Question about Evolution

For you to debate.

Does it matter? Does it really matter in most of our daily lives whether or not we humans were created by God or evolved from monkeys.

Does it change who you are? Does it change how you live? Does it affect whether or not you can get a job or be educated?

Alot of people get hung up about it, because it's not good science, not provable (Edit: Took out personal bias, want to stick to the discussion), but at the end of the day... does it really matter whether or not you believe in evolution or not?

For some I think it is part of how they justify their life philosophy and for the rest I doubt it really matters.

To be more clear:

I am a dog person and I believe in a source, a god. As you can clearly see dog is a reflection of god and therefor dogs are the most favored beings. Because, on the whole, dogs love humans, and dogs are a reflection of god, humans are also obviously highly favored. On the other hand dogs generally hate cats.

In conclusion cats suck. ;)

For me, I guess I don't think it really matters, but you probably got that out of my post. I believe what I believe. I can't prove the other side is wrong. I can't really prove my side is right.

I believe that people use God and heaven as something to "live for". I have found that many religious folk felt sad for me being apathetic agnostic, because their first instinct was to ask, "So where do you go when you die? Where do the good people get rewarded and the bad people punished?" I PERSONALLY believe it matters to people who are scared of death, and need to be reassured that they will be taken care of. As for the people who believe in evolution, I believe it all stemmed from a desire to shut the religious folk up/ prove them wrong.

Edited to include: Therefore: it matters to some, and not to others. It's all about perspective.

for me, evolution isn't a question, so--no--it doesn't matter.  it just is. 

Original Post by ignayshus:

To be more clear:

I am a dog person and I believe in a source, a god. As you can clearly see dog is a reflection of god and therefor dogs are the most favored beings. Because, on the whole, dogs love humans, and dogs are a reflection of god, humans are also obviously highly favored. On the other hand dogs generally hate cats.

In conclusion cats suck. ;)

Your logic is somewhat suspect ;p

Besides, Cats ARE Gods. Dogs just aspire to please their Gods (us humans) better. ;)

It depends if you want to be told how to run your life based on a bunch of myths and legends - common to every world religion, by the way, or if you want to have confidence in the accumulated knowledge and understanding of humanity. I can tell you from my experience, when you are lying on the operating table, having key hole surgery to save your life you will be glad of knowledge and understanding of science, rather than magic talismans and chants, however well intentioned.

Does it matter in my every day life? No. Does it change how I live? Not really. Does it affect whether or not I can get a job? No. I do believe it makes a difference in how well I can be educated.

If I am a strict creationist, following the Christian Bible to the letter and claiming the earth is really only 10,000 years old, then I am ignoring many scientific findings. If I believe in a creator and believe in the scientific findings I think it says I'm much more open minded and willing to learn. If I believe in science only and don't believe in a creator, I'm still more open minded and willing to learn than the strict creationist.   This is my opinion and I have a right to it.

To say evolution isn't good science isn't really accurate and is misleading. I'd call it incomplete science. The evolutionary theory is far from complete. They have been able to prove some things from the original hyposthesis correct and some incorrect. It will probably take many more years to fill in the gaps. We may never be able to fill in all the gaps.

Many creationists completely disregard any scientific evidence as to the age of the earth. It boggles my mind when I come in contact with people who really believe the earth is only 10,000 years old and that all animals and plants were created at the same time. I just shake my head and wonder how they can believe such a thing.

For the life I live, it doesn't matter...but for a lot of people in the world whether a god created humans is probably one of the most important concepts in their life.  In many culture life revolves around religion, and people who question that religion may face consequences in their communities....which could mean getting a job, an education, food etc.

But if we're talking the kind of life we (the people on cc) live, it doesn't matter, but it can provide guidance and meaning to people who need a little of that in their life.  I think religion, faith, beliefs, etc. are great so long as you don't use them against those who think differently.

HK-

I don't think it really matters in everyday life, but when you start talking about school and what kids should be tought that is the problem.  Being a Christian I don't belive in eveloution, nore would I want my childern taught it.  What gets me is why can't we get along, agree to disagree and compromise.  When this area comes up why can't parents make the chose.  If you do not want eveloution taught then the child goes into another class for a few weeks and is taught something different or tutorder in their trouble spots while the others learn about evolution.  Maybe I am being nieve, but why do things have to be one way or the other.  Everyone has the right to beleive what they want, but don't shove your beliefs on me.

There are sooo many points I could make about fundamentalist Christians and education, but I will leave it at mentioning that I could have mentioned it, but chose to get along.

I don't think it matters one little bit how you believe we got here. The fact is we are here so why get all caught up with "How".

I'd argue that whether it's appropriate to teach evolution may be a linked but different conversation than this one. One definitely worthy of exploring, but a little off topic to this post. :)

Jodischief, why can't your and other children learn the theory of evolution? How is learning about it going to change their beliefs? Do they have to believe in evolution to be taught about it?

If you and and other Christians decided to believe there were only 4 vowels in the english language should the rest of the people in the class be taught that also? Or should your children only have to learn about the 4 vowels?

And should the public education system have to cater to every whim of every religion, or just yours?

Original Post by hkellick:

I'd argue that whether it's appropriate to teach evolution may be a linked but different conversation than this one. One definitely worthy of exploring, but a little off topic to this post. :)

I don't believe that teaching evolution or creationism is at all off topic to this thread. You asked if it affected the ability to learn or be educated. I believe it does. Read this article about a teacher in the trenches teaching evolution in the bible belt and then tell me it doesn't affect the ability of children to learn or think critically.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/education/2 4evolution.html?_r=3&th=&oref=slogin& amp;emc=th&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin &oref=slogin

 

Mooni, I am WITH you. And it's not just because I'm prejudiced to poor grammar, but I truly believe if you want your children to thrive in society, you need to let them learn what everyone learns, and allow them to make the decision themselves. The ONLY reason you would possibly want to keep your child from learning the THEORY of evolution, is because you're afraid you won't be able to convince them otherwise.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

for me, evolution isn't a question, so--no--it doesn't matter.  it just is. 

 I'm with PG on this.  In my personal everyday life, it really has no significant bearing on it.  (However, neither does matrix algebra, but I don't see people rushing all around trying to turn it into a philosophical debate.)

But it does have a bearing on how educated I am on the scientific process, as are my children.  There is enough of a scientific consensus on numerous aspects of evoutionary theory that it is simply the best explanation of the evidence available.  Because of that, when touching on the subject in school, I expect my children to be taught science and the scientific process behind it.  

The science is was it is.  If they're asked about the commonly accepted age of the earth, they should be expected to give the correct answer, just as they should be able to grasp the basic concept of common descent (which you don't have to "believe in" in order to describe). 

Not to mention that I would prefer to not suggest to my children that if their particular beliefs happen to conflict with science, that it's okay to toss the science out the window.

Original Post by hkellick:

Original Post by ignayshus:

To be more clear:

I am a dog person and I believe in a source, a god. As you can clearly see dog is a reflection of god and therefor dogs are the most favored beings. Because, on the whole, dogs love humans, and dogs are a reflection of god, humans are also obviously highly favored. On the other hand dogs generally hate cats.

In conclusion cats suck. ;)

Your logic is somewhat suspect ;p

Besides, Cats ARE Gods. Dogs just aspire to please their Gods (us humans) better. ;)

I'd expect a savage gypsie lover like yourself to believe that.

Original Post by artytim:

It depends if you want to be told how to run your life based on a bunch of myths and legends - common to every world religion, by the way, or if you want to have confidence in the accumulated knowledge and understanding of humanity. I can tell you from my experience, when you are lying on the operating table, having key hole surgery to save your life you will be glad of knowledge and understanding of science, rather than magic talismans and chants, however well intentioned.

Who says you can't have both? I believe humans are both rational and emotionally based in their thinking. So while we need science and our rational mind provides it with all it's wonders, the spiritual also fullfills needs on the emotional level. As for evolution, I believe in it, but I don't think that means there are no Dieties.

Original Post by m_c_85:

Mooni, I am WITH you. And it's not just because I'm prejudiced to poor grammar, but I truly believe if you want your children to thrive in society, you need to let them learn what everyone learns, and allow them to make the decision themselves. The ONLY reason you would possibly want to keep your child from learning the THEORY of evolution, is because you're afraid you won't be able to convince them otherwise.

 YES!  I could not agree more!