Why does evolution threaten God?

[lucaspa]

AV made the claims:
1. He was not anti-science but rejected "historical evolution".
2. When science "messes with the Bible my fangs come out".

So this is to the creationists: why do you think evolution threatens God? Why do you think other scientific theories -- Relativity, chemistry, cell theory, optics, etc. -- do not threaten God?

 

[AV1611VET]

So this is to the creationists: why do you think evolution threatens God?

Nothing threatens God; but evolution, in my opinion, is blasphemy.

Adam and Eve were not mutant copy-errors made in God's image.

 

[Chesterton]

AV made the claims:
1. He was not anti-science but rejected "historical evolution".
2. When science "messes with the Bible my fangs come out".

So this is to the creationists: why do you think evolution threatens God? Why do you think other scientific theories -- Relativity, chemistry, cell theory, optics, etc. -- do not threaten God?

You could pose the same question to people like Dawkins. He's said he abandoned Christianity when he learned about evolution. So apparently for him God was threatened by that knowledge. I really don't understand the thinking on either side of the issue.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

You could pose the same question to people like Dawkins. He's said he abandoned Christianity when he learned about evolution. So apparently for him God was threatened by that knowledge. I really don't understand the thinking on either side of the issue.

*runs to Dawkins' rescue*

Wikipedia:

"Though [Dawkins] began having doubts about the existence of God when he was about nine years old, he was persuaded by the argument from design, an argument for the existence of God or a creator based on perceived evidence of order, purpose, or design in nature, and embraced Christianity.[17] In his mid-teens, he concluded that the theory of evolution was a better explanation for life's complexity, and ceased believing in God.[17]"

In other words, the complexity of life was the only thing that lead him to believe in God.

So, as I've said before, the theory of common descent is only a threat to theists who base their faith solely on biological complexity. The only gods that are threatened by evolution are those who are de dicto necessarily incompatible with it. The mythology of the liberal Christian isn't threatened by evolution, but the mythology of the more literal Christian is.

*flies off*

 

[Cabal]

Evolution doesn't threaten God.

It only threatens certain human ideas of God.

If you built your faith up on that sand, that's your own fault.

 

[Chesterton]

In his mid-teens, he concluded that the theory of evolution was a better explanation for life's complexity, and ceased believing in God.[17]"

In other words, the complexity of life was the only thing that lead him to believe in God.

Wiki is saying the same thing I said, isn't it?

So, as I've said before, the theory of common descent is only a threat to theists who base their faith solely on biological complexity. The only gods that are threatened by evolution are those who are de dicto necessarily incompatible with it. The mythology of the liberal Christian isn't threatened by evolution, but the mythology of the more literal Christian is.

I think biological complexity is neither here nor there for atheism or theism - I think the TOE is only a threat for theists who take the first chapters of Genesis literally, and likewise, it's only a weapon for atheists who take the first chapters of Genesis literally.

 

[Cody2]

Evolution is a joke.

 

[Cabal]

Evolution is a joke.

Wow, guys, I think he's right. I can't believe no-one ever delivered such a stunning and detailed scientific refutation of the ToE before.

Pack up the labs, guys, no sense in continuing.

 

[AV1611VET]

Evolution is a joke.

11

 

[Chesterton]

Wow, guys, I think he's right. I can't believe no-one ever delivered such a stunning and detailed scientific refutation of the ToE before.

Pack up the labs, guys, no sense in continuing.

Well evolution is funny and unexpected like a joke. Start out near the beginning with worms and jellyfish, and wind up with Shakespeare and astronauts and what-not.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

Evolution is a joke.

Nonetheless, if it were true, would it pose a threat to God? Is the existence of God dependant on how one interprets Genesis? Can one believe in both God and evolution (regardless of how much of a joke you may think it is)?

 

[Cabal]

Well evolution is funny and unexpected like a joke. Start out near the beginning with worms and jellyfish, and wind up with Shakespeare and astronauts and what-not.

I tend to rate my jokes by whether they actually contain humour and make me laugh.

Call me old-fashioned, hey....

 

[Cody2]

Nonetheless, if it were true, would it pose a threat to God? Is the existence of God dependant on how one interprets Genesis? Can one believe in both God and evolution (regardless of how much of a joke you may think it is)?

No, one cannot believe the Bible and Evolution at the same time. They contradict each other.

 

[Michael]

Nothing threatens God; but evolution, in my opinion, is blasphemy.

That's an interesting position. Catholics don't feel that way. I certainly don't feel that way. I guess the only "Christian" that might feel that way is one that "interprets" the Bible in a very "specific" way. What exactly makes it "blasphemy" in your opinion?

 

[Michael]

No, one cannot believe the Bible and Evolution at the same time. They contradict each other.

I should point out that Catholics believe in evolution. Many self professed "Christians" are able to reconcile evolution and their "religion". It seems to me that your claim is entirely subjective.

 

[driewerf]

AV made the claims:
1. He was not anti-science but rejected "historical evolution".
2. When science "messes with the Bible my fangs come out".

So this is to the creationists: why do you think evolution threatens God? Why do you think other scientific theories -- Relativity, chemistry, cell theory, optics, etc. -- do not threaten God?

I have a hypothesis about this.
Not all the christians reject science (like the theory of evolution, star formation, cosmology etc.). Catholics for example combine their faith with science without any problem.
Why? Because their religion is much "richer": they have the pope, the Virgin Mary, a collection of saints, the rosary etc. While evangelicals have rejected all this and have only the Bible left. Take that from them and they have nothing anymore. I think that is why evangelicals are so anxious to see their bible proven untrue. Once they claimed that the bible is the inerrant word of god, true cover to cover, the slightest doubt can bring down the whole contruction.
That is why creationists themselves claim that "If gensis is not tru than the bible isn't true and than everuthing is allowed, like murder or rape". Nonsens of course, but that makes their followers anxious enough not to ask questions. Nobody wants rapists and murderers free.

Now about the part in red. Some creationists (i'm not sure wether all do this, Kent Hovind certainly does) create a false dychotomy: everthing that doesn't contradict the bible is science, everything else is "evolution". So they can put cosmology and tyhe Big bang theory in the same basket as abiogenesis and "darwinian" evolution.

 

[Wiccan_Child]

No, one cannot believe the Bible and Evolution at the same time. They contradict each other.

Even if one interprets Genesis metaphorically (e.g., God guided life to ensure humans would eventually evolve, and then breathed a 'spirit' into them)?

 

[Chesterton]

No, one cannot believe the Bible and Evolution at the same time. They contradict each other.

I notice you didn't say "one cannot believe Christianity and Evolution at the same time". What you mean is "one cannot believe a literal reading of the first chapters of Genesis and Evolution at the same time", right?

 

[Michael]

AV made the claims:
1. He was not anti-science but rejected "historical evolution".
2. When science "messes with the Bible my fangs come out".

So this is to the creationists: why do you think evolution threatens God? Why do you think other scientific theories -- Relativity, chemistry, cell theory, optics, etc. -- do not threaten God?

I respectfully suggest that you should replace the term "God", with 'religion" in your statement since many 'Christians" do not find evolution and God to be at odds. It seems to me that only a "religion" could be threatened by a specific branch of "science".

 

[Michael]

I notice you didn't say "one cannot believe Christianity and Evolution at the same time". What you mean is "one cannot believe a literal reading of the first chapters of Genesis and Evolution at the same time", right?

Ding ding ding, you hit the nail on the head.