Man evolved from simpler lifeforms. This we know to be true, it's been observed, tested, verified and repeated scores of times. It's been hypothesized, never verified, but the evidence is overwhelming, given the commonality of DNA structures and the common stages of development in most animals.
It has been verified. Tested. Observed. It's as true in scientific terms as the existence of atoms.
Believing in God closes people's mind off to this reality. No, it doesn't. That's the broad brush I'm talking about. Believing that God and science are incompatible, even competitive, closes people's minds off to such ideas. I (and many) believe that God created nature. Anything we find out about nature is then attributable to God.
If what you're saying is true, why is there a direct correlation between belief in God and not accepting evolutionary theory?
There are religious people that accept that they may be wrong, but this generally isn't the case. Talk to Sadie about this: if you don't 100% KNOW, like her, then you're not a true believer.
Whilst I'm pretty sure an educated man like Accountable does not believe in the creation myth, he's assuming that God created the universe and it's governing laws. So you see, with that belief he's closed of inquiry into what might actually be true. Such as what? Random chance? If that were provable - that it was absolute random chance that all things came about as a fluke - then I would be forced to abandon my belief in God. I don't see that happening in our lifetimes.
Random chance of what? The creation of the universe?
I've put some thoughts on the subject here:
http://offtopicz.net/showthread.php?t=71826
The lastest scientific understanding is showing that God did not in fact make the laws of the universe, that God did not create the universe. Your statement acknowledges the existence of God. Sure you don't want to rephrase?
I'm open to the remote possibility of their being a creator, or more to the point, I know with 100% certainty that I don't know for sure. I'm happy with how that was phrased.
What evidence is there that supports your claim that God did not create the universe? I would say that that is an answer you cannot back up in any way. Does that make you the epitome of close-mindedness?
Firstly, we have our 100% failure rate at what God has actually done. At first we thought he made the weather, the seasons change and the tides come in and out. Then we were told he made life in his image, and made the Earth. We've been 100% wrong about everything he's supposedly done so far. Is it too much of a leap to think we're wrong about him creating the universe, in light of this 100% failure rate?
Next, we have the latest thought in theoretical physics: the idea of membranes colliding. This is mathematically working things out very nicely. And if there's one thing we do know, is that mathematics is the universe. A mathematical model constitutes more "proof" than an unprovable deity.
Thirdly, we have no evidence to say that he did create the universe.
I'm open to the possibility of the universe being created by someone or something. I'm open to any outcome because I know that I don't know.
I would say you are closed-minded when it comes to any discussion regarding religion. You, as some religious people, believe God and science are incompatible. I believe they are complementary. One created the other, and the other verifies the first. [/COLOR][/B]
Well simply because religion, in any sense we are taught by the religious, has been shown time and time again to be built on lies. And, with the religious claiming to know 100% about God's existence without any form of proof whatsoever, makes it impossible to discuss the subject with them.
I don't believe they are incompatible. As long as religion stays as a philosophical topic, where it should be, and leaves the natural world to science.
