Does the Theory of Evolution promote atheism?

Pamela - posted on 04/28/2011

It certainly doesn't have to. I am a follower of Jesus and I also happen to accept evolution. And frankly, both my boys attend the public school system here in Minnesota which has never been hostile to our faith. I do not equate evolution with hostility to Jesus or the bible.

Emma - posted on 04/05/2010

Im an Atheist and I don't think the theory of evaluation promotes atheism at all, Im the only atheist in my entire family and extended family and friends ect most of i think that evolution is a valid theory but most are still believers in god maybe not creationism but god.

science class is for the teaching of scientific theory and Religious study is for learning about religious theory
It is our job as parents not the schools to instil our belief systems in our children, your children will face opposition to there beliefs as we do not all hold the same ones and you should prepare them for that too,
im very sure you if you are a beliver have explained that even though you can not see, god you have faith in his existence. and you reasons for this.

LaCi - posted on 04/02/2010

"Evolution is simply a fact, it has no bearing on faith, unless you live in Texas."



The whole world laughs at Texas. That made my day. Thank you.

Johnny - posted on 04/02/2010

As Jenny stated:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/e...

Jenny - posted on 04/02/2010

Even the Pope has come out in support of evolution. I've heard he's not a huge proponent of atheism. Evolution is simply a fact, it has no bearing on faith, unless you live in Texas.

Mary - posted on 04/02/2010

I went through 12 years of Catholic school. Bible stories were taught in religion class, evolution in science. Perhaps it was swayed by the fact that I was taught by some intelligent, more liberal WOMEN, but it was never suggested to me that evolution was "non-Christian".



As well, I do not believe in the literal translation of the bible...it was written by man, and as history and further study has proven, parts of the original gospels have been removed entirely based on the opinions of the religious leaders of that time, for not protraying what THEY believed to be "appropriate" content. That really sealed the deal for me on interpreting the bible as anything more than man's skewed recollection of the words of God based on civilization as it existed in the time(s) the various books and gospels were written.

Shannon - posted on 04/02/2010

Really???

Minnie - posted on 04/02/2010

Interesting...I am a Christian, and I believe in evolution.



Much of the Bible is poetic license and hyperbole.

Good Day! - posted on 03/31/2010

Thanks for your perspective on it Carol. I'll think of it that way from now on. You are right, rejecting Christianity and claiming atheism (if that is the correct way to phrase it) are different.

But I like to remember this quote, because I don't want to be the judgmental, hypocritical person that turns people off to the Savior I love. I guess this verse would be a little more accurate: 1 John 1:6 says, "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." Or James 2:12, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has not deeds?" Or 1 Corinthians 13, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

I can preach the love of Christ all day long, but if I don't actually show love then what good is it?

And I think I've gotten way off topic...wasn't this supposed to be about evolution? Sorry guys.

Krista - posted on 03/31/2010

But atheism is a whole different animal. I know a lot of atheists, and they don't choose not to believe in god, they just don't. They think about it a lot and simply come to the conclusion that there is no greater power. They aren't doing it to spurn Christ or Christians, it just simply happens that their faith is that there is no god.

Johnny - posted on 03/31/2010

I've always disliked that quote. I think it is so inaccurate. I'd say that the single greatest cause of people rejecting Christianity, may indeed be Christians. But atheism is a whole different animal. I know a lot of atheists, and they don't choose not to believe in god, they just don't. They think about it a lot and simply come to the conclusion that there is no greater power. They aren't doing it to spurn Christ or Christians, it just simply happens that their faith is that there is no god.

But very many "spiritual" people I know who believe in god yet are not Christians feel that way specifically because of the behavior individual Christians they've known or because of the way in which Churches conduct themselves. For whatever reason, they feel that they do not wish to be a part of the organization of a church or to call themselves a Christian, yet they still believe in god.

But I do appreciate the sentiment Sara. I think that more people would support Christians practicing their faith if so many Christians were not so busy speaking out of the sides of their mouths. I suspect that sadly, the latest scandal in the Catholic Church will lead to yet more lapsed Catholics, for instance.

Good Day! - posted on 03/31/2010

To Jessica...



One of my favorite quotes that I try to keep in mind, because I am a Christian...



"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Krista - posted on 03/31/2010

In public schools, during science class, teachers are authorized to squelch any challenge to this atheistic premise. Note that I do not mean that science classes simply say, let's ignore God. I mean that by choosing to ignore God they are supporting atheism and attacking religion.

Jessica - posted on 03/31/2010

I think overly fanatic religious people promote atheism, but I think that goes for everything in any catagory! ie- I am a HUGE animal supporter, but don't think PETA has the right idea, again, fanatical. Evolution, not so much on the promoting atheism.

Meghan - posted on 03/31/2010

evolution --

Biological theory that animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations. It is one of the keystones of modern biological theory. In 1858 Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace jointly published a paper on evolution. The next year Darwin presented his major treatise On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, which revolutionized all later biological study. The heart of Darwinian evolution is the mechanism of natural selection. Surviving individuals, which vary in some way that enables them to live longer and reproduce, pass on their advantage to succeeding generations. In 1937 Theodosius Dobzhansky applied Mendelian genetics to Darwinian theory, contributing to a new understanding of evolution as the cumulative action of natural selection on small genetic variations in whole populations. Part of the proof of evolution is in the fossil record, which shows a succession of gradually changing forms leading up to those known today. Structural similarities and similarities in embryonic development among living forms also point to common ancestry. Molecular biology (especially the study of genes and proteins) provides the most detailed evidence of evolutionary change. Though the theory of evolution is accepted by nearly the entire scientific community, it has sparked much controversy from Darwin's time to the present; many of the objections have come from religious leaders and thinkers (see creationism) who believe that elements of the theory conflict with literal interpretations of the Bible.

Melissa - posted on 03/31/2010

I don't understand evolutionism... maybe some can explain to me how/where/with what it started, and where did that bit of biology come from?

Amy - posted on 03/31/2010

Who says god couldn't take that long to form it. Like our lives and the life of a ladybug are different in our "time". if god is infinite, maybe he was forming the world during the "evolution". i do think evolution should be taught in school. what is it harming? although i think it's interesting that people don't like to "mix" educations. you can't keep math out of chemistry, can't keep science out of health class, can't take history out of science or literature. can't keep literature and religions apart.....they all intermingle to me. I thought that was what a well-rounded education was. ILearning from a varied degree of information and perspectives that work together. And for all the people who think it's supporting atheism and are worried about kids - heck, if htey believe in god, they do. it isn't going to change how they see it. and if it does it does. they are allowed a free will as well.

Heather - posted on 03/31/2010

I totally agree, Gillian. I think that evolution should be taught at school, and creationism should be taught in church. Once again, christians feel they should be able to intermix the bibles teachings in the classroom...and that is just not fair to the kids who dont grow up christian. Whether you believe in god or not is a personal choice, and the teachings from your holy book, whatever that may be, should be studied on a personal level...or in church. The bible has no place in public school...If you want your child to have biblical principals and ideas intermixed in their school studies, then send your kids to a christian or catholic school.

Lady - posted on 03/31/2010

Religion get taught in R.E, science gets taught in science class. Maths does not get taught in P.E so why should we have to mix up science and religion. As much as some religious people would like to deny it evolution has been proven so should be what we are teachimg our children. We teach them the most up to date parts of technology and the latest methods of reading and maths so why not the most up to date science. Just as we teach history and the great writers of our past in english I think religion has a place but just not in science class!

Johnny - posted on 03/30/2010

Agreeing completely with all the responses here. Evolution in no way denies the existence of god. Evolution disproves the idea that the fable of creation presented in the bible or by any other religion (all religions and cultures have their own creation myths) is a true fact. Many faithful Christians who have deep faith in Jesus also believe that Evolution is how the world came to be in its current state. Creation myths simply serve to explain what was for ancient peoples something that was impossible to know much about, how we came to be. Most anthropologists studying ancient cultures have actually concluded that most ancient peoples saw their own creation stories as just that, stories. They knew that those stories weren't truth, but were a nice way to explain how a people came to be in a place. They were generally stories told to children, and used to explain inexplicable events. It is actually quite amusing that modern day people who have access to scientific information which gives a deeper understanding of how we truly came to be have decided to reject this information and cling to outdated faith.

I tend to see the study of science as a tribute to a possible god (I am an agnostic). If there is a god, then we are only beginning to understand and learn about the great complexity and beauty of gods' creation. The universe is an amazing and incredible place, and to deny this greatness by ignoring the complex nature of it's development and growth is to me an affront to any possible being that had a hand in it's creation. When I compare the simple minded ideas of Genesis to the vast elaborate mystery of the world and the universe, I wonder how those who have faith in god can continue to deny that god could have been very much more amazing than the bible tells us.

If one chooses to have faith in the bible as the literal word of god, one needs to understand that is not the only way to recognize "supernatural" causes and admire god's creative power. Evolution in no way equals atheism. Even Charles Darwin was a man of strong faith in God.

Jane - posted on 03/30/2010

I don't believe evolution promotes atheism at all. Evolution is science. Religion is faith and can never be proven or disproven. The public school system has absolutely NO business bringing God into the schools...I will always stand firm in my belief on that. If people want their children to have creationism taught and not have them learn about evolution, then they can send them to a religious school and there they won't teach evolution and only creation.

Jocelyn - posted on 03/30/2010

I don't think that evolution promotes or encourages atheism. There are many different levels of belief involving evolution. I personally believe in Theistic evolution; which in short is the belief that Someone created the world, not 6000 yrs ago, but millions of years ago, and then basically just left us to grow/evolve on our own.

Carolee - posted on 03/30/2010

By ignoring your god, they are NOT attacking anything... NOR are they supporting anything else. They are simply there to teach facts that have been learned through the years. Why do Christians always see an "attack" where there isn't one?

Meghan - posted on 03/30/2010

I just don't think either of these two thing have ONE thing in common...one is Religion and one is Science!!!! Its like comparing apples to roller coasters...you cant realistically have a debate on such different topics but here is my penny thought...i guess

No. You can still have faith in a higher being and accept the theory of evolution. As we learn more and more about the world around us religions adapt but still serve same purpose. We see evidence of adapting religious bodies throughout human history (i.e. the Roman Catholic church accepting Earth was not the center of the universe). No doubt that the religions of today will also adapt to be compatible with scientific knowledge. It was hard for many people to accept that the geocentric universe was false as it is hard today for people to accept evolution. I think the difficulty lies with change, changing one's long held belief in something without basis and fear that that change will result in chaos or a godless world. However, the existence or non-existence of God will never be proven by science.

Just my not-so-humble opinion.

LaCi - posted on 03/30/2010

Attacking implies malice, to ignore is even better really. The fact that we are indifferent to the notion of god means we have no emotional connection to the idea of god. Malice would just show some weakness toward the idea. It's also part of what I think is just the ultimate evolution of religion. We began with religion to attempt to explain things, when we started to understand the phenomena behind what we had invented gods for we switched from polytheism to monotheism, now we're approaching the point in time in which science kills god, when we accept reality like a child letting go of his imaginary friend.