How do You Reconcile Faith With Evolution?

[Pale RIder]

Quote by: Pooeypants Factual statement? Well considering that it is impossible scientifically proof the entity known as God, you're right. What exactly is it that I have a fear of? Please, enlighten me.

What are you afraid of?

I don't know what you are afraid of but I do recognize a fear reaction when I see one. Sarcasm, anger, the suggestion that one must be somehow "mental" in order to believe in God...all irrational fear reactions. Explains why you say "to each his own" yet don't believe it for a moment.

The what you are afraid of and why you are afraid of it are for you to work out on your own.

[JamesMcBride]

To be honest - I think religion and evolution can be reconciled. They only really become disparate when you decide to hold a pure othodoxy of either belief I guess. I mean, you can either take literally what the Bible says, and then it will come into conflict with evolutionary theory... (From a Christian standpoint).

It's just a matter of how you want to align your faith with your own experiences and beliefs. I for one, hold a Buddhist belief - and yet I'm also an evolutionist - they fit perfectly with my personal philosophy.

Faith is about personal acceptance of what you deem to be your purpose... There's nothing to stop you moulding a faith that fits with whatever you decide it to be.

I've moulded Buddhism, existentialism and evolution - and I've not had any conflicts of interest yet :)

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: Pale RIder What are you afraid of? I don't know what you are afraid of but I do recognize a fear reaction when I see one. Sarcasm, anger, the suggestion that one must be somehow "mental" in order to believe in God...all irrational fear reactions. Explains why you say "to each his own" yet don't believe it for a moment. The what you are afraid of and why you are afraid of it are for you to work out on your own.

Wait, you're saying that sarcasm is always necessarily linked to or stem from fear? How so? Please elaborate.

[Lycan]

No need, my faith does not contradict evolution... :)

Lycan

[Lilith]

Quote by: Pale RIder I believe that if the human race lasts long enough, eventually science will bring us face to face with God. How incredible would that be?

Fascinating. But I don't believe that *God* has a face, per se, every sentinent being that exists is a reflection of *God*. I have taken an all asborbing interest in Evolution. I am reading everything I can get my hands on about it. Delicious brain food.

[Starboy]

Quote by: Lilith Fascinating. But I don't believe that *God* has a face, per se, every sentinent being that exists is a reflection of *God*. I have taken an all asborbing interest in Evolution. I am reading everything I can get my hands on about it. Delicious brain food.

I think you have it backwards, * God * is a reflection of human beings. God is an anthropomorphization of reality. As much as people think that god is telling people what to do and how to live what is actually happening is people are telling themselves what to do and how to live by way of this construct they call * God *. Listen to any adherent or preacher speak about what they claim god wants of us and for us and it will become very clear. We are always the ones telling god what it wants of us.

I expect that if we were to encounter another race of sentient beings that they might also have the concept of a god and once we understood their concept of god it would become abundantly clear to us just where our concept of god comes from. We would see that it is a reflection of ourselves. To so many people who believe in god when they get up in the morning and look in the mirror they are looking at god.

Starboy

[MerlinsByte]

PaleR, It’s not worth your time, trust me. Agree to disagree. Anything. Have you had any experience with addiction denial? My wife is a therapist specializing in addiction and denial.

I have spoke to some of her clients in that are in denial. They truly believe their own lies. Now this same mind set can be applied to rabid evolutionist or a rabid fundamentalist christian (or many others) that is in denial of truth. It’s not worth your time that is, after the argument becomes spherical. Trust me. Its a complete waste of time.

Most scientists say the science of the past was bizarre and false. Well ,we are living the bizarre past of tomorrow’s falsehoods today!

you can use that.... ;} >

mb

[MerlinsByte]

Fascinating. But I don't believe that *God* has a face, per se, every sentinent being that exists is a reflection of *God*.

mb ...Yes!that is what God intended. And only through the teachings of Jesus and other religions (love) that our civilization is going to last long enough to reach the stars and God.

[MerlinsByte]

Wait, you're saying that sarcasm is always necessarily linked to or stem from fear? How so? Please elaborate.

It is a calculated pathological response to the fear of being completely honest. I use it as veiled insults when the devil possesses me and I must use a veiled threat to remain in the forum...heh ...

mb

[MerlinsByte]

by starboy...excerpted two parts........I expect that if we were to encounter another race of sentient beings.... .......We would see that it is a reflection of ourselves. To so many people who believe in god when they get up in the morning and look in the mirror they are looking at god........

So you are saying that God exists or could exist! Good God! If this is incorrect , How would you ascertain a billion year advanced race from God starboy?

hint; you could not.

mb

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: MerlinsByte So you are saying that God exists or could exist! Good God! If this is incorrect , How would you ascertain a billion year advanced race from God starboy? hint; you could not. mb

Actually, if you'd made the effort to interpret his post properly, you'd understand that he is saying that God is an artificial construct of man, something that we project because of our fear of unknown and uncertainty. With a deity, we can find eternal safety and absolution.

[Pooeypants]

Quote by: MerlinsByte PaleR, It’s not worth your time, trust me. Agree to disagree. Anything. Have you had any experience with addiction denial? My wife is a therapist specializing in addiction and denial. I have spoke to some of her clients in that are in denial. They truly believe their own lies. Now this same mind set can be applied to rabid evolutionist or a rabid fundamentalist christian (or many others) that is in denial of truth. It’s not worth your time that is, after the argument becomes spherical. Trust me. Its a complete waste of time. Most scientists say the science of the past was bizarre and false. Well ,we are living the bizarre past of tomorrow’s falsehoods today! you can use that.... ;} > mb

There is no such thing as an evolutionist. Unless we also have Spherical Earthists, Gravitists, heliocentrists etc...

[asterix404]

I love this question so I am not going to bother to read anything before it until later since I am tired. My normal responce would be that there was a commity a very long time ago that started this whole mess but no one would get that. I think that there was something a very very long time ago possibly... more then 1 somthing that decdied it wanted to watch things. It was very bord and so it created the universe. This could possibly be before the big bang, possiby a few big bangs ago if you follow the expanding and contracting universe theroy. So then there was a planet and amino acids came together with other fun compounds and thus you have life. I really don't think that any higher being had a hand in evolution. I really believe that when I see a whale and it's fin looks like mine, and it's got the same number of bones, and it's spine has the same number of bones... and everything looks really similar... that we were once the same and one went off in another direction. I don't think that in the heuge universe that god(ess)(esses) could ever really bother to look us up no matter how hard we tried. I believe that when I stare at a rock thats 4 billion years old... that it's 4 billion years old...

[JamesMcBride]

There's no answer to this question - It's all a matter of faith.

[asterix404]

::nods in true agreement::