What is Evolution Article

[LuisDantas]

And of assured destiny, I think.

 

[Ouroboros]

I think that's accurate. There is a feeling of hierarchy with god at the top, then man, then the beasts of the field. It's a feeling of superiority.

Yup.

Genesis suggests it too with the supposed commandment from God to rule over the world. We're supposed to be the masters according to the Bible.

I'm sure there are religions where this isn't the issue, like Buddhism, I think.

 

[Ouroboros]

And of assured destiny, I think.

That too. If we're just animals, then why would there be a Heaven? (Unless dogs go there too... lol!)

Which also is part of the "I'm so special" deal. "I'm so special because I'm going to Heaven, and you're not, nya nya. But if I can brainwash you with my ideology and dogma, then you can go there too!" :areyoucra

 

[LuisDantas]

Yup.

Genesis suggests it too with the supposed commandment from God to rule over the world. We're supposed to be the masters according to the Bible.

I'm sure there are religions where this isn't the issue, like Buddhism, I think.

There are Buddhism schools that teach that gods are at a disadvantage at practicing Dharma, because they are much too used to their current capabilities.

I actually felt sorry for the plight of semi-Gods as described by Chagdud Rinpoche.

The core teachings of Buddhism (IMO Interdependent Origination and Anatta) pretty much call anyone who expects to be "deserving of heaven" a blind fool.

 

[FunctionalAtheist]

The core teachings of Buddhism (IMO Interdependent Origination and Anatta) pretty much call anyone who expects to be "deserving of heaven" a blind fool.

This makes much sense to me. Even if there is a god, the only way to behave is to ignore pondering of the hereafter and do what is best for the here and now. The idea of god and heaven could do nothing but distract one from achieving that goal.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

So I am extremely skeptical of the whole evolution story. This is not based on my christian beliefs as I believe the bible and evolution are not irreconcilable. I have a few Christian friends who believe in the bible and evolution, and have a real faith.

I simply have an extremely hard time believing it. As I think it is largely speculative, and takes empirical evidences and makes gross(large not nasty) assumptions.

For example I'm reading this article on live science, it suppose to be an article that explains the theory of evolution(as I'm trying to become more educated on the topic), but instead I get the story of the supposed evolution of the whale.

If you feel so inclined please read this article with a skeptical eye and try to notice all the assumptions and speculations I believe it makes and promotes as fact.

Darwin's Theory of Evolution: Definition & Evidence

Do you see what I mean? Or does this article seem intellectually equitable to you?

I'm not saying this is the best evidence for the theory, and I'm not completely uneducated on the topic. I have read large swaths of Talkorigins and other evolution promoting website. However, the more I read the less I believe.

This is not a substantive rebuttal of the theory of evolution. This is just a minor articulation of my skepticism on the theory of evolution.

Just to clarify I believe in Micro-evolution.

To clarify some things first.
1) That article is not a scientific paper. That is an internet article meant to give people the basic information on evolution. If you want a scholarly source then you must get it from a scholarly provider. There is a large number of them linked in the thread at the top of this sub-forum.

2) There is no single theory of evolution. Even people who accept evolution don't fully understand it. Evolution is both incredibly simple and incredibly complex. At its basest level it simply means that lifeforms change over time because we mutate on occasion and the more successful genes do better than unsuccessful genes. There are literally tens of thousands of different, intertwining theories that all make up this "theory of evolution" and most of them stem off of a single function in evolution or even a specific instance.

3) There is only micro evolution. There is no "macro-evolution" in the case many people think of when they object to evolution. There is only miroevolution but just a lot of it over time. Does that make sense?