This Christian's view of Evolution

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

I have noticed that a lot of threads here (rightly) criticize the strange rejection of the theory of evolution by many conservative Christians.

I thought I might share my views in order to add another Christian perspective to the debate.

I believe in Intelligent Design.

I also believe in evolution.

I believe that these are two answers to DIFFERENT questions.

Evolution answers HOW things were created.

Religion/Christianity/Intelligent Design answer WHY things were created.

[Maestro]

1. Well if more conservative christians thought

that way, there may be room for debate, but the ultra conservative christians that I have run into can't stomach the idea of evolution. They just look at me and say, "I did not come from apes. I was made in the image of God by God, the Almighty." Sorry, but I wish I had run into more like you. I am pretty fed up with these instransigent people.

[beam me up scottie]

7. I would like to see what would happen

"if more conservative christians thought"

[Erika]

2. I don't believe in intelligent design.

Where is there intelligence in a design that produces miscarriages, stillborns, and disease?

[Maat]

3. I definitely see your point.

I belong to the Church of Relgious Science, and the point is that religion and science are compatible. It is a New Thought church. It's like what 'God' describes in 'Conversations with God' by Walshe.


I, like you, believe in evolution. It is a scientific process, and describes what changes occur to life over the years.

I believe that the Creator 'created' this clever system.

We're given the choice as to whether or not we consider ourselves a 'Christian.' We believe that Jesus was a Master Teacher and a highly-enlightened one, and we're all divine. I feel that Jesus expressed these sentiments. While I, personally, do not consider myself a 'Christian,' I consider myself a fan of Christ's teachings.

I agree with you - science and religion are compatible. Only the most exteme consider the earth to only be (literally) 6,000 years old.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. if you spelled it with small letters, I might be willing to go along

as in: intelligent design. But capitalizing it - Intelligent Design - means one is talking about the fundy Christian "science" that is just Creationism in a different cloak. It's still completely wrong, both scientifically and theologically.

But the idae of perhaps intelligent design? I can't say there isn't. I'm a firm evolutionist, and a Christian, who believes God made everything and let it unfold. Which in a way is intelligent design - but I wouldn't call it that, just because if one is speaking, you can't speak in terms of lowercase letters, and so people won't know if I'm making a scientific claim that mixes in some belief (intelligent design) or if I'm attempting to force scientific findings to fit a rather intellectually bankrupt bit of theological opinion. Also, the term "intelligent design", and I speak only theologically know, makes it seem that God works in some way on an intellectual level like ours - that God's intelligence is something we can understand, that makes sense, etc. Perhaps "Unintelligable design" would be a better term. Or "unfathomable design". But those are still weak.

The theology must ALWAYS leave room for the science, and the theology must ALWAYS bend to the truth of science; science should never, ever, ever be forced into fitting a theological framework. Ever. And Intelligent Design does exactly that.

I will also disagree on two other things:

1) Evolution does not answer how things were created - it answers how creation has evolved.

2) And religion doesn't answer WHY things were created - but it does explore the question. Once religion answers that question, then it is no longer a viable religion - it is a form of fundamentalism. Religion is also the process of trying to come up with an answer of "Given that we have all this matter around us and lives to lead, how do we respond to it all?"

But on the other hand, both of us have given answers that are only a few sentences long, and so they both suffer greatly for want of more development and nuance.

[Erika]

5. Ah, excuse me.

Where is intelligent design that produces miscarriages, stillborns, and diseases. What intelligent being would do that?

[progmom]

6. It sounds like you're having a hard time.

I hope things get better for you. I know that's an unbearable experience. :hug: