The Horrors of Evolution (Evolution)

by dhw, Saturday, September 13, 2008, 11:32 (5713 days ago) @ Carl

Carl: "All hinges on the belief in a personal God." - Spot on. The whole discussion works through phases. Since life and the universe are a fact, we all agree that there is some sort of creative force at work. The first question is whether it's conscious (= intelligent design). From there we move to: if it's conscious, is it personal? And from there we move to: if it's personal, what is its nature and attitude towards us? - I find all three areas of discussion fascinating, but perhaps the richest of them is 3). If there is no God, or God is impersonal, life on Earth is all there is. I don't have a problem with that, and it might be best for us if it is so. But 3) might be wonderful, might be terrible, and is inexhaustible in its possible ramifications. - I agree with everything you have said about Christianity as it's presented by Edinburgh4, but the version of Christianity which he follows, and which you have picked to pieces in all its illogicality, depends on an equally illogical adherence to a collection of texts that have no possible claim to any kind of authenticity. (That doesn't mean they are all fictional, but even history depends on the perspective of the historian.) I have many Christian friends, and not one of them takes this blinkered view of the Bible. Many Christians believe that the Earth is billions of years old, that dinosaurs preceded man, and that hell is just a metaphor. (What possible purpose could there be in eternal torment ... unless God is the ultimate sadist?) I have the utmost respect for any religion or non-religion that is prepared to adapt to new discoveries, and since life can be made to fit in with a theistic, agnostic or atheist point of view, I see no justification for any form of intolerance. - I've just logged onto BBella's latest post: "I can prove whatever I choose to believe with whatever I choose as evidence to prove it with." Exactly! Among our contributors, though, David and George have examined the scientific evidence before them and have simply come to opposite conclusions. I think there are many people who genuinely approach the God question with an open mind (Edinburgh4 says he started out as an agnostic) and find an answer that satisfies them. Once the decision is taken, the BBella process sets in. This may even be my own case. Perhaps deep down, confronted by so much evidence for so many theories, I have chosen to believe that it won't be possible for me to form a belief. But of course I'm not even sure about that! - - .