Evolution - why do people disagree?

[IvoryRain]

While I am not well versed in everything, why does it seem so many are against the theory of evolution?

 

[ObbiQuiet]

While I am not well versed in everything, why does it seem so many are against the theory of evolution?

Just stop right there! Quickly, unbold that before this gets outta hand and you create another thread arguing weather the theory of evolution is a theory or not!

(edit: and I thought the voltaire quote was: I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.?)

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

The only reasons I've heard to disagree with evolution is because the person already believes in a literal interpretation of Genesis. It's mainly a US and less educated country phenomenon, most other civilized nations don't seem to have so many YEC's.




PS: Yeah, your Voltaire quote sounds wrong. I've always heard it as "I dissaprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

edit: LOL, perfect timing, must have changed the quote before I hit enter. Wonder which of ours is right? Might just depend on the translation /shrug

 

[Arikay]

Most (if not all) seem to be against it for religion reasons. Some get the idea that evolution is an atheist attack against christianity and that a belief in evolution will destroy your faith. thats obviously completly false, but that doesn't stop creationist organizations from suggesting it to people.

The quote is actually not by Voltaire,

"Beatrice Hall

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
-- The Friends of Voltaire, 1906"
http://www.classroomtools.com/voltaire.htm

 

[ObbiQuiet]

The quote is actually not by Voltaire

Then that means I didn't get the question right in jeapordy last year... (world history class)

 

[IvoryRain]

Just stop right there! Quickly, unbold that before this gets outta hand and you create another thread arguing weather the theory of evolution is a theory or not!

(edit: and I thought the voltaire quote was: I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.?)

No, I will not make a word I decided to put in bold not so.

My question again is "...why does it seem so many are against the theory of evolution?"

I did not ask if people are against what evolution stands for, but the theory itself.

You are perceptive and you did read my quote correctly. Am I to be silent with my questions? What makes my right to ask null while your response is valid?

 

[troodon]

The quote is actually not by Voltaire

Exactly, Peter Griffin said it

In answer to the OP (I think, that last post confused me) people disagree with the theory of evolution because they are so attached to their interpretation of Genesis that they can't let go of it. They, subconsciously or not, have equated evolution with atheism and made the logical mistake of deciding that an acceptance of biological evolution is equivalent to denouncing Christ.

 

[IvoryRain]

The quote is actually not by Voltaire,

"Beatrice Hall

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
-- The Friends of Voltaire, 1906"
http://www.classroomtools.com/voltaire.htm

I always think it is amazing how easily the written word gets lost, confused or mistranslated.

Either way, it is a great quote. I'll have to dig and try to come to a source. I was taught in school it was a Voltaire quote.

Who are the friends of Voltaire? Are they those that said the phrase, or are they those that pass the words of his on?


http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/voltaire109645.html

 

[the_malevolent_milk_man]

The reason people here get uppity when people say "the theory of evolution" is because it is usually followed by "it's just a theory with no evidence". Then for the next 5 pages we have to explain why they're wrong, what a scientific theory actually is, why the layman is wrong, and throw in a few insults about having a high school level science education.

He didn't say you couldn't ask, just that you need to be careful how you word things, because that first sentance set off a red alert in my brain and my eyes began to roll, a reflex I've aquired after reading that same sentance typed the same way for the nth time.

 

[David Gould]

I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it. [size=-1]Voltaire (Attributed); originated in "The Friends of Voltaire", 1906, by S. G. Tallentyre (Evelyn Beatrice Hall)[/size]

 

[Jet Black]

My question again is "...why does it seem so many are against the theory of evolution?"

I did not ask if people are against what evolution stands for, but the theory itself.

well lets say the evolutionary concept, because there are always huge misunderstandings over the scientific meaning of the word theory, which result in many creationists saying "evolution is just a THEORY"

that aside, I can see a number of issues people have with evolution

1) It is against their religious principles. The bible states that mankind was made specially, in the image of God. many people interpret this as meaning we are completely different from animals, and since evolution says that we evolved from apes, then we weren't specially created, and are little more than animals with good brains and opposable thumbs.
2) The loss of "feeling special" .... when one adds evolution and abiogenesis together, then all we end up being is a complex chemical reaction, with no real (externally supplied) reason for our existance. people don't like this. people prefer that we have been created by some super-intelligent being for some reason.
3) It goers against literal biblical principles: well this isn't evolution per se, but all of science. science shows that the universe is 13.7billion years old, that the earth is about 4.5 billion, life is about 3 billion and the human race is around a couple of hundred thousand to a few million years old (depending on where you draw the line really). the so called "literal interpretation" of genesis puts the six day creation at about 6000 yerars ago.

 

[David Gould]

Arikay already posted the link - that will teach me to read before I post.

 

[Arikay]

Speaking of the quote, I really like it to, which is why I have that link quoted (mainly because I always forget the correct wording )

I believe "friends of voltaire" was a book.

 

[IvoryRain]

I'll just make it a point to only post "fluff" posts on this forum in the future since questions obviously cause great embarassment to other members here.

The down side, of course, is it'll be easier to discuss things outside of a christian setting - which kind of ruins the reason I had planned on using this forum.

There is no way I can edit every question in order not to raise hackles here - has it always been that one can easily be attacked for something they want to further their education on?

Where can I go, outside of a christian forum, to learn more about evolution, or the theory of? At this point, finding answers / asking questions / learning and coming to a conclusion the best way possible is my mission.


edited to add: Some of you have great responses which do give me things to ponder. However I will be leaving this discussion without further question or comment. I believe it'll be in everyones best interest if I go elsewhere in my research and with my questions.

 

[David Gould]

What makes you think that you can only ask 'fluff' questions? Hasn't your question been answered by some people above?

I am not sure I understand.

But if you want to learn more about evolution, talk to Lucaspa. Or if you want the lesser version, go to talkorigins.

 

[Arikay]

what suggests you should only post fluff questions?

 

[David Gould]

And you will always face some form of attack. But note that you personally are not being attacked if someone questions your use of particular word or phrase - the usage of that word or phrase is being attacked.

 

[ObbiQuiet]

www.talkorigins.org

 

[Jet Black]

I'll just make it a point to only post "fluff" posts on this forum in the future since questions obviously cause great embarassment to other members here.

The down side, of course, is it'll be easier to discuss things outside of a christian setting - which kind of ruins the reason I had planned on using this forum.

There is no way I can edit every question in order not to raise hackles here - has it always been that one can easily be attacked for something they want to further their education on?

Where can I go, outside of a christian forum, to learn more about evolution, or the theory of? At this point, finding answers / asking questions / learning and coming to a conclusion the best way possible is my mission.

everyone seems to be more interested in volataire this morning, sorry about that it's not normally this bad.

a good site about evolution and so on is www.talkorigins.org they have a pretty extensive FAQ on this sort of thing, and an awful lot of evidence should you wish to look through it. Note that this particular area is full of atheists, agnostics and other neer-do-wells, but there is a christian only forum under the theology section.

 

[Jet Black]

But if you want to learn more about evolution, talk to Lucaspa. Or if you want the lesser version, go to talkorigins.

lol... post of the day, and it's only 8am.