by nicolaou 56 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Scientifically speaking, evolution has nothing to do with god. The theory is therefore not incompabitle with a belief in god.
I guess I should qualify that a bit: evolution itself does not preclude there being a god, creator, whatever. However, I do believe evolution is incompatible with some religious ideas. I found it incompatible with JW theology, as I mentioned in my earlier post.
drwtsn,
Evolution is a scientific theory.
Atheism: Logical philosophy
Theism/Religion: Illogical philosophy.
Fundie Religion: Illogical Illogical redux philosophy
No argument there.
:It simply masks the real question - is there a God or not?
That's a strawman, and you know it.
:If there is, ask yourself why he would utilize evolution to accomplish the creation of the Universe and all life within it.
Now, that is a good question. However, the most fundamental question of all, and one that science will never be equipped to even approach answering, is "where did the initial stuff come from that everything else is made from?"
Another conundrum I have (this presupposes the Big Bang Theory to be true) is if everything was specifically created by a god, then why would have there been any need for a Big Bang? Couldn't god just have willed everything to be made and in place instantly? Why was there a 'paper trail' of the 'evolution' of matter expanding and galaxies, universes, suns, planets and elements being formed over a period of millenia?
Last question: why even fuss over this stuff, when we idiotic humans cannot even manage to run our own lives and social affairs without screwing everything up? Solving the mysteries of the origin of life would be great, but it does nothing to deal with inequity, poverty, corruption, greed, disease and worse, politicians and religion.
Farkel
Society can't change overnight, baby steps. As the tool of science expands our knowledge the realm of (the) god(s) decreases, but we're dealing with thousands of years if not tens of thousands years of religion in society from the shamanistic to today's organized religions. It will take at least a few more generations to overcome this inertia. I think those that accept the theory of evolution as the explanation for the diversity of life while still believing in a god or gods is a positive step, and we shouldn't be so quick to browbeat them for still believing in a god or gods.
Think back when you were a Witness, if someone took a hostile attitude with you, called you an idiot for believing what you believed what happened? Most of the time you put up your conditioned defenses and shut out whatever valid points this person may have had. Same with this, you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar. Then perhaps next time when Cyril and his followers come to burn the Library of Alexandria, and flay Hypatia's skin with abalone shells there will be people to stop them.
Not lame. I think it is an acceptable position to take. Since when do non-theists need to show intolerance toward other beliefs?
Dave (tolerant non-theist primate)
I confess I still believe in some god like being - and the evidence is just too strong for me as a scientist to denyevolution - SORRY
Not lame. Evolution has nothing to do with the belief in god/no belief in god debate.
I usually agree with what IP_SEC says in these sorts of debates. But personally I feel that evolution makes theistic belief less tenable.
I can understand tactically why many evolutionists, admirers of Darwin, theists and atheists would all wish to distinguish the issues for their own various reasons however.
drwatsn32: When I was still a JW and realized that evolution happened, I thought maybe it was a natural force that God created. I thought I'd just secretly believe in evolution and still accept the rest of the JW stuff (this was before I actually found fault in their theology, mind you).
Same exact thing happened with me. I disbelieved JW teachings of special creation from the mid 90's on and accepted evolution, albeit with a very simple understanding. In fact, some of my comments regarding the weaknesses of the Watchtower Creation book planted seeds in another JW--this eventually left to his exit several years ahead of mine.
BTS
In fact, some of my comments regarding the weaknesses of the Watchtower Creation book planted seeds in another JW--this eventually left to his exit several years ahead of mine.
Awesome. Are you counting how many people you bring into the truth? And by that I mean people you help leave The Truth®?
