Can religion and evolution co-exist? NO NO NO! is what I think!

[Mobiosity]

I believe through God's wisdom and knowledge he created the theory of evolution to test our faith. Life has to have trials, but anyway. I am reinforcing what is said in the bible about how God spoke the universe, the earth, the plants, the animals, and people. He saw that it was good right? But like I said through his wisdom and knowledge he made it seem as though plants, animals, bacteria (+ the other kingdoms) evolved through the ages. Then, he created a man named Charles Darwin to make this theory. God allowed this theory to be discovered to test our faith in him.
The Bible is THE WORD OF GOD. Whatever it says we follow. If some people don't follow it we need to get them back into the herd so God can be our sheperd.
So you might be wondering if God created everything pure and clean, how did the theory of evolution come? Ill close with this. God loves us so much he respects our choices, if we die with mortal sin on us he will respect our choice and we will burn forever in hell. If we decide to accept Jesus through our free will we will live forever. Accepting Jesus means following the bible. So understant that God allowed the theory to be recongnized to test our faith with him.

I am 99.9999% sure that I am 99.999% off from the truth, so please correct me, because this is how I think. And I want to make sure I have the correct idea down. So priests or scholars please correct me

I am sure you are wrong. God doesn't test our faith in Him, He may deepen our faith in Him by trials, but there is nothing in the bible to discredit evolution. He says that this was created in a day and that was done in a day and then goes on to say that a day is like a thousand years to him and a thousand years like a day. We don't exist on God's timeline.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

No, science does not presuppose any particular philosophy.

People don't understand the difference between methodological naturalism and metaphysical naturalism.

 

[Mobiosity]

People don't understand the difference between methodological naturalism and metaphysical naturalism.

Naturally

 

[sfs]

I've heard of four spiritual laws before, but four tenets of evolution?

I seem to have missed them as well.

sfs! Where have you been? =)

Getting work done, and lurking while looking for threads that won't cause me to tear out still more of my rapidly diminishing supply of hair.

That and spending time with my mother while she was dying.

 

[Dannager]

It is relatively heartening to know that those who believe the two are incompatible are in the minority, at least according to this poll.

Any perception of incompatibility is completely unfounded.

 

[Ysabel]

I am sure you are wrong. God doesn't test our faith in Him, He may deepen our faith in Him by trials, but there is nothing in the bible to discredit evolution. He says that this was created in a day and that was done in a day and then goes on to say that a day is like a thousand years to him and a thousand years like a day. We don't exist on God's timeline.

But notice the Scriptures say 1000 years...not millions of years.

 

[shernren]

I seem to have missed them as well.


Getting work done, and lurking while looking for threads that won't cause me to tear out still more of my rapidly diminishing supply of hair.

That and spending time with my mother while she was dying.

Oh dear. My heart goes out to you. I had no idea this was going on in your life.

 

[Dannager]

But notice the Scriptures say 1000 years...not millions of years.

Oh, I wasn't aware that they had a word to express the concept of billions of years with.

 

[epyon]

Yes evolution can co-exist with bible or the bible will be made an encorrect.

 

[Assyrian]

That and spending time with my mother while she was dying.

I'm really sorry to hear this.

 

[mooduck1]

"God used evolution to create all living species."

The ToE states that it was "random mutation" and that man is not the center of creation. Two doctrines of evolution that go against the Bible. It is not religion that has made them incompatible... it is the theory itself.

Of course, my creationists friends unsually point out, at least when it's convieniant, "evolution" is not a Law or a doctrine but rather a theory, a concept. They'd point out that elavating it to the level of a 'doctrine' is fallacy. The difference is that a theory suggests a concept based on evidence, but is open for revision as more data is collected. Doctrines are set more in stone, and to revise them would usually be considered heresy.

 

[jwu]

But notice the Scriptures say 1000 years...not millions of years.

True, but "a thousand years" are a common metaphor for "a very long time".

Besides, the duration of days is changing - very slowly, but it does. The earth's rotation is slowing down. So an "absolute" reading of this verse is not possible either way (if one takes things very accurately), unless it is interpreted to imply that God's own perception of time changes as well.

And of course, a literal meaning also means that God is subject to the passing of time as well, but i think you'll agree that God is timeless and omnipresent not only in space but also in time. Hence the entire concept of God having a perception of time in a way that is even remotely comparable to that of us humans makes no sense.

 

[Renton405]

Nothing in the Theory of Evolution discredits the bible.

unless you believe in the literal 6 day creation..

 

[shernren]

unless you believe in the literal 6 day creation..

... in which case the Theory of Evolution discredits your particular belief that is based on your particular reading of the Bible. It doesn't discredit the whole Bible for the whole of the Church. Just a particular way of reading it that some of the Church has.