Is Evolution Compatible with Christianity?

[Theb]

I'm not trying to start a flame war, or be divisive, I just want to get other people's thoughts on my thoughts. I'm not anti-Christian or anti-Evolution, I'm just trying to figure some things out.

For the Young Earth Creationists, who don't put any stock in Evolution I'm assuming they're answer is a flat no, but I'm more interested in some of the attempts to reconcile Evolution with Christianity. Evolution is a naturalistic explanation of the diversity of species on Earth today and the existence of humans. Briefly, evolution states that random genetic mutations have occurred and when those mutations were beneficial the organism was more likely to be successful and have successful offspring.

There are two main ways I've seen people reconcile Evolution and Christianity and I have some issues with both of them.

The first is that God helped Evolution. God shaped and encouraged Evolution to ultimately yield the organisms that God wanted. The issue I see with this is that it isn't really Evolution. It assumes an intelligent being/entity shaped life on Earth. This seems like Intelligent Design.

The other one is that God created the initial spark of life and Evolution continued unaided from that point. This seems like gambling to me. The organism that God chose to interact with could have ended up quite different if mutations had skewed a different direction. God would have had to have said something like 'I'll get things going and I'll love whatever ends up existing'.


I'd really prefer this thread not get locked, and I realize this is a subject people feel passionately about so please take a deep breath before posting.

 

[BrianH1]

::lawn chair and cooler selling beers 1 for $3 2 for $5:::

 

[yowolabi]

Please..... make it stop.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

*grabs popcorn*

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Science answers "how," religion answers "why."

 

[chairbornrangerx]

I'm not anti-christian either, but I love asking the holy rollers to proove there is a god =)

 

[dullard]

Yes, they are compatible.

Genesis from the bible (in EXACT chronological order from the King James version):
1) Void
2) Energy and light.
3) Earth
4) Water
5) Plant life
6) Water life
7) Birds
8) Mammals
9) Land animals
10) Man.

Evolution theory:
1) Void
2) Light from energy
3) Earth
4) Water
5) Plant life
6) Water life
7/8) Birds/ mammals, I forget which came first
9) Land animals
10) Man.

 

[Canai]

I thought god created animals to be companions for Adam ???

 

[aidanjm]

you might as well ask if intelligence is compatible with christianity. my answer: No.

 

[Canai]

And to OP: Yes, Christianity has evolved from a peace loving Jesus to a persecuting and fear mongering and hopelessly corrupt and rich Vatican.

And God helping evolution defies the basic premises of 'survival of the fittest,' unless one views the 'fittest' as the 'chosen'

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Garth
Science answers "how," religion answers "why."

Exactly.



To the OP: ask the Catholics. They are far and away the largest sect of Christianity, and they teach evolution in their schools as part of their doctrine.

Despite what you might read about here on AT (and other internet sources), the Young Earth Creationists are a small minority of Christians. They only get attention because they happen to be very vocal.

 

[eits]

i believe it is.

 

[rhino56]

what proves to me that there is a god is that there is so much forgiveness in life. here there are all these people who are absent to living due to their minds being at the creation of time, yet they dont die.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: dullard
Yes, they are compatible.

Genesis from the bible (in EXACT chronological order from the King James version):
1) Void
2) Energy and light.
3) Earth
4) Water
5) Plant life
6) Water life
7) Birds
8) Mammals
9) Land animals
10) Man.

Evolution theory:
1) Void
2) Light from energy
3) Earth
4) Water
5) Plant life
6) Water life
7/8) Birds/ mammals, I forget which came first
9) Land animals
10) Man.

yeah, that's why i believe it is.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Canai
I thought god created animals to be companions for Adam ???

It is well-known that Genesis 1 (Elohim text) and Genesis 2 (Yahwist text) are in direct contradiction. Most Christian faiths accept Genesis 1 as doctrine. Once again, like Young Earth Creationists, the "literal interpretaton" group is also a small minority of Christians. Most believe that the Bible is supposed to be a guide.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
you might as well ask if intelligence is compatible with christianity. my answer: No.

So what's your excuse?

You are quite possibly the most bigoted person I've ever met.

 

[nageov3t]

I learned evolution in Catholic high school (granted, they were jesuits )

it really all depends on whether or not you view the bible as a literal, historic document or as more of a symbol to teach christian morality.

 

[DaShen]

Yes it is

 

[randay]

mutant retard monkey buttsecks flying spaghetti monster.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Garth
Science answers "how," religion answers "why."

Exactly.



To the OP: ask the Catholics. They are far and away the largest sect of Christianity, and they teach evolution in their schools as part of their doctrine.

Despite what you might read about here on AT (and other internet sources), the Young Earth Creationists are a small minority of Christians. They only get attention because they happen to be very vocal.

Bingo!

 

[TravisT]

The argument between evolution vs christianity will never end. People who support evolution claim it as fact, although it remains a theory for a reason in the fact that it can not be proven.

As a christian, I realize that I will not be able to prove my beliefs to others. It is the idea behind faith, I think the bible clearly states that until the end there will always be people who doubt the religion. We will never be able to scientifically explain the religion.

I say we just agree to disagree. While I'm much more liberal than many Christians in regards to evolution. I do not believe that evolution is what started and created what we know now as humans. I do believe that animals are capable of adapting over time.

I will likely not revisit this thread, if I do, I will not respond to any hateful or hate baits that you may leave. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss in a calm manner as I am sure this thread will not end that way.

 

[Mermaidman]

Superficially, I think it can be compatible. A god uses evolution to shape life on Earth.

Only problem in Christianity I see is the time frame. According to the Bible, isn't the Earth only a few thousands years old?

 

[Atheus]

You can try to work christianity into evolution however you want, but when you get right down to the facts, they don't fit. The bible says god created adam and eve from his own image completely separately from the animals, and this would mean humans are in a static state, i.e. they have always and will always look the same. Science says no, humans are constantly changing.

 

[Tobolo]

Defintely. The problem with die hard creationists is that God formed the Earth in seven days and evolution cannot have happened in seven days. The Bible say, however, that a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day to God. Basically saying that God is outside of time. So seven days could, and in reality would be, a very very very long time.

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

Yes it is very much compatible except to those who absolutely insist on taking the bible literally.