I’m not about to call into question your beliefs, and I hope that I’ve demonstrated here that I know and respect many people who share your belief in Christianity and evolution. I also hope that you don’t think that I’ve come into this with my eyes closed. I use my moniker because of a series of life-changing experiences which caused me to question everything I believe, including our how we came into being. My point on which you quoted me above was that to understand a creationist’s reaction, then you have to imagine for a moment what it would be like if you were a creationist. You’ll never fully understand why a creationist responds to evolution the way he does any more than I’ll probably ever understand what it’s like to be gay, but if we really want to understand someone, then it’s a good idea to try to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.

I understand your complaint that the creationist’s reaction is one-sided. But I think you’re selling creationists just a little short. Creationists know the fossil record exists, and they can make a case for each item found in it without relying on evolution. Again, I’m not going to attempt to scientifically prove creation here, but let’s just say that the commonalities which exist among the species lead some to believe in a common creator while it leads you to believe in a common source from which everything evolved. I know it’s hard to believe, but there are scientists out there (granted, they’re in the tiny minority) who will support this theory. I won’t grant that evolution is based MORE on fact, but I will agree that the vast majority of scientists believe it to be true and that more people in our country today believe in macro evolution than do the literal seven day creation account. Now this would be an intersting long running experiment - let’s erase everyone’s memories (except ours, since we’re running the experiment) and burn all the books and see how people explain the origins of the species…

Thanks again for the good topic and exchange. This has been a good diversion from an otherwise dull, work and house oriented day.

~RB

Second, my biggest problem with every argument against evolution by a creationist is encompassed in the following:

If you really want to know the answer, though, you’ll first have to attempt to view the situation from another’s perspective and consider for a second that your beliefs (scientific understanding, whatever you want to call it) could be wrong.

First of all, I do view it differently, remember, I stated that I too believe in some Christian beliefs, but not blindly, as I do believe in both Christianity and evolution(more in the evolution, but that is neither here nor there). But having a different perspective and choosing not to believe in the facts that support evolution is not going to change the fact that they do exist, and that they do prove certain elements of evolution. The reason that bothers me most, is because that very same statement cannot be made about religion and creationism; if people don’t believe in them, they can change, and they can go away. The facts that support evolution exist in bones, fossils, historical records, and scientific artifacts; these things will not stop existing because people don’t believe in them. I just don’t see that as a valid argument, yet here it is. My point is, is that because you see it as wrong, doesn’t mean it will be any less right; but religion cannot follow the same guidelines. If everyone stopped believing in it tomorrow, it would go away; but the bones will remain.

I also agree with you that this arguement is about teaching evolution, not whether or not is real. The problem, again, lies in the fact that religion should not be taught in schools because it is based MORE on opinion, and evolution should because it is based MORE on fact. That is simply what I am trying to say.

Additionally, I think that if we were to do what you suggest, which is create life through a repeatable experiment, we would end up debunking both religion and evolution. Both hinge on time, remember? Unless that would be the longest experiment ever!?!?

And I’m not about to attempt to debunk evolution here in this forum - I didn’t think that was the question. The question was “Why do people that believe solely in creationism…have such a problem with evolution?” I hope I’ve provided some insight. If you really want to know the answer, though, you’ll first have to attempt to view the situation from another’s perspective and consider for a second that your beliefs (scientific understanding, whatever you want to call it) could be wrong. Take it from someone who’s done plenty of that, that’s a very difficult task.

I for one am fine with religion being taught in school, as long as it is called religion, and is taught with every other religion that exists; as in, taught ABOUT, not taught TO. I don’t believe that religion should be taught as an opposing theory to science. Those two things are completely different, and should never be compared or used as evidence to support or refute one another. That is pretty much the reason I opened this topic, is because I don’t understand how the two are used in this way, currently. I feel like I am rambling… does everyone get what I am saying? Fucking Mondays….

And there is also a lot more scientific evidence for Creationism than people know.

Rightwinger — Care to qualify this statement with examples? You casually throw this out there, and I’d like to see a continuation of this topic.

Just to disclose, I am religiously agnostic, though spiritual, and I happen to believe in the theory of evolution, but also that a higher power (name your diety of choice, my belief is that they’re pretty much all one in the same) had a hand in fostering it in one direction or another.