"Why then do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3
Talk about projection!!
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Is evolution unfairly judged?
- Thread starter Arikay
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"Why then do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3
Talk about projection!!
I don't think evolution is unfairly judged--mainly because I don't think it is judged at all. Complete and utter ignorance about the most basic biological knowledge is not where I consider a good place to start when evaluating biological theories and ideas. Unfortunately, that's where most laypeople are in the Creationist camp--the professionals are made up of unscrupulous people who apparently make good money feeding that ignorance.
MHO.
--tibac
MHO.
--tibac
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The first point is good. Laypeople do seem to be ignorant. However, that ignorance is no longer excusable, particularly for those who have computers. There are too many scientific databases out there for them to evaluate creationist claims. One of the most extensive is PubMed. Free to anyone. So when a creationist says that all mutations are harmful and not beneficial, all a layperson has to do is go to PubMed and enter the search terms "mutation, beneficial" and look at the articles.
The second seems to be true. I am puzzled by the motivations of professional creationists. Particularly, people like Norman Macbeth, Phillip Johnson, Richard Milton, and Jonathan Wells must be aware that they are quoting out of context directly against the actual position of the people they are quoting. How can they do so? How can they maintain such attachment to "truth" or Christianity in the face of such massive violation of the 9th commandment? Is this a power trip for them; having legions of fans that believe them in direct contradiction to the truth? That seems to be the motivation of Rush Limbaugh as I listen to him. The conservative politics seem secondary to the fame and power he has. Perhaps the same is true of Johnson, Dembski, Behe, Wells, etc.
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Most creationists are very ignorant of what the theory of evolution actually is. Some of the most common misconceptions about evolution are:
1) evolution is atheistic
2) evolution was created to explain away god
3) evolution explains the origin of the universe
4) the purpose of the theory of evolution is to undermine Christianity
5) evolution is pigs turning into dogs
1) evolution is atheistic
2) evolution was created to explain away god
3) evolution explains the origin of the universe
4) the purpose of the theory of evolution is to undermine Christianity
5) evolution is pigs turning into dogs
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Nathan Poe
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Personally, I believe that the most outspoken of Creationists are not ignorant of these things at all, but rather exploit the ignorance of others by preserving these misconceptions.
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They say ignorance is bliss, all the Christians that tell me about God say they are extremely happy. From everyone Christian that has talked to me about God, they judge Evolution as if it is words in the wind passing through their fingers.
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I say ignorance is ignorance and bliss is bliss.
Ignorance, has killed many people.
Ignorance helped witch burnings.
Ignorance helped slaver.
Ignorance helped lynch mobs.
Ignorance helps suicide bombers.
Ignorance helps/creates prejudice and missunderstanding.
Ignorance doesnt sound like bliss to me.
It sounds more like a tool. a tool that can be used by a puppet master to keep his puppets in line.
Ignorance, has killed many people.
Ignorance helped witch burnings.
Ignorance helped slaver.
Ignorance helped lynch mobs.
Ignorance helps suicide bombers.
Ignorance helps/creates prejudice and missunderstanding.
Ignorance doesnt sound like bliss to me.
It sounds more like a tool. a tool that can be used by a puppet master to keep his puppets in line.
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The rules for understanding the "plain meaning" of Scripture, or interpreting any document, are:
Eight Rules of Interpretation
"...the Eight Rules of Interpretation used by legal experts for more than 2500 years.
1. Rule of Definition.
Define the term or words being considered and then adhere to the defined meanings.
2. Rule of Usage.
Don't add meaning to established words and terms. What was the common usage in the cultural and time period when the passage was written?
3. Rule of Context.
Avoid using words out of context. Context must define terms and how words are used.
4. Rule of Historical background.
Don't separate interpretation and historical investigation.
5. Rule of Logic.
Be certain that words as interpreted agree with the overall premise.
6. Rule of Precedent.
Use the known and commonly accepted meanings of words, not obscure meanings for which there is no precedent.
7. Rule of Unity.
Even though many documents may be used there must be a general unity among them.
8. Rule of Inference.
Base conclusions on what is already known and proven or can be reasonably implied from all known facts. http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/b11.html
What literallists do is ignore Rules 2-4 when looking at Scripture. They also ignore #7 and forget that there has to be unity between the two books of God.
Insisting on your interpretation of Scripture in the face of evidence everyone can see is what truly undermines Christianity. Evolution can't harm Christianity. Atheism can't. But creationism can destroy it.
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You've tried this before, Micaiah. And the answer is going to remain the same: my personal beliefs are not relevant here. If you think you can figure them out from my posts, then go ahead.
What I can and will do is 1) look at the ideas of Christians and see if there are Christians who can and do accept evolution 2) examine those arguments to see if such a duality is consistent with both Christian beliefs and science, 3) examine literalism to see how it relates to the major theological beliefs of Christianity, and 4) look at the logical consequences of your interpretation of the Bible on Christianity.
I'm going to force you to look at the arguments and evidence, Micaiah, not on whether the personal beliefs of the person agree with yours.
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While this is true, Ocean, of equal fascination to me is that creationists are very ignorant of Christianity. As far as I can tell, the only thing Biblical literalists are more ignorant about than evolution is Christianity.
Notice that 1,2, and 4 aren't even about the science that is evolution, but instead is in error in thinking that evolution is a theology!
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Then read Teilhard de Chardin, Theodosius Dobzhansky's theological essays, Kitty Ferguson's The Fire in the Equations, Howard Van Till's The Fourth Day, Kenneth Miller's Finding Darwin's God and Ian Barbour's Religion and Science for starters. Arthur Peacocke's various books should be added to the list.
I'm afraid that you have had a very limited sampling of Christians.
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To post #37
Maybe it is the way some evolutionists tread on people when they are opposed?
Often 10 evolutionists jump on 1 creationist post.
Or evolutionist think we are mad not siding to their logic. as your post seems to imply.
Maybe it is the way some evolutionists tread on people when they are opposed?
Often 10 evolutionists jump on 1 creationist post.
Or evolutionist think we are mad not siding to their logic. as your post seems to imply.
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