Evolution and Immorality?

[urbanxy]

I've heard/read several times from Creationists that the Thoery of Evolution has caused or will eventually cause a decline in social morality. If we could forego for this thread the myriad scientific discussions; could someone explain this notion? Where is this connection between evolution and immorality?

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[ZerroEnna]

I'll ltry to be as objective as I can. Don't assume this is what I believe. Creation gives some people the notion of being special that we humans are God's "chosen" creation if you will. Evolution on the other hand, suggesting that we evolved from a common ancestor links us to other animals. Animals, in a creationists mind, that are beneath us. This takes away the notion of being "special". To some, it would seem, that if we aren't special we weren't put here for a purpose and that this is all seemingly random. Why should we act a certain way if it's random. This would lead to no moral or ethical obligations. You must also understand that creationists believe that humans are inherintly evil and are going to act evil unless guided towards good.

 

[Mystman]

There is the "well, if we're just animals, why don't we behave like animals" thing.

Also, many creationists make the assumption of "evolution = atheism", and that thus the bible goes out of the window entirely when seeing evolution as truth. With the Bible out of the window, all of God's rules about how to behave have also become invalid.

 

[urbanxy]

So, essentially, Creationists believe that humans are not animals (doesn't the entire field of Biology teach that humans are animals?); and that it's impossible for us to act morally without the threat of God's punishment?

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[Pseudonym]

It mostly has to do with the Great Chain of Being. Creationists believe that all species fall into a natural hierarchical system which places different beings above and below others. In a nutshell the Great Chain of Being looks like this:

- God
- Angels
- Humans
- Beasts
- Plants
- Rocks

In this system God is superior to angels, angels are superior to humans, etc. Of course within each division there are even more divisions (for example, not all humans are equal, not all angels are equal, etc.), but the above division explains the argument of morality just fine.

If Evolution is true, then somewhere along the line humans evolved from beasts and are therefore beasts themselves. Since humans are supposed to be superior to beasts in terms of morality, saying that humans are beasts throws off the entire Great Chain of Being. This makes it seem that since humans are nothing more than animals, then we do not have the superior sense of morality that God supposedly gave us.

 

[michabo]

Evolution occurs. What we do with this information is our responsibility, not that of evolution.

It is all too typical to see Creationists blaming knowledge for social ills, as they are virulently anti-intellectual. Perhaps this stems back to the old Genesis story, where it is the acquisition of knowledge which is punished by expulsion from paradise.

 

[Hydra009]

So, essentially, Creationists believe that humans are not animals

Yes. Humans are believed to be specially created by God as the pinnacle of creation and are not animals or related to animals.

Among creationists, the term "animal" is often taken as meaning bestial or brutish, instead of the formal definition of a member of the kingdom Animalia (an organism with locomotion, nonphotosynthetic metabolism, pronounced response to stimuli, restricted growth, and fixed bodily structure, etc).

(doesn't the entire field of Biology teach that humans are animals?)

Yes.

and that it's impossible for us to act morally without the threat of God's punishment?

That's the belief.

 

[Split Rock]

So, essentially, Creationists believe that humans are not animals (doesn't the entire field of Biology teach that humans are animals?); and that it's impossible for us to act morally without the threat of God's punishment?
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That's pretty much it in a nutshell. One of the basic premises of creationism is the historical Adam and Eve. If there was no actual Adam and Eve, then the following senario unfolds:

1. There was no Original Sin

2. Without Original Sin, there is no need for a Savior (Christ)

3. Without Christ there is no God

4. Without God, there is no moral standard, or purpose in life.

5. This will then allow humans to watch porn and thereby decend into animality, and encourage Homosexuals to get married, thereby destroying the institution of marriage.

 

[madarab]

ICR has this really explicit thing where it shows the trees of evolution and creationism and the "fruits" of those trees. I couldn't find a picture because the graphic is far more... well illustrative.

taken from http://www.sdcitybeat.com/article.php?id=1009

"Finally, two large illustrations near the exit put all cards on the table. The “harmful philosophies” and “evil practices” listed as the fruit of a decrepit-looking “Evolutionary Tree” included Communism, Nazism, racism, pornography, genocide, slavery, abortion, infanticide, homosexuality, child abuse, bestiality and drug culture.

Conversely, a flourishing “Creationist Tree” bore such fruits as faith, morality, hope, Americanism, government, education, history and science—all preceded by the word “True.”"

 

[Loudmouth]

If ants evolved why do they have such a strict social structure? It seems that societies and social species can evolve, and have evolved. Morals are the fiber of those social interactions.

 

[JohnR7]

I've heard/read several times from Creationists that the Thoery of Evolution has caused or will eventually cause a decline in social morality.
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It depends on what you mean by morality. Evolution works off of what produces the most babies. So does morality cause more or less babies to be produced?

 

[urbanxy]

If ants evolved why do they have such a strict social structure? It seems that societies and social species can evolve, and have evolved. Morals are the fiber of those social interactions.

I would appear that "behaving like animals" could mean any number of things. There are countless examples of social animals exhibiting cooperation and sacrifice for the "greater good" of the group.

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[TheBear]

It depends on what you mean by morality.

You can always count on creationists for evasive answers.

 

[Athene]

ICR has this really explicit thing where it shows the trees of evolution and creationism and the "fruits" of those trees. I couldn't find a picture because the graphic is far more... well illustrative.

taken from http://www.sdcitybeat.com/article.php?id=1009

"Finally, two large illustrations near the exit put all cards on the table. The “harmful philosophies” and “evil practices” listed as the fruit of a decrepit-looking “Evolutionary Tree” included Communism, Nazism, racism, pornography, genocide, slavery, abortion, infanticide, homosexuality, child abuse, bestiality and drug culture.

Conversely, a flourishing “Creationist Tree” bore such fruits as faith, morality, hope, Americanism, government, education, history and science—all preceded by the word “True.”"

What exactly is Americanism?

And could i infer from this that the only thing stopping these people from having sex with animals, abusing children and snorting cocaine is their religion?

 

[urbanxy]

It depends on what you mean by morality. Evolution works off of what produces the most babies. So does morality cause more or less babies to be produced?

By morality, I mean both a personal conscience, which determines right from wrong; and a shared code of conduct within a greater community. The question is: how is there any connection between the Theory of Evolution and a decline in social morality?

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[Mocca]

It depends on what you mean by morality. Evolution works off of what produces the most babies. So does morality cause more or less babies to be produced?

Evolution "works off of what produces the most babies," sure.

But this doesn't mean that humans should have as many babies as possible.

It doesn't mean that humans have to have tons and tons of babies to be successful as a species.

It's just a fact. You don't get "ought to" from facts.

 

[urbanxy]

What exactly is Americanism?...

Americanism is a psychological condition characterized by an all-pervasive optimism and an inability to learn Geography or foreign languages. The condition invariably leads to obesity and shopping at Walmart.

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[cobweb]

Americanism is a psychological condition characterized by an all-pervasive optimism and an inability to learn Geography or foreign languages. The condition invariably leads to obesity and shopping at Walmart.

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Oh no! I've caught it.

Please tell me there is a cure... and that it comes deep-fried.

 

[Split Rock]

Americanism is a psychological condition characterized by an all-pervasive optimism and an inability to learn Geography or foreign languages. The condition invariably leads to obesity and shopping at Walmart.

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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to urbanxy again.

 

[urbanxy]

All indications are that Americanism is virulent and is, in fact, spreading across the globe!