What is your experience as a theistic-evolution Christian?

[chaoschristian]

Howdy all!

I first want to say how happy I am to have found a forum on a Christian BBS that is devoted to Christians who accept evolution and science. I looking forward to learning from you and hopefully contributing back something of value.

My experience on other Christian forums has been very negative, and more often than not discussions and debates devolve into ad hominem attacks and sadly the other party or parties inevitably take out the "You're-Not-A-Real-Christian" hammer and start whacking away with it.

What's your experience been? And how have you handled the negative attacks?

 

[vossler]

I know you're not asking for the view of a YEC like myself, but I think you'll be very happy here! TEs are the majority here and do a good job of protecting each other and the ad hominem attacks are usually few are far between.

You've found yourself a good place to promote and defend your worldview.

 

[gluadys]

Howdy all!

I first want to say how happy I am to have found a forum on a Christian BBS that is devoted to Christians who accept evolution and science. I looking forward to learning from you and hopefully contributing back something of value.

My experience on other Christian forums has been very negative, and more often than not discussions and debates devolve into ad hominem attacks and sadly the other party or parties inevitably take out the "You're-Not-A-Real-Christian" hammer and start whacking away with it.

What's your experience been? And how have you handled the negative attacks?

My experience has been much the same. Fortunately one of the rules here is that one may not use the "you're not a real Christian" hammer. Sometimes it is tried, but not very often.

I find that scientifically, I learn more in the open forum, where more actual science is discussed. If that is what you are looking for, may I recommend especially the C&E thread archive, and The Quiet Thread

A few other goodies are The Systematic Classification of Life and An Archeological Moment in Time both by Aron-Ra and Six Lines of Evidence by Mikeynov.

Here in Origins Theology, as you might expect, the discussion tends to be more focused on biblical interpretation and defending the validity of a literal or non-literal interpretation.

 

[gluadys]

Though I feel like using "U R not A Christian", I will not use it because, you are my sister in Christ. I want to show you using Science how Evolution cannot occur and is impossible.

No matter what, Chemical Evolution is impossible. It cannot and will not happen as it will violate all the Laws of Chemistry. EVen after millions of years, this is impossible.I will demonstrate this later. Merry Christmas to yoall.

well, evolution is not about chemistry. It is not about the origin of life either. Before you try again, better learn what evolution is about and why scientists consider it a fact. Please take note that it is not possible to get reliable information about evolution from a creationist site.

I recommend this site for a basic grounding in what evolution is all about.



And a Merry Christmas to you too.

 

[mark kennedy]

Howdy all!

I first want to say how happy I am to have found a forum on a Christian BBS that is devoted to Christians who accept evolution and science. I looking forward to learning from you and hopefully contributing back something of value.

My experience on other Christian forums has been very negative, and more often than not discussions and debates devolve into ad hominem attacks and sadly the other party or parties inevitably take out the "You're-Not-A-Real-Christian" hammer and start whacking away with it.

What's your experience been? And how have you handled the negative attacks?

My experience has been that the evolutionists (atheistic materialist type) are flame happy. The creationists are not well read on the sciences they discuss, I love them and all, but not a lot of help with technical details. I have had a lot of fun with the TEs though, they do a great job keeping it civil and substantive at the same time.

I never really got into the Christian/nonchristian thing. I had a lot of run ins over baptism, the Trinity, gifts of the Holy Spirit, Church traditions...etc, well before I got into apologetics and eventually into the creation/evolution controversy. Christians quibble over the strangest things and I never seem to get into the things that are really on my mind in these discussions. I don't have a real problem with TEs to tell you the truth, it's secular humanism, pragmatism and things along those lines that concern me the most.

I'm a confirmed YEC, I base that on religious convictions that I hold way above natural science and don't mind admitting this. I also realize that there are a lot of different perspectives on evolution and the Bible and I think these discussions have expanded my understanding of Life Science exponentially. Still I think the Scriptures are clear that we can't know for sure what is in a persons heart who holds a view we find wrong or even offensive.

I honestly wish these discussions could be more civil and substantive. There is such a wealth of knowledge in the Life Sciences and in the Bible. Who's idea was it to make them mutually exclusive?

By the way, I'm a moderator on here and if you have any suggestions about improving the quality of these discussions I am glad to hear them. I am also well aquainted with some of the staff involved in the creation/evolution forum. Feel free to PM me with any questions, concerns or suggestions any time.

Grace and peace,
Mark

 

[shernren]

I got here late, but for me the TE experience really isn't all too different from any typical Christian experience ... besides the fact that every so often somebody will tell me that I'm not one. I guess that really teaches me patience and what it means to deny myself and my rights. TEism doesn't really make any difference in my life as a Christian, besides giving me a more coherent response framework towards scientifically-minded atheists. That's what convinces me that in the end nobody is qualified to judge anybody else's faith based solely on what they believe of Genesis.

 

[Deamiter]

Once again, we've had some serious debating in the TE forum. I'd like to point out once again that this will continue to be unacceptable! You may NOT point out how TEs are wrong in this forum any more than they may point out how YECs are wrong in the YEC forum!

Vossler and Mark Kennedy have provided perfect examples of "fellowship posts" designed to build bridges rather than foster debate. They will always be welcome here. But ALL debating must be confined to the open Origins Theology forum. In these subforums such debate is forbidden.

If this is not clear to you, please send me a PM and let me know what you don't understand BEFORE posting in either the YEC or TE subforums!

 

[Ave Maria]

I have yet to encounter much opposition to my position. But then again, I don't really hang around Fundamentalists very often either.

 

[Willtor]

I used to attend a Fundamentalist Church (when I was an undergrad). Theistic Evolution was not well-liked. When I came to Theistic Evolutionist conclusions, I never took much flack (to their overwhelming credit), though I was certainly not encouraged in these views.

On CF, I've found a much more open atmosphere. I kind of like the variety provided by YECs and TEs on the same forums. Even though we debate, and even though I often feel very misunderstood (what else is new?), I welcome the opportunity to discuss such things in a moderated sort of way (moderated to prevent flames, not to prohibit ideas).

 

[Didaskomenos]

Well, the effects of my "coming out" haven't been the same as I would have thought. Being from an evangelical (although not entirely Fundie) background and having such family and friends, I was sore afraid to out myself as a TE. I decided to keep quiet for the most part, while occasionally critiquing YEC views as they might mention them. For instance, when one of them recommended a Hovind video, I let them know that he was widely discredited even among YEC's. When one of them makes a comment that shows their disgust with the theory of evolution as they understand it, I point out the flaw with their logic in hopes that they will not be so gung-ho about believing the very next thing they hear that confirms what they want to believe about the creation debate.

They've started to catch on that I'm a TE, although I don't think any of them are brave enough to ask me, yet. What I noticed, however, is not that they have ostricized me, but rather that they just value my opinions on other matters less, assuming that my position is going to be "liberal", and therefore false ipso facto. This was unexpected, and more hurtful than ostricization.

 

[DailyBlessings]

In general, I find that holding a theistic evolutionist viewpoint is easier to do on CF than in real life- and I appreciate it greatly.