The basics of evolution in plain language

[Mistermystery]

also to Kasey: I'm sorry to have misjudged you in the beginning. I honestly thought that you haven't come here to learn. Reading through this thread has altered that idea however. I'm sorry I sounded so harsh in the beginning.

 

[gluadys]

Thank you, gluadys. You explained all that far better than I could have ever hoped to do so.

Dragar

Hey, you did real well!

 

[ChrisB803]

Thanks to everyone for their hard work in taking the time to reply. You're all very well versed in what you believe, and for that I commend you.

As for the comments about Adam and Eve, they would not have had much need for a rapid evolution, because the environment of the world was likely very stable until after the flood. Aside from that, intelligent creatures like humans are able to provide their own means to survive, rather than having to rely on natural progression to provide it. It's obvious that at some time in history mankind had other means of survival, such as hairier bodies, more teeth, even sharper senses to locate predators by smell or sound. I think where Creationists have a hard time is not so much in accepting a form of evolution to explain the formation of newer and better adapted species, but in attempting to explain how this all began.

Let me just throw out a.... I wanted to say theory there, but obviously that wouldn't be right because I have very little evidence. Let me just pose a 'what if' and see what people think:

The universe could be said to exist of only one thing: Energy. The building blocks of matter consist of electrons, protons, and neutron, if I remember my limited science knowledge from school oh so long ago. Let's presume for a moment that God is nothing like we envision Him, but is instead simply a form of pure energy. Sure the Bible says we are created in the image of God, but we can assume that is talking about our spirit within the body, and that the body is simply a vehicle for survival in a world of gravity. So let's say that God is pure energy, and that because of that He can actually manipulate parts of HIMSELF through simple thought to create matter, which is just basically energy in denser form.

So now we have creation in a literal form. Essentially sentient energy using itself to form matter. From that matter comes organic life, created again by an interaction of energy. The Bible says that man was formed from the dust of the ground, and then God breathed the breath of life into him. It also says, even before it speaks of Adam, "Male and female created He THEM". So then let's assume that the creation story is not a literal seven days, but instead is an accelorated evolutionary process, with God as the guide.

Is there any way that any of you would possibly accept this possibility?

 

[Dal M.]

Is there any way that any of you would possibly accept this possibility?

Pantheists would probably be receptive to it.

 

[ChrisB803]

Pantheists would probably be receptive to it.

Why do you say that? The theory I put forth would make it nearly impossible for there to be more than one God. In essence all things that exist, including angels and demons, would do so only at His willing it. I'm not trying to get into religious topics here, I'm just putting forth another possible explaination, not just for evolution, but for the creation of matter itself.

 

[TheUndeadFish]

Is there any way that any of you would possibly accept this possibility?

So basically, your idea is that the universe essentially is God (or part of him) rather than being created by him. I seem to recall hearing of other religions that have had similar ideas. Anyway, it's interesting theological speculation, but it has left the realm of science.

 

[ChrisB803]

So basically, your idea is that the universe essentially is God (or part of him) rather than being created by him. I seem to recall hearing of other religions that have had similar ideas. Anyway, it's interesting theological speculation, but it has left the realm of science.

The two ideas are not mutually exclusive. Even if the universe is created of the essence of God (and I'm not saying it is, since this is just a 'what if' and not a concrete or proveable theory), He would still have had to have had the will to create the things that exist.

Psalms 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the earth shows His handiwork".

Personally I don't know how the creation process took place exactly, I only know that I can reach no other conclusion for the existence of matter AND life outside of a divine influence. For science to ignore all the evidence of such a force that has been exhibited throughout history is the essence of humanistic egotism.

 

[TheUndeadFish]

The two ideas are not mutually exclusive. Even if the universe is created of the essence of God (and I'm not saying it is, since this is just a 'what if' and not a concrete or proveable theory), He would still have had to have had the will to create the things that exist.

Ah, my wording was a bit off. I should have wrote something like "rather than being something external created by God". Anyway, I do understand what your idea is.

Personally I don't know how the creation process took place exactly, I only know that I can reach no other conclusion for the existence of matter AND life outside of a divine influence. For science to ignore all the evidence of such a force that has been exhibited throughout history is the essence of humanistic egotism.

The problem is that evidence part. Is there clear, undenyable evidence for a divine influence? As far as I've heard, there isn't. Without evidence, science can't say anything about God. Now if you think there is specific evidence that points directly to God and has no possible natural explanations... well, I'd like to see it.

 

[gluadys]

Why do you say that? The theory I put forth would make it nearly impossible for there to be more than one God. In essence all things that exist, including angels and demons, would do so only at His willing it. I'm not trying to get into religious topics here, I'm just putting forth another possible explaination, not just for evolution, but for the creation of matter itself.

I don't understand your question. Pantheism generally posits only one God who is in essence the sum total of all existence.

I agree, your idea is fairly consistent with panthiesm, though it probably leans more toward panentheism.

 

[USincognito]

Is there any way that any of you would possibly accept this possibility?

No. The formula is e=mc2, not e=ec2.