bible was certainly referring to Creation as having taken place over 7 days (even if your reasoning made sense the Bible still breaks each day down to "morning and night" so the meaning is clear).

Not that I disagree with you.  You don't take the Bible literally and your point is that not everybody does take the Bible literally, and it is possible to be religious and still believe in Evolution.  I agree with this because I've known others with the same viewpoint.

No, as usual for a theist you did not read my post very well.

I was asking the opener of this thread as regards to: if evolution is true, then what is the point of believing in god?

beast:
"Well the bible does say that God created the world in 6 days, and contrary to popular belief, the word used for "day" in the bible is "yom" which in every instance that it's used in the bible apart from in genesis, clearly means 1 24 hour day.  Is the genesis book wrong?  Why would they use a different definition of the word in just that book?  Why do we have a "sabbath" if the genesis story isn't true?"


-I believe the reason "day" in Genesis is not "yom" shows that the word "day" that was used is a greater length of time. Example: Back in my grandpa's day..... Now "my grandpa's day" wasn't an actual day but a time period. I believe that Genesis uses a different "day" to show just that, that it took millions of years and possibly longer to create what he did.

You failed to read what I wrote.  The word used in Genesis for day is "yom" and in every instance that that word is used in the bible it is used to describe a 24 hour day.  Either the writers of the bible used a different definition of the word just for the book of Genesis, or their language is consistent, and the intended message of the genesis story really is that the world was created in 6 literal days and that humans were created from nothing as part of that process.

However, other theologians point to this same Hebrew word, "yom," being translated as "the day of God's wrath" in Job 20:28 -- apparently referring to a period of time of indeterminate length. Similarly, when translated from Greek, 2 Corinthians 6:2 refers to "the day of salvation" -- again a time interval that is apparently not equal to 24 hours.

According to that it doesn't always mean a 24 hour period in the rest of the Bible but it does seem the majority of the times it means a 24 hour period

Sure, but nothing in those statements actually suggests that those time periods are not meant as literal days.

No, as usual for a theist you did not read my post very well.

I was asking the opener of this thread as regards to: if evolution is true, then what is the point of believing in god?

life after death maybe...

No, as usual for a theist you did not read my post very well.

I was asking the opener of this thread as regards to: if evolution is true, then what is the point of believing in god?

My science teacher, who's also an evangalist, when questioned, said that whilst there was evolution, it was God who put the wheel in motion, so to speak. She also said that it's a wonderful thing that God should give us brains that allow us to work out the mechanics behind his wonderful creations.

She said a lot of things...

But I think that even with evolution, she believes in God, because not only does it comfort her to know that if God wanted us to know the unknown, he'd have let us find out by now, and it comforts her to know that someone, somewhere, actually does love her.

So your teacher is schizophrenic?

possibly. I couldn't really give two hoots.

My science teacher, who's also an evangalist, when questioned, said that whilst there was evolution, it was God who put the wheel in motion, so to speak. She also said that it's a wonderful thing that God should give us brains that allow us to work out the mechanics behind his wonderful creations.

Maybe she should use her "brains" to figure out what the first law of thermodynamics (conservation of energy) and the second law of thermodynamics (entropy always increases) say, since she's a fucking science teacher. And maybe she could use those "brains" to figure out how those two basic laws of science disprove her belief in a creator sky-pixie.

Dear The Earth is a Sphere,

I'm an atheist myself, but if you truly held the word of the bible with any modicum of regard you would not only disbelieve in evolution, but the Round Earth as well.  For example, these are direct quotes from the bible:

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." --Isa. 40:22

"In the heavens hath He set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the end of it." --Psalms xix., 4-6.

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also, and set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth."--Genesis i., 16-17.

"That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?" --Job 38:13

"O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit." --Jeremiah 16:19

There are plenty more where these come from. These quotes are very specific and can only imply a Flat Earth. A true Christian would never disregard his holy book as nothing more than a collection of frivolous analogies. I sincerely suggest that you sit down and reexamine yourself and your devotion to your religion.

Tom! It's unusual to see you in the general forums!

Way to go off topic Tom!

Dear The Earth is a Sphere,

I'm an atheist myself, but if you truly held the word of the bible with any modicum of regard you would not only disbelieve in evolution, but the Round Earth as well.  For example, these are direct quotes from the bible:

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.  He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." --Isa. 40:22

"In the heavens hath He set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the end of it." --Psalms xix., 4-6.

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also, and set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth."--Genesis i., 16-17.

"That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?" --Job 38:13

"O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit." --Jeremiah 16:19

There are plenty more where these come from. These quotes are very specific and can only imply a Flat Earth. A true Christian would never disregard his holy book as nothing more than a collection of frivolous analogies. I sincerely suggest that you sit down and reexamine yourself and your devotion to your religion.

And there's just as much to say it's round in the bible as well. Don't be silly Tom 

I don't understand how some people, forced to choose between religion and evolution, choose religion.

I would choose religion over evolution... the idea that humans came from monkeys is just way too farfetched for me. Wouldn't that mean that there are half monkey half human things out in the wild now? If not why are we the end of the line? If not why did it seem to stop?

 

Please tell me you're kidding.

Nope, I would go Buddhist if I must choose religion... fortunately I can remain neutral about the whole ordeal.

I can imagine dying then going up to God's throne and him asking me "Do you believe in Evoultion or do you trust in Religion?"

Me saying "Religion" then He just laughs and pushes a button sending me to burn in hell...


Speaking of Hell... Christianity uses that as a scare tactic and it angers me.

That's all religion is.  "Obey us blindly or go to hell."

Not buddhism....

Buddhism isn't, strictly speaking, a religion. Religions must posit claims about the way the world works, natural or supernatural. Buddhism makes a few claims about the supernatural, but beyond that it's simply philosophy, not religion.

I would choose religion over evolution... the idea that humans came from monkeys is just way too farfetched for me. Wouldn't that mean that there are half monkey half human things out in the wild now? If not why are we the end of the line? If not why did it seem to stop?

You really should have fun, in case you ever make children.

And no, humans did not come from monkeys. Monkeys AND humans have a common ancestor. Stop listening to fucking Kent Hovind.

Quote from: Amroth on May 14, 2007, 10:17:46 AM

I would choose religion over evolution... the idea that humans came from monkeys is just way too farfetched for me. Wouldn't that mean that there are half monkey half human things out in the wild now? If not why are we the end of the line? If not why did it seem to stop?

You really should have fun, in case you ever make children.

And no, humans did not come from monkeys. Monkeys AND humans have a common ancestor. Stop listening to fucking Kent Hovind.

Pretty sure he was being sarcastic...

And stop being anal about this 'humans didn't come from monkeys' business. We are not of course descended from any living species of ape, but if we could see the common ancestor we share with the rest of the primate family, he would certainly look an awful lot like a monkey.