Standing_Ultraviolet
Dunkleosteus
- Jul 29, 2010
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To the OP,
Evolution is most definitely a scientific field. The theory of evolution by natural selection has been tested multiple times since its formulation and has succeeded repeatedly in those tests. While evolution cannot be tested in the same way that some scientific theories can be (ie., you can't make a laboratory experiment that will replicate the creation of all life), it still makes predictions that must be proven true for it to be correct. Since these predictions are found to be true much more often than not, and since evolution provides a functional framework for the study of the history of life on Earth (one that scientists and historians have used in multiple fields for around a century now), it is fair to say that the idea that species originate by natural selection is a scientific theory.
Going beyond that, evolution is not mutually exclusive to Christianity. I am a Christian, and I am a member of a long tradition of Christians who accept evolution. This goes back to the earliest days of the theory of evolution by natural selection when one of the theory's largest proponents, Asa Gray, was Catholic. The Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches, the largest branches of Christianity currently in existence, both allow a belief in theistic evolution with the only caveat being that a belief in a literal Adam is necessary. Other Protestant groups also allow theistic evolution, although they tend to be less doctrinally conservative than the RCC and EOC.
I would seriously suggest looking into evolution from resources that are not out to attack either evolution or Christianity so that you can read and understand the information on your own. That is a large part of how I reached my current beliefs regarding evolution and the relationship of evolutionary biology to Holy Scripture.
Evolution is most definitely a scientific field. The theory of evolution by natural selection has been tested multiple times since its formulation and has succeeded repeatedly in those tests. While evolution cannot be tested in the same way that some scientific theories can be (ie., you can't make a laboratory experiment that will replicate the creation of all life), it still makes predictions that must be proven true for it to be correct. Since these predictions are found to be true much more often than not, and since evolution provides a functional framework for the study of the history of life on Earth (one that scientists and historians have used in multiple fields for around a century now), it is fair to say that the idea that species originate by natural selection is a scientific theory.
Going beyond that, evolution is not mutually exclusive to Christianity. I am a Christian, and I am a member of a long tradition of Christians who accept evolution. This goes back to the earliest days of the theory of evolution by natural selection when one of the theory's largest proponents, Asa Gray, was Catholic. The Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches, the largest branches of Christianity currently in existence, both allow a belief in theistic evolution with the only caveat being that a belief in a literal Adam is necessary. Other Protestant groups also allow theistic evolution, although they tend to be less doctrinally conservative than the RCC and EOC.
I would seriously suggest looking into evolution from resources that are not out to attack either evolution or Christianity so that you can read and understand the information on your own. That is a large part of how I reached my current beliefs regarding evolution and the relationship of evolutionary biology to Holy Scripture.
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