Do you think Christianity and evolution are compatible? If so, why? If not, why not?

[DogmaHunter]

Knowing the difference between what is literal and what is figurative is what we call Biblical maturity.

Really? In my experience that's more like the art of making scriptures say what you want them to say.

 

[Ryukil]

Well, I guess Christians I have met in real life generally don't accept evolution and think that disease came about because of the Fall. I'm glad to see a lot of Christians on this forum accept evolution. I think Internet Christians are just more informed, apparently. lol.

 

[Loudmouth]

Well, I guess Christians I have met in real life generally don't accept evolution and think that disease came about because of the Fall. I'm glad to see a lot of Christians on this forum accept evolution. I think Internet Christians are just more informed, apparently. lol.

Creationism is an American christian fundamentalist thing. In more "liberal" denominations in the US, there are plenty of theistic evolutionists, and creationists are much rarer in other countries. Most polls seem to indicate that creationism is a minority position among christians world wide.

 

[AV1611VET]

Do you live in Guam now?

No.

 

[Davian]

Christianity and evolution are not compatible.

From what I gather from you, your interpretation of Christianity and science are not compatible. If science is accurate in describing our world, then there is no 'magic'.

The former is wheat, and the latter is tares.

That you are reduced to veiled insults is amusing, at best.

 

[AV1611VET]

About that, here's an interesting letter from a Cardinal saying that the idea that the Earth revolves around the Sun would destroy the Christian religion.

In the past nine years here, I've seen scientists and armchair scientists alike try to use that as a [pun] testament [/pun] against the Bible.

It didn't work with that Cardinal, and it won't work today.

But they won't give up trying.

 

[AV1611VET]

It's not that simple. You can't be a Christian without believing in Adamic sin nature etc.

I'm going to agree with this.

As my pastor so aptly likes to say:

We're not sinners because we sin; we sin because we're sinners.

 

[AV1611VET]

You can be a Christian while realizing that Adamic sin nature etc is a metaphor.

Jesus didn't die on the Cross for metaphors.

And if the sin nature doesn't exist, why was Jesus born of a virgin?

 

[AV1611VET]

That you are reduced to veiled insults is amusing, at best.

That's because it's easier to accuse someone of insulting you, rather than listen to the "insult," isn't it?

I believe it's called: shooting the messenger.

 

[Davian]

That's because it's easier to accuse someone of insulting you, rather than listen to the "insult," isn't it?

You admit to the intent to insult, then.

I believe it's called: shooting the messenger.

Are you not the one delivering the insults?

 

[selfinflikted]

I'm going to agree with this.

As my pastor so aptly likes to say:

We're not sinners because we sin; we sin because we're sinners.

Riiight. And the Preacher knows the "cure."

Seriously. How can you not see this for the snakeoil salesman it really is?

 

[selfinflikted]

Jesus didn't die on the Cross for metaphors.

And if the sin nature doesn't exist, why was Jesus born of a virgin?

If I were a believer, I would suggest that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. No "sin nature" needed. People sin. Jesus paid the price.

I don't know why Jesus was born of a virgin. I don't believe he was, but if it's important to your theology to accept that as truth, then knock yourself out.

 

[Ryukil]

AVVet:

All I meant to point out with that letter is that "orthodox" interpretations of the Bible HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.
I mean, Martin Luther himself, the original fundamentalist Protestant, if you will, was against the idea of the earth revolving around the sun based on his LITERAL INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE:
"There is talk of a new astrologer who wants to prove that the earth moves and goes around instead of the sky, the sun, the moon, just as if somebody were moving in a carriage or ship might hold that he was sitting still and at rest while the earth and the trees walked and moved. But that is how things are nowadays: when a man wishes to be clever he must . . . invent something special, and the way he does it must needs be the best! The fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside-down. However, as Holy Scripture tells us, so did Joshua bid the sun to stand still and not the earth."

 

[SkyWriting]

1. Don't the genealogies given in the Gospels from Jesus to Adam cover ~6000 years?

That is not a hard number.
There is no evidence the New Testament
churches taught a young earth.

 

[SkyWriting]

2. While evolution is an interesting and creative way to create life, it is also cruel. Natural selection is CRUEL. Creating bacteria and viruses, animals that need to survive by killing and eating other animals.

If animals don't have the potential for
eternal life, or souls, then they are
intended for us to use as food.

Jesus fed people fish. Evidently he
was not concerned for their long
and blissful Nemo like fish life.

Are bacteria people too?

 

[SkyWriting]

4. Where did original sin come from?
.

God decided, after having a gob of angels around him,
that man should have the choice of hanging with Him
or not. Sin against God is the price to pay for having
free will.

 

[Davian]

God decided, after having a gob of angels around him,
that man should have the choice of hanging with Him
or not. Sin against God is the price to pay for having
free will.

Belief is not a choice. I cannot consciously decide what I believe in. Can you?

 

[AV1611VET]

AVVet:

All I meant to point out with that letter is that "orthodox" interpretations of the Bible HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.

No problem.

 

[Queller]

I'm more interested to hear theistic evolutionists explain how the two are compatible, but for those who don't accept it feel free to explain why as well.

For those Christians who DO accept evolution:
1. Don't the genealogies given in the Gospels from Jesus to Adam cover ~6000 years?

Yes. The Bible also says the earth has corners, there is a mountain tall enough from the top of which it is possible to see the entire planet, and gives two different versions of the creation story.

2. While evolution is an interesting and creative way to create life, it is also cruel. Natural selection is CRUEL. Creating bacteria and viruses, animals that need to survive by killing and eating other animals...yeah. If God used evolution...it's basically an assembly line of death, disease, etc., to create the "finished product" - humans. Why would he utilize such a method? Also, how did disease and death exist in a pre-sin world?

Humans have bacteria in our guts that is necessary for the proper digestion of food. How would Adam and Eve been able to eat without bacteria?

3. If humans are special, in that they have souls, when was the soul first introduced into humans? Was it ~ 180,000 years ago when H. sapiens first emerged, or did H. erectus or H. habilis have souls?

When God deemed humans ready, He gave them a soul. That's what "created in the image of God" means.

4. Where did original sin come from?

It is an inherent trait in mankind.

Thanks for your time! I accept evolution by the way, and am searching to see if there can be compatibility that is INTELLECTUALLY HONEST AND CONSISTENT (that's the important part for me. If my worldview is going to be logical, it needs to stand up to scrutiny).

Well, if you accept evolution then how do you answer your questions?

 

[Strathos]

Just as compatible as heliocentrism and Christianity.