# Creationism vs. Evolution: the only choices? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 6, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055 "2008-08-06T17:57:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/101 "2008-08-08T14:30:52Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] OK, science has found that given what is believed to be the conditions prevailing on earth circa 4.5 Billion years ago, amino acids spontaneous form fairly readily, within at most a few months. What no one yet knows yet is how it got from amino acids to actual live cell formation. They’re working on it. Maybe someone else here is more up-to-date than I am. [/QUOTE] I appreciate your answer, but I am still wondering why the battle. I read that 40% of scientists are believers, one can’t really say science is attacking religion and be totally correct. Yet those like Richard Dawkins are attacking religion in the name of science. So I suspect that there are fanatics or either side that are having at each other while mainstream science and religion continue their daily business. I met a poster once who understood the controversy and suggested scientists explain better what they mean about evolution to the religious community. I think he was right. But I don’t think it will be solved quickly. I am spiritual and we spiritual people are caught in the fire from both sides since we believe neither. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/102 "2008-08-08T14:47:50Z")
well… it all boils down to the “God of the Gaps”: argument. We don’t know that particular item yet, so “God” did it. The gaps in our understanding of the universe are slowly, but inevitably closing. As the gaps close the "god’ must have a place to ooze to, like phlegm leaking from a cllosed off sinus. So far, it is trying to pollute schools and media. Modern society will either develop immunity to this pestilence, or collapse. Creationism/Intellegent design and such wishful, magical thinking are artifacts of society based upon superstition. i would call such ideas primative, but it would be an insult to “primative societies” Religion is why people flew airplanes into the trade center, religion is why the slave trade was allowed, religion is why the spanish inquisition happened. Religion is a cancer of purposeful, willful ignorance upon the human potential. The 21st century will be a time in which we out grow supernaturalism, or die, as a species because of it. Choose wisely. Regards FML ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/103 "2008-08-08T15:10:53Z")
[QUOTE=Full Metal Lotus] well… it all boils down to the “God of the Gaps”: argument. We don’t know that particular item yet, so “God” did it. The gaps in our understanding of the universe are slowly, but inevitably closing. As the gaps close the "god’ must have a place to ooze to, like phlegm leaking from a cllosed off sinus. So far, it is trying to pollute schools and media. Modern society will either develop immunity to this pestilence, or collapse. Creationism/Intellegent design and such wishful, magical thinking are artifacts of society based upon superstition. i would call such ideas primative, but it would be an insult to “primative societies” Religion is why people flew airplanes into the trade center, religion is why the slave trade was allowed, religion is why the spanish inquisition happened. Religion is a cancer of purposeful, willful ignorance upon the human potential. The 21st century will be a time in which we out grow supernaturalism, or die, as a species because of it. Choose wisely. Regards FML [/QUOTE] As I scientist with no religious affiliation, I have to say I think your brush is a bit narrow. Not all religion is Fundamentalist Idolatrist adherence to ancient writings a. taken out of context, or b. by loons. Religion can be the source of [great social good](http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Southern+Christian+Leadership+Conference) or of the awareness and appreciation of our existence beyond our physical needs. (I’ll never understand scientists whose knowledge of the complexity of the physical world does not inspire an awe that approaches the religious; how can one not be inspired? But I digress.) Assuming religious beliefs stay out of the courts and the schools. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/104 "2008-08-08T15:10:57Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] I am spiritual and we spiritual people are caught in the fire from both sides since we believe neither. [/QUOTE] Evolution, Young-Earth creationism, ID theory, and almost every conceivable alternative have been discussed in this thread so far. Are you saying “spiritual people” reject **all** of them? If so, what’s your alternative? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/105 "2008-08-08T15:13:33Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] I believe neither the science nor the religious version of the orgin of life and the universe. [/QUOTE] The origin of the universe is a matter of cosmology. The basic unanswered question of cosmology is, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” Science has not even a hypothetical answer, as yet. Saying “God” is no answer at all; if God exists, God is something and the question remains unanswered. Same with solopsism: If I am all that exists, why do I exist? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/106 "2008-08-08T16:17:05Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] The origin of the universe is a matter of cosmology. The basic unanswered question of cosmology is, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” Science has not even a hypothetical answer, as yet. Saying “God” is no answer at all; if God exists, God is something and the question remains unanswered. Same with solopsism: If I am all that exists, why do I exist? [/QUOTE] Yes, why. I can’t answer for others, spiritual people are unbelievably independent. I believe there is a higher intelligence or consciousness that has been here forever. This doesn’t answer why there is something rather than nothing, but does somewhat explain us being here. I can’t answer where we came from, we being life. I don’t envoke the God of the Gap to answer why things happen, not do I believe in the Christian God. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/107 "2008-08-08T16:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] OK, but how does science feel about the origin of life, is it just a theory or do most scientists consider it factual? I am trying to better understand the elements of the battle between religion and science. Like where does Dawkins and others like him fit into it. [/QUOTE] The origin of life is an event. We can somewhat date it (to a bunch of hundreds of millions of years) based on the fossil records, but no one claims to know how it happened. There are various hypotheses, but I’m not aware any worth the name of theory yet. If we can find a few plausible mechanisms, we might never know which actually happened. If a molecule which could replicate itself (a simpler version of RNA, perhaps) evolution would start, as versions which were more efficient at getting “nutrients” needed to replicate faster would dominate. Any problem with that? I just read that a big effort is beginning to build something living - perhaps a virus - from the basic constituents. If that happens, would you agree that no divine “spark of life” is required? We can’t ever tell what did happen, we can just say what might have happened. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/108 "2008-08-08T16:24:01Z")
[QUOTE=j666] As I scientist with no religious affiliation, I have to say I think your brush is a bit narrow. Not all religion is Fundamentalist Idolatrist adherence to ancient writings a. taken out of context, or b. by loons. Religion can be the source of [great social good](http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Southern+Christian+Leadership+Conference) or of the awareness and appreciation of our existence beyond our physical needs. (I’ll never understand scientists whose knowledge of the complexity of the physical world does not inspire an awe that approaches the religious; how can one not be inspired? But I digress.) Assuming religious beliefs stay out of the courts and the schools. [/QUOTE] I believe you are right, not all religious people are hypocrits, some are genuinely interested in helping others and spend a lot of their time and money doing so. I like your post. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/109 "2008-08-08T16:29:04Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] The origin of life is an event. We can somewhat date it (to a bunch of hundreds of millions of years) based on the fossil records, but no one claims to know how it happened. There are various hypotheses, but I’m not aware any worth the name of theory yet. If we can find a few plausible mechanisms, we might never know which actually happened. If a molecule which could replicate itself (a simpler version of RNA, perhaps) evolution would start, as versions which were more efficient at getting “nutrients” needed to replicate faster would dominate. Any problem with that? I just read that a big effort is beginning to build something living - perhaps a virus - from the basic constituents. If that happens, would you agree that no divine “spark of life” is required? We can’t ever tell what did happen, we can just say what might have happened. [/QUOTE] I can agree with what you have written. I will have to wait until something is actually built before I think about believing it or not. Thanks for your post. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/110 "2008-08-08T16:43:22Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] The origin of the universe is a matter of cosmology. The basic unanswered question of cosmology is, “Why is there something rather than nothing?” Science has not even a hypothetical answer, as yet. Saying “God” is no answer at all; if God exists, God is something and the question remains unanswered. Same with solopsism: If I am all that exists, why do I exist? [/QUOTE] Yes, that’s my problem with the concept of a God. It doesn’t solve anything; it just pushes the problem back one step further. OK, if God created everything, where did God come from, and why? And **lekatt** , I don’t really understand what spirituality is, nor do I feel the faintest need for or lack of it in my life. There are lots of things in life bigger than I am, but they’re real, and I can see them, or test for them objectively, and other people can too. I have people in my life whom I love, and their happiness and the betterment of mankind in general is really all the reason I need to try to live morally. I’m not special. There’s nothing but my own deeds that distinguishes me from anyone else on the planet, and let me tell you, my deeds are nothing to write home about. But my own happiness or contentment is justification enough for my existence. So I read your words, but I can’t really connect with them emotionally, and I apologize for that. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/111 "2008-08-08T16:56:59Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] If you want a fossil of one animal turning into another, try [_Archaeopteryx_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeopteryx), the reptile becoming a bird, or a bird with teeth for short. [/quote] Again, this is a misconception. One animal does not turn into another animal. _Populations_ evolve over time, gradually altering their phenotype. What came before _Archaeopteryx_ was only slightly different; what came after, was very probably nothing (_Archaeopteryx_ is not the actual ancestor of modern birds; it represents a “gradistic” change in phentotype. That is, whatever the _actual_ ancestor was, it probably looked a good deal like _Archaeopteryx_). “One animal turning into another” is something that can only be assigned in retrospect, and then only thanks to the “snapshot” effect of the fossil record. In reality, the changes are gradual and largely imperceptible, not stepwise and easily categorized. Also, as a cladist, I feel it necessary to point out that reptiles (or a subgroup thereof) did not “become” birds; birds remain reptiles, just very specialized ones. > [@](#): > > ETA: _Archaeopteryx_’s ancestor’s were reptiles (well, dinosaurs, anyway), while his descendants were birds. Reptiles \> Dinosaurs \> Birds. It’s like set theory: all birds are dinosaurs, and all dinosaurs are reptiles, therefore all dinosaurs and birds are reptiles. Linnaeaus has done a great deal to confuse the nature of phylogeny and evolution. Also, see above regarding the evolutionary significance of _Archaeopteryx_. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/112 "2008-08-08T18:14:47Z")
[QUOTE=Darwin’s Finch] Linnaeaus has done a great deal to confuse the nature of phylogeny and evolution. [/QUOTE] That seems harsh. Did phylogeny even exist as a concept in Linnae[a]us’ time? ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/113 "2008-08-08T19:20:50Z")
Spiritual People belive in neither. I don’t think I know the term “spiritual people” then. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/114 "2008-08-08T19:36:22Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] Yes, that’s my problem with the concept of a God. It doesn’t solve anything; it just pushes the problem back one step further. OK, if God created everything, where did God come from, and why? And **lekatt** , I don’t really understand what spirituality is, nor do I feel the faintest need for or lack of it in my life. There are lots of things in life bigger than I am, but they’re real, and I can see them, or test for them objectively, and other people can too. I have people in my life whom I love, and their happiness and the betterment of mankind in general is really all the reason I need to try to live morally. I’m not special. There’s nothing but my own deeds that distinguishes me from anyone else on the planet, and let me tell you, my deeds are nothing to write home about. But my own happiness or contentment is justification enough for my existence. So I read your words, but I can’t really connect with them emotionally, and I apologize for that. [/QUOTE] That is understandable, the religious people don’t connect with us either. Some people become spiritual through trauma and adversity. Others train and practice for years to become spiritual, and still others are born being spiritual. Being spiritual is real, but you can’t see it, you feel it. I will get into trouble with this, but it is an explansion of consciousness beyond the duality of time and space, right and wrong, black and white. It is being humble before knowledge, and caring of others before self. No spiritual person is perfect at being spiritual, but we try. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/115 "2008-08-08T19:45:26Z")
But **lekatt** , did I not, in the passage you quoted, demonstrate humility before knowledge and caring of others before self? I don’t understand what those things have to do with beliefs of something that you can’t even describe except to say you don’t accept either science or religion. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/116 "2008-08-08T20:22:01Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] I believe there is a higher intelligence or consciousness that has been here forever. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah? Well I believe there is a higher intelligence or consciousness that _evolved_. > [@](#): > > I will have to wait until something is actually built before I think about believing it or not. But then again, science is not about _believing_ vs not believing. There are words like possibly, maybe, likely, probably that can be applied to convey the lack of absolutism in science. Even calling something a “fact” leaves a little wiggle room (but don’t exagerrate the wiggle room available when something is called a “theory”). And science generally shies away from calling anything the “truth”. It’s perfectly reasonable to say, “Yeah, I can go along with the likelihood that that’s the case” without having to go so far as saying, “I believe it”. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/117 "2008-08-08T20:52:55Z")
I suspect that there are lots of different definitions of ‘spiritual’ in play, and that **lekatt** is only referring to one of them, which doesn’t apply to all. (Notably, all the religious people I know believe themselves to be spiritual.) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/118 "2008-08-08T20:53:42Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] I can agree with what you have written. I will have to wait until something is actually built before I think about believing it or not. Thanks for your post. [/QUOTE] For abiogenesis, you are quit right to not believe anything about the mechanism. Do you accept evolution (given that we start with something living) at least provisionally? ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/119 "2008-08-08T21:09:57Z")
[QUOTE=lekatt] What you are talking about is not the gist of evolution. We all know that what you say happens. When people talk about evolution they generally mean one animal turning into another or the alleged beginning of life. Now all of this may be at least somewhat true, but there is no fossil evidence of one animal becoming another, etc. Evolution is a theory and so is the Big Bang, no one will ever know where the first matter came from and why, or with religious people where God came from. These will remain the great mysteries of our existence. Those that have faith in God and the Bible have built a religion around it and those who have faith in evolution, Big Bang and science are also building a religion around it. More and more lately I hear about the religion of science. That is because science has turned its back on truth in the same manner other religious groups have. When I was young a theory was a theory and evidence was evidence, etc. All of us need to apply the reality principle, and test whether or not we really know something or we just have faith/belief in it. Truth is the only worthy goal of everyone. Religion may make you feel better but the truth will set you free. [/QUOTE] You’re _ **WRONG!!!** _ whew. I feel better. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055/120 "2008-08-08T21:18:59Z")
[QUOTE=photopat] You’re _ **WRONG!!!** _ whew. I feel better. [/QUOTE] Wow, I missed that. Nifty. When he was young, evolution was already a theory and there was already vast amounts of evidence supporting it. Just sayin’. Hmm, is there _any_ discussion left to be had on the _actual_ topic of this thread? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-vs-evolution-the-only-choices/459055.md?page=7)