Creationism VS Evolution, Isn't a "compromise" possible?

[awisler]

Why exactly is it that many people seem to believe either we only evolved, or that we only were created. Extremely logic oriented people tend to believe in evolution, while the very spiritual believe in creationism.

Is it not possible for a large amount of people to combine spirituality and logic/reason, to conclude that God created the world, but planned out the theory of evolution. Perhaps he put the first single celled organisms out there and then allowed evolution to take its course as he planned?

[Irishman]

There is no reason, after accepting that evolution is how species came to be, to add God to the mix.

This is the basis of parsimony and to add God simply because you want to is completely irrational.

Perhaps he put the first single celled organisms out there and then allowed evolution to take its course as he planned?

But there is no reason to posit this...

Reason is not a half-and-half type of empirical theory, you cannot base one belief on reason and then ask it be suspended on the other hand.

[awisler]

Well, it may not as much apply to those who have already accepted evolution, but to those who have accepted their God BUT their logic strongly suggests evolution took place, could they not assume that it is a half/half type of thing? Personally this is my belief, just didn't know if anyone else believed this or thought it was a reasonable alternative for what I think is a pretty large amount of people.

[Irishman]

It just depends. Like I said, there is rationally no reason to assert that. If you want to use reason, then there is no reason to believe that God had any hand.

My point is that I don't see any reason to be convinced by rational thinking in one aspect and forsake it in another.

[Dunecat]

[awisler]

Hmm, I'll try to say it more clearly, it is kind of hard to word, but...

I feel that reason explains evolution. HOWEVER, I feel there are also many things that reason cannot even begin to explain. So therefore I think many people could conclude that a god HAS to exist because of the unknown, yet they feel some things that are explained be reason make sense, so they would sort of compromise their belief? I guess that's how to put it.

[Dunecat]

Hmm, I'll try to say it more clearly, it is kind of hard to word, but...

I feel that reason explains evolution. HOWEVER, I feel there are also many things that reason cannot even begin to explain. So therefore I think many people could conclude that a god HAS to exist because of the unknown, yet they feel some things that are explained be reason make sense, so they would sort of compromise their belief? I guess that's how to put it.

*shaves awisler*

Ah, there. Evolution.

[Irishman]

I feel there are also many things that reason cannot even begin to explain.

There is no reason to assume this. Reason is a PATH to knowledge, the unknown is only temporary.

So therefore I think many people could conclude that a god HAS to exist because of the unknown

But here you are using REASON to reach this conclusion. Also, this is a fallacy.

yet they feel some things that are explained be reason make sense, so they would sort of compromise their belief

Just because they cannot understand reason does not mean that reason is wrong.

[awisler]

Well, I myself have experienced multiple times things that can never, ever be explained by reason. I can GUARANTEE that to you. I was an Atheist before those things occurred.

However, I am not saying reason EXPLAINS evolution, but merely that reason says evolution DID occur. I am saying that god allowed evolution to happen, but that reason explains evolution.

Many religious extremists seem to think that humans appeared out of nowhere and everything just went on from there. Well why not believe that evolution did actually happen using reason in that brain that god gave you, but that the only reason evolution did occur was because god allowed it to.

[SirLoinalot]

Well, I myself have experienced multiple times things that can never, ever be explained by reason. I can GUARANTEE that to you. I was an Atheist before those things occurred.

Try.

Rationally try to explain the experiences you had, whatever they may have been. The rational explanation will be more probable than the supernatural alternative.

[Irishman]

I dont get it though. If you are going to accept reason enough to believe in evolution, why not make yourself a reasoned person and accept all the conclusions of reason, namely that God had no hand in evolution?

[HopliteElite]

If one accepts evolution, it is based upon the evidence that science has provided to back it up. If one accepts faith, it is based upon nothing but fairytales with no evidence to back them up. How can the two possibly be reconciled? Let's face it, you can either choose science and reason and be open to the possibility that science will continue to elaborate on evolution or you can choose faith and just close your mind to the possibility of change and focus on the fairytales. The two are polar opposites and cannot be reasonably reconciled.

[awisler]

Well because I believe that god exists, and I believe that he had a hand in pretty much everything. I am just questioning moreso the extent to which he did. I would think many people would believe the evolution did indeed occur, but only because of gods hand in it - creating those first unicellular organisms that led to it.

[HopliteElite]

but only because of gods hand in it - creating those first unicellular organisms that led to it.

Now you are adding pure speculation to something that is based upon evidence. It's like saying I'm 6'0 tall, which is backed up by physical evidence, aka my body, but only so because a leprechaun snuck into my bedroom one night and magically enhanced my growth, aka wild speculation, but no more wild than the "God did it" argument.

[Irishman]

Well because I believe that god exists, and I believe that he had a hand in pretty much everything. I am just questioning moreso the extent to which he did. I would think many people would believe the evolution did indeed occur, but only because of gods hand in it - creating those first unicellular organisms that led to it.

This is faulty reasoning though. You are shaping your version of reality to make it what you want, not following reason at all.

[sephodwyrm]

I think it is infinitely more difficult to have a program called the self-replicator, that begins simply and ends up with a subtype that manage to come up with philosophies, sado masochism, a million and one ways to make each other miserable, and religions...

If God is truly great He would create a program like that, not some lame naked clone couple in a garden.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

The simple answer is day-age Creationism and the theory of evolution can coexist. It is merely more confusing and illogical, and most religious people like it simple.

[Tankbuster]

The simple answer is day-age Creationism and the theory of evolution can coexist. It is merely more confusing and illogical, and most religious people like it simple.

A theist God and the theory of evolution seems a bit contradictory to me.

A theist God cares more about us than everything else combined, but if we are simply a product of evolution, one out of million's products, then why would God love us more than anything else?

That would not only be illogical, but also contradictory.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Not really. God made animals before humans, so are animals more important? No. The same can be said for Creationism - we are one of millions of things God created. But religious people value humanity more than animals, and this view is strictly biblical.

[gambit]

There is a group that have tried to compromise, I'm not sure their actual name (something along the lines of creational evolutionism, fancy the creativity) They believe God used evolution to create man and other animals which contradicts itself because god claims he is all-powerful and all-knowing yet he'd use a flawed and inefficient system such as evolution? Along with little evidence to back up creationism except creationalists saying "Well God as a creator makes sense until you get to the gaps...and then...uhm....well...HERESY!...GO TO HELL!"