Evolution; Is there room for God in the equitation?

Thailand
April 14, 2007 10:18pm CST
Organizations like the Discovery Institute and other creationist groups say, no. They cast Darwen as the great Satin and blame the results of his work for something called "Scientific Materialism" which they claim is the cause of all the ills of society. Happly there are more enlightened people like Dr. Francis Collins, The director of the Human Genome Project, and an evangelical Christian who do find that there is room for God and evolution. This is a speech that he made. It is a PDF file so you will need a PDF reader. http://tinyurl.com/265twa
4 people like this
11 responses
• United States
15 Apr 07
Evolution; Is there room for God in the equitation? The short answer to your question is "Yes". For some of you, we're done. What follows is for the rest of you. No matter how much we learn, no matter how advanced becomes the Theory of Evolution, there will always be more to learn and the theory itself will never be "finalized". It will never be possible to know all the facts concerning evolution. This theory is continuely being updated in the light of new information. This being the case, can we not say "The Theory of Evolution", is itself evolving? Does not this "Theory of Evolution" have a creator? Since we have already seen this product of creation "evolves" why could not also the product of God's creation "evolve"? Think of the creation of "The Theory of Evolution" as analogous to the creation of our world. If the one evolves, why not the other. "The Theory of Evolution" evolves through the scientific process, a tool of humankind. Who's to say that the process of natural selection, the process through which life evolves, is not the tool of God? There will always be unknowns concerning the "Theory of Evolution". What's so wrong about attributing that "unknown" to God? As long as we are continuely willing to update our concept of God to account for the changing unknown, I certainly see nothing wrong with saying that natural selection is the tool of God for modifying life to adapt to a dynamic world.
2 people like this
• United States
15 Apr 07
Certainly, implamenting God into the theory of Evolution is a science stopper, the way many people do it. But it does not have to be that way. What I'm saying is make the role God a part of theory, not a belief based on faith. In this way, God does not have to be a science stopper. As more is learned, the role of God in evolution is modifed to be in line with the new scienfific knowledge. My belief in God is theory, not belief based on faith. Such belief in God is never in conflict with science of any kind. Hence, evolutionary theory is never a problem for me. My belief in God evolves just like evolutionary theory evolves. More knowledge, I'm sure, puts man's belief in God closer to what is true, while at the same time mankind is surely of too limited of an intellect to understand that truth fully. Heck, we will never even completely understand evolution. I think this puts arguements about evolution in perspective.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Apr 07
All the above could be more simply put as follows," As science discovers new facts, change your belief in God to fit the new facts." Just because God is used to fill the gaps in theory does not mean you stop looking for something else to fill those gaps. The search for truth and our attempts at understanding God, never end.
1 person likes this
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
15 Apr 07
Yes Red, as opposed to scientific creationists, several intelligent designers have taken your position. Micahel Behe, for example reportedly still believes in common decent. However, Do you know of any evolutionists who demonstrate exactly where in the equation God belongs? Many evolutionist scientists refer to this as "science stoppers" or "God of the gaps" This is because the theory of evolution only uses naturalistic means to account for evolution. According to them, as soon as you start implementing God, you've left the realm of science.
2 people like this
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
15 Apr 07
Evolution is scientific facts. God is a fantasy and doesn't exsist so how can you combine the two? Fact and fiction don't mix.
@socorban (650)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Name one actual fact... There isnt one actaul fact about it yet its pushed of as scientific fact. Its theory based on theories, no real solid facts. If you know one actual fact i know a guy who is willing to pay you 250,000 usd if you can provide one solid fact, funny thing is he's been offerin it for 15 years and no one has produced jack. Why dont you actually research these so called facts instead of just blindly believeng everything you see on tv, you will come to see the ground is not as sturdy as you think it is.
1 person likes this
• Thailand
15 Apr 07
Kent Hovind's offer is a well known fraud and has even been criticizeed by his fellow creationist.
@socorban (650)
• United States
15 Apr 07
How is it a well known fraud? He has the money, hes offerin it for a fact. Maybe an ignorant theorist gets upset cuse he wont accept a theory for it but a fact. Its funny cuase the ones who probably object or critisize are the one who are angry at such a blatent blow to there theories. As far as his fellow creationist, i dunno what you heard, maybe from a fellow anti creationist (which im sure twisted it up) but the main objection was deliberate provocation and antagonizing of evolution. There was no objecttions or accusations from a creationist of fraudulence.
• Canada
22 Apr 07
although i dont believe in an omnipotent god, i say that there is room for god in the equation, just no room for religion. if evolution is a fact, then all religion is false, that is the main reason why evolution is not a "fact". god on the other hand... one can argue that god made evolution happen..
• Thailand
2 May 07
Why make thing more complicated than they need to be. While I believe there is room for God in the equation I see no reason to presuppose that he made evolution happen.
• Thailand
3 May 07
You leave me at a little bit of a loss here. How am I being ignorant?
• Canada
3 May 07
dont be ignorant, thats the thing we atheists are trying to avoid
@socorban (650)
• United States
15 Apr 07
God leaves no room for evolution. There is no millions of years in this equation. I've heard views that the creation of the univrse in days means "millions or billions" of years between each day. This is bull. First there is evidence all over we can see to prove this isnt millions or billions of years old to begin with. Also, if you read how everything was created, one simple example is God creates plant before the sun, if there were millions of years in between these "days", how did these plants survive? Furthermore, The theory of evolution is based on theoretical timlines initialy created to place "dinosuars" and othe rlarge animals in "time frames" Evolution says man has never sean these "dinosaurs, yet that word wasnt made untill the mid 1800's, everyone reffered to all large reptiles as "dragons" Aside from tales of knights and what ever, drawings have been found all over the world from ancient civilizations of "dragons" Yet the discovery channel doesnt show them for some reason, why? Because they are to identical to species we have un earthed proving they were seen. I could go on for hours listing stuff to disprove evolution and its relashonship to Gods creation, If you want to wacth some free seminar videos that shed much light on the grand scheme of things, i suggest www.drdino.com go to downloads an view away for a start. "Ignorance is no excuse for stupidity"
• Thailand
15 Apr 07
I agree, "Ignorance is no excuse for stupidity." Sadly one of the most prevalent forms of stupidity prevailing today is the confusion of the Bible as a science textbook. It is not! If you are happy in your ignorance, so be it. If not do a little research and at least understand what you are criticising. As Dr. Collins states, there is plenty of room for God and evolution.
@urbandekay (18278)
15 Apr 07
On the contrary the majority of creditable evidence supports a vast age for the universe. all the best urban
@socorban (650)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I did plenty of research, i used to be foolish enough to belive in evolution. I however was not ignorant and did not just blindly follow the group. You speak of research, you should research it your self other than listening to what others have to say, do the studies your self, there is no millions or billions of years,its simply impossible for our universe to have existed that long, there is proof everywere for that.
@rubiana6 (270)
• Brazil
17 Apr 07
room for god is everywhere. we just have to change our picture of what we call god. we still have the view of a god like 2000 years ago, likely an old man sits in heaven and created the world long time ago and now sits there all the day being just good. if our view from god is so unreasonable, then its obvious that it cant fit really with evolution. but thats not the fault of the scientific theory, its the failt of theology.
• Thailand
18 Apr 07
I see nothing in rubiana6's comment that says that God directs the process. I know that you want to promote your ideology but at least read what you are responding to. I think the post makes a rather good point.
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
22 Apr 07
I'm responding to God's role with life on earth. Why base our concept of God on a theory? What if the theory is proven wrong? (as it has been) Then what do we do, switch back?
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
18 Apr 07
I disagree. Darwinian evolution specifically calls for a naturalistic undirected process. It doesn't stand to reason to say that God directs an undirected process.
@Daquin (46)
• United States
18 Apr 07
There is always room for a god in the pot because it is seen as the great and powerful creator of everything which would include evolution; however, there is no doubt that evolution exists since there is evidence of animals changing to suit their surroundings which is the entire basis of evolution.
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
19 Apr 07
That would be microevolution or simply adaptation. Not Darwinian evolution
• Thailand
21 Apr 07
There is a basic question here. When does one species become a new species?
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
22 Apr 07
An entirely new species would call for an increase in "new" genetic information.
@healwell (1268)
• Ahmedabad, India
16 Apr 07
Evolution is a natural process. Wether we have found that or not but evolution was and we were also created to participate in that naturally! And all the religion and beliefs and philosophy of life and spirituality ... All are man made! So now mostly accepted this evolutionary facks and people are not following blind things now mostly!
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
16 Apr 07
?????????
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 May 07
Yes, it often amazes me that educated people will believe in creationism but not evolution. We have cold hard facts in science to back up evolution. The Bible is a collection of books that was written by many people, and translated over time by many more people. It was revised to include interpretation of the translater and the mentality of the times.
@tombiz (2036)
• Philippines
5 May 07
Evolution and creation are two of the hottest topics in the scientific community that up to now remains an open for debates. Mixed with emotions instead of just presenting facts, it is sometimes difficult for an ordinary to fully grasp of what are these things are. Rightly so, this continuing debate is full of merits and demerits. Now, this is my stand. Natural selection and adoptation is not an explanation for the theory of evolution -- doing so will eventually lead a scientist into a wall. Now consider this: if you are the Creator God, would you submit yourself to the laws of nature you are merely creating and set into motion? If God is subject to the study of science, would you still consider him a God. he could just be one of us, right? What I mean is: what is above does not necessarily part of what is under. I know, some of you are raising your eyebrows. But just the same, my life won't be affected if you will be debating here 24/7 on this issue. At the end of the day, I and only I will decide what to believe. By the way, WILL FAITH IN EVOLUTION MAKE ME A MORE HAPPY PERSON?
• Thailand
1 Jun 07
An understanding of the process of evolution does not require faith. It does require a bit of education and a willingness to look at the facts as they are. An understanding of evolution may not make you a happy person but it will make you an educated one.
@lou8is (23)
• United States
4 May 07
CHIANG MAI i did not wonder off the subject not even a little if you think about it evolution basically means without gods help it just evolved as opposed to a grand creator intelligent supreme being putting the earth just right if the sun was too close we would bURN up and too far we would freez its intelligently perfectly in the right position and thats why i broke down lifE and its begining showing you a supreme being created the atmosphere and created molecules and life and it did not just evolve from fraudulent energys used to descept truth with FALSE FOSSILS NOT GIVING CREDIT TO GOD CREATING ALL THINGS SO THE ANSWER IS YES NOT ONLY IS THERE ROOM FOR GOD BUT BY HIS HAND ALL THINGS ARE CREATED AND THERE IS NO ROOM FOR ANY OTHER FALSE FACTS.
@lou8is (23)
• United States
4 May 07
how likely is it that the amino acids thought to have formed in the atmosphere would drift down and form an "organic soup" in the oceans? not likely at all. the same energy that would split the simple compounds in the atmosphere would even more quickly decompose any complex amino acids that formed. interestingly, in his experiment of passing an electric spark through an "atmosphere," stanley miller in 1953. his atmosphere was hydrogen,methane, ammonia and water vapor. this produced some of the many amino acids that exist and that are the building blocks of proteins.however, if it is assumed that amino acids some how reached the oceans and were protected what then? beneath the surface of the water there would not be enough energy to activate further chemical reactions; water in any case inhabitants the growth of more complex molecules. we had to be created.
• Thailand
4 May 07
You are talking about the origin of life, not the process of evolution. The question was; "Evolution: Is there room for God in the equation?" I am afraid you have wandered a little off topic.
@leavert65 (1018)
• Puerto Rico
4 May 07
Chemical evolution