I
didn’t learn about the theory of evolution in high school. Mr. Lee, our High
School biology teacher, must’ve just decided to leave that unit out. I heard
about evolution from another Follower when I was in my late teens.
She
told me and a few others that there was this man named Charles Darwin who came
up with a theory that humans had evolved over the centuries from apes. She said
that there was a young Follower couple who had become interested in Darwin’s
theory and had studied it. The couple had a baby, and as God’s punishment,
their baby had been covered in hair and looked like a monkey. The baby died.
Now, it’s been more than twenty years since I heard this story (hearsay) and I
don’t remember their names – she said that they had left church after this
incident. I don’t know the details, and that’s not the point of my blog. The
point is just that I first heard of this in my late teens and it sounded awful.
In
college, I had to take a year of biology, and the teacher – who was a
practicing Christian – taught us about the theory of evolution and the Big Bang
Theory. That was the first I’d heard of the Big Bang, and I’m not a quiet
person who just takes whatever teachers tell me as fact – so, I raised my hand
and asked, “Who made the big ball of matter that exploded in the ‘Big Bang’?”
She just smiled.
So
here’s what I think about evolution and the Big Bang. I believe that God
created the heavens and the Earth. I believe that humans have evolved over the
years into being taller, on average, due to better nutrition and health. I
think we’re less hairy due to wearing more clothing and the advent of razors,
et.al. And I think that Charles Darwin came to regret his original theory.
Why
explain the universe away? It’s already been explained. People who say the
Bible is just a made up story have (for the most part) not read the entire
Bible. I want to issue a challenge to the doubters, the agnostics, and the atheists:
read it. All of it. Yes, I do realize that some of the laws and history in the
Old Testament seem barbaric to our modern eyes – it’s not something I can
explain or fully understand. But read it. And then read the New Testament –
which is not barbaric at all. The New Testament is a love story of how much God
loves us and the lengths He has gone to in order to save us.
So
that’s my challenge. Before you say it’s not true – read it. It won’t take
long. You could read it in a month if you tried. I read the New Testament in a
few days when I was in high school and I’m certain most of my readers are
smarter than a high school student.
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” – C.S. Lewis
The Theory of Evolution has been involved in an evolution of it's own. Long ago scientists and philosophers realized that the previous proposed mechanics of evolution was frought with problems. So in comes tweaks to the theory, so many in fact that all that evolutionists can surely agree on is that there MUST have been an evolution, after all if there wasn't there would need to be a creator. Of course even evolution only pushes the problem of origin back a few steps. Ultimately the question has to arise as to how stuff existed at all. The complexity of it all requires a greater amount of faith in my opinion than to believe in God, which in the end is the most reasonable cause for matter.
ReplyDeleteI believe in creation because I believe in a Creator, and vise-versa.
I am suspicious of evolution because it conflicts with scriptures, and it's own self.
Most of my reading of the Bible came about due to college classes. What it did to my belief system is a private matter.
ReplyDeleteThere are 5 things that are necessary in order to have existsnce on this planet, these things are called I believe "the 5 unknowables" and they are Time, Space, Matter, Energy, and Force. Genesis 1:1 lists all 5 of these things: In the beginning (time) God (force) created (energy) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter) it is kind of crazy to think that all of these things are listed in the creation story, and scientists just within the last few hundred years discovered this.
ReplyDeleteI learned a long time ago to keep my opinions to myself when it concerns Christianity. Too many people are bent on trying to prove you're wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather go along in my merry day and smile to myself knowing what I know (or don't know) and let it be for others to conclude their own opinion.
You can't force people to see things your way, you have to let them draw their own conclusions.
Good food for thought. Great post!
I'd say that the big bang theory makes the most sense to me, as I'm not a practicing Christian! Great post!
ReplyDeletehttp://sophiebowns.wordpress.com/
Bless you for giving us your honest opinion. Of course, we'll all discover what's really going on behind the scenes when we die. Some people thing they're just wiped out. I like to hope I'll be met by my family before they escort me to God's door. And then ... I'll find out.
ReplyDeleteSince none of knows for certain what the truth is (even if you think you personally have some direct line to God, you are still just human). I will keep my views to myself, because I agree with Bonnie. I don't care to change your mind, and I sure as hell don't want to listen to you try to change mine. Keep reading your bible, and I'll keep studying science. I'm pretty sure that neither of those two things is the ticket to "heaven".
ReplyDelete"I will keep my views to myself...I'm pretty sure that neither of those two things is the ticket to "heaven"."
DeleteIt's fine to share your opinion on here, we all do.
A heart felt post... well done. I don't think we are meant to know the truth, but should live our lives to their fullest and be okay with not knowing. Perhaps we will learn the truth after death, perhaps not. My religion is kindness (I believe that was said by the Dahli Lama). I hope that someday, all people can embrace this particular religion.
ReplyDeleteNot sure why my comment didn't go through yesterday. Follow your heart and do not worry what other's say. In the end, we will all stand for our choices.
ReplyDeleteYou...need to look more into evolution if you really believe everything you just said. With that being said, I have read the bible and it seems ridiculous to me much like the even older Greek Myths. Whether you choose to continue this train of thought or not does not concern me but at the very least look more into subjects before you make your thoughts public.
ReplyDeleteHe anonymous - I have studied evolution, including original source documents. You've read the entire bible? That seems unlikely.
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