Why do Christians have trouble with accepting Evolution?

[Hieronymus]

Evolution has been proven, there are no problems that render evolution impossible, and to assert otherwise is to be out of touch with reality.

this...

 

[Hoghead1]

I heart you, Extraneous.However, to me, that sounds like some sort of world-negating philosophy, something from Hellenic philosophy, where the world of time and change is seen as evil, a big illusion. tHe Bible says that the material order is good.

 

[Hoghead1]

So just what is the difference, Noxot?

 

[Hoghead1]

Sonofedward, evolution is one of the best-supported theories in modern science. The reason it got here is because the hard data backs it up.

 

[Hoghead1]

The Bible speaks strongly of the omnipresence of God, Hier. See Jer. 23:23-24. Also the Christian mystical tradition provides a literature rich in personal revelatory accounts of the omnipresence of God.

 

[Hoghead1]

I disagree, Hier. Emotions may be our basic way of connecting to reality. All causality is primarily an affective experience. We do not see the light make the eye blink, but we do feel it. Also, many organisms with no sensory apparatus experience causality. All our conscious experience is based on unconscious, purely affective experience. We are just seeing the tip of the ice berg. In order or us to be conscious, all kinds of noncognitive, nonsensory events have to take place in the brain. Neurons can't see one another, but they certainly can feel one another.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I believe God used evolution and bio-generation to bring life up on the earth. He also enabled life to adjust changes to the environment. Nothing to be afraid of or go into denial over.
It is wisdom.

 

[Hoghead1]

Not all Protestants have to take a literal approach, Kobbern. You are stereotyping Protestants, and, as a Protestant, I do not appreciate that. Also, you are not supposed to be casting aspersion on your fellow Christians in this discussion group.

 

[Archivist]

But gravity is not only a theory.
gravity is a fact you can prove, actually you don't even have to prove it, most everything proves it is a fact every moment in time.

If you read my earlier post you know that I already said that there are both a law of gravity and a theory of gravity. Two different things.

You're right, nobody addressed this.
There are a couple of things you can do with it.
Others have pointed out good reasons to safely assume that Genesis tells just one story,
but with different focus.

Genesis 2:4-7 is a summary of the 6 days of Genesis 1.
Genesis 2:8-25 is the 6th day, and this is all in the Garden of Eden.
Yes, it was a very busy day, that 6th day.
But the Garden is not the earth that God filled with life.
God created trees and plants also in the Garden, although plants were created on the earth on the 3rd day.

But now for the stumbling block: The creation of animals, and Adam naming all of them.
But we're still in the Garden at this point of the story.

In Genesis 2:18 God wants to make Adam a 'help' because Adam shouldn't be alone, and he creates animals, but Adam found no help that 'fit' him.
This problem is solved by God by forming Eve form Adam's rib.
This may imply that God created all female animals, including Eve (the female version of the mammal in God's image) from within the Garden, or that he just created all the animals again for some reason.
Ultimately Eve was formed as a 'fitting help'. Adam was very happy.
This ends the creation week, and God takes the 7th day off.

So on the 7th day, fertile and with an assignment to procreate they stood there naked in Paradise.
It must have been rather hot.
But they have no intercourse before Genesis 4:1

Apparently something ruined the party...
The serpent (could be "the shining one") must have been very distractive..
God was having this day off, perhaps out of courtesy for the young couple and their assignment.
So He says: Where are you, Adam? when He notices something is going on.

I think we'll never find proof for any interpretation, but who knows what tell tale signs we may bump in to in the future...

Except this goes well beyond the plain meaning of what Scripture says. You are making up a number of possibilities to make this work.

 

[RileyG]

I think i know some key ideas. Its because it undermines the creation story and that people will become irreligious?

Well wouldnt that be an issue about the idea of the earth is flat if the bible is literal on that part i mean?

What i mean is that science explains our physicial world. The main point i am making is that Creation Story had two interpretations in medieval ages. Allegory" basically a deeper meaning than it is. Or "Literally" like just like it is written.

So basically allegory seems to be the key point then. Since that can be used. Since God is outside our understanding. Science is a method just to understand the world we live in more or less.

So i dont see the problem with evolution, because it doesnt undermine the scripture in the sense of it not being true?

Although i do believe its a shame that more people who lack understanding go away because of ignorance and just dont bother trying to understand why Christianity is a religion to help your life.

But i am curious to what you think?

I accept Evolution 100%. I believe God created everything. As a religion (Catholic) major, my basic understanding is when God created "Adam" he created humanity. When he created Eve..he created the mother of all the living. They are not historical figures. The point is that there was a first man and first woman.

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Thats wrong though. What i mean is that Jesus says in John. If you do not believe what Moses wrote then how can you believe in my words?. So i dont think its smart to deny or say its not true, since traditionally the first 5 books of the bible is written by Moses according to traditions. It is true, but just in another perspective in terms of Creation etc. Its just to more or less make the irreligious people understand that there is no error, they just dont understand it. Thats the problem more or less.

Jesus didn't say "If you do not believe what Moses wrote". He said the opposite . . .

John 5:46
46 "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.
NASU

 

[keltoi]

So i dont see the problem with evolution, because it doesnt undermine the scripture in the sense of it not being true?

Although i do believe its a shame that more people who lack understanding go away because of ignorance and just dont bother trying to understand why Christianity is a religion to help your life.

But i am curious to what you think?

I don't have a problem with evolution. Having studied archaeology with the team that found Homo Floriensis I have learned from people who are in the field itself. I acknowledge evolution occurs what I don't acknowledge is most of the more prominent theories. If people want to be related to a common ancestor with the Great Apes that's fine and I'm not going to brow beat them for it. I however don't believe that and expect them not to brow beat me.

 

[Hieronymus]

Because it is only a theory.

That means was just somebody's idea.

God said He did it.
God knows.

Gravity is also a theory.

That would explain the confusion..

Except this goes well beyond the plain meaning of what Scripture says.

Why? How?

You are making up a number of possibilities to make this work.

No, i have addressed and tackled your problem with Scripture.
Yes, it is followed by Genesis 1:18-25 and Genesis 3, where i suggest Genesis 3 happened on the 7th day, but that was not about your point.

Bottom line:
Plants and animals were created again in the Garden of Eden, in presence of Adam, who God had put in there.
(They're expelled from the Garden of Eden a.k.a. Paradise in Genesis 3:23)

 

[ScottA]

Foolish Christian...(who told you, you were naked?)...who told you, going for darkness to light, was evolution?

 

[Extraneous]

Foolish Christian...(who told you, you were naked?)...who told you, going for darkness to light, was evolution?

Totally off topic but that made me think. THe light came into the world and the darkness didn't comprehend it, therefore it disobeyed the light, and then saw that it was naked after it disobeyed. Christ was in the beginning, So we were already clothed, it was when we disobeyed that we became naked, unclothed with Christ. In our disobedience we unclothed our self. Our nakedness is seen in our hate, our covetousness, war and total lack of holy reverence. The command is to put on humility, love, and be content with what we have, and to let God be the judge of all men.

Nakedness is (now) also seen by not having Christ cover us because now we need the blood to cover us
(Gods own long suffering towards his disobedient children, His love and his sacrifice of longsuffering towards us). Nakedness is also seen by not putting on Christ which is the spirit, which is love, peace (not war but holy reverence to God who alone is judge) contentment instead of lust for more than we have, gentleness, kindness, humbleness of mind. In all things giving holy reverence to God who alone is Judge, Law enforcement, supplier of our needs. God is all things, and to be holy is to submit to HIs authority and power in all things.

 

[Alithis]

But the Bible isn't literal on that point, referring to the Earth, as it does in one passage, as a sphere.


...and what you're saying is the reason most Christians have come to believe in (theistic) evolution.

The theory of evolution was originally seen as rejecting the possibility of God creating by an act of His will, but if we see Him as having created the laws of the universe and setting them into operation, which in turn resulted in the creation of all that exists in the physical universe...

then evolution is credible and not opposed to Genesis.

if that were so then resurrection is fake

 

[Extraneous]

Be clothed in Christ.


Let me die before i deny Christ. Though i live or die i belong to Him! Surely my soul is in His hands and i can do nothing without Him. What is this suffering i feel? It is nothing but a mere shadow.

Mathew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

 

[Extraneous]

1 Co 12: For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Psalm 23
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

 

[Extraneous]

If only we could see the beauty of Heavens glory, we not care about evolution anymore. I have suffered so much, and i wondered how i would go on. THe Lord is my portion says my soul, i will hope in Him. I will be satisfied with my daily bread and heavenly clothes. His grace is sufficient to sustain me. Though i am so very weak, he is strong. Take me to the cross. Take me there. I am dead and raised with Christ in heaven, i am hidden with Christ in God, in heaven. This world and all its woe is not my home. Praise the Lord! HE restores my soul and leads me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.

 

[Hieronymus]

Totally off topic but that made me think. THe light came into the world and the darkness didn't comprehend it, therefore it disobeyed the light, and then saw that it was naked after it disobeyed. Christ was in the beginning, So we were already clothed, it was when we disobeyed that we became naked, unclothed with Christ. In our disobedience we unclothed our self. Our nakedness is seen in our hate, our covetousness, war and total lack of holy reverence. The command is to put on humility, love, and be content with what we have, and to let God be the judge of all men.

Nakedness is (now) also seen by not having Christ cover us because now we need the blood to cover us
(Gods own long suffering towards his disobedient children, His love and his sacrifice of longsuffering towards us). Nakedness is also seen by not putting on Christ which is the spirit, which is love, peace (not war but holy reverence to God who alone is judge) contentment instead of lust for more than we have, gentleness, kindness, humbleness of mind. In all things giving holy reverence to God who alone is Judge, Law enforcement, supplier of our needs. God is all things, and to be holy is to submit to HIs authority and power in all things.

I believe it is the combination of nakedness (for they were naked but not ashamed) and the knowledge / insight they gained by eating from the tree (and their eyes were opened) and they noticed they were naked, there suddenly is shame about the nakedness, when their eyes were opened (to the knowledge of good and evil a.f.a.i.k.)
When the serpent is described as being in the Garden in the passage about Tyrus, he is described as decked with stones.
God and the angels are dressed too, you see, but now Adam and Eve had become like gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:22), but they were not "dressed for it" (as in not dressed).