I proposed this question just to see how people around me feel about this issue. I admit I’m surprised that this came out so even. What? You are surprised by the accuracy of this poll? How dare you!
Do you believe "creationism" and evolution are mutually exclusive?
- No (57%)
- Yes (43%)
Total Votes: 21
Loading ...This topic raises all sorts of other issues.
- What can a Christian believe and still be considered a Christian?
- Can a Christian fully believe in the Creation story and evolution?
- Is this an issue a church body should split on?
- Is this an issue Christians can disagree on.
- What about those dinasours?
- Is it possible there is more we don’t know?
I recall hearing John McAuthor on the radio and he was discussing this very issue. He had an if/then statement that was something like this. If you don’t believe the creation story to be interpreted as God creating the world in 6, 24hr days then you are (something like this)…saying that the Bible is possibly invalid thus saying God is a farce. I apologize for not remembering his exact words. It was several years ago. However that is pretty close I believe. I was ignorant enough at the time to believe that was the only way a Christian could view the issue. I highly respected Mc Johnny and didn’t really think twice.
Now its alot more common to hear people like Rob Bell talk about the issue in a totally different light. Brickianity doctrine. This is were your (wall)belief is made up by each (brick)doctrine you hold. Rob says it best himself in his book Velvit Elvis.
Each of the core doctrines for him is like an individual brick that stacks on top of the others. If you pull one out, the whole wall starts to crumble. It appears quite strong and rigid, but if you begin to rethink or discuss even one brick, the whole thing is in danger…Often it appears as though you have to agree with all of the bricks exactly as they a re or you can’t join.
I can empathize with Rob Bells point but at the same time I am slightly leary of it because he sets it up just to prove that, “God is bigger than any wall. God is bigger than any religion. God is bigger than any worldview. God is bigger than the Christian faith.” Which in my mind authenticates people that are lazy in seeking wisdom and understanding. To me it doesn’t really matter who is right(Rob or John). Christianity can stand up to anything people throw at it so encouraging dialogue on the issue (that is not concrete) should not be considered heresy as I recall John saying.
Sometimes you have to go off what you know. And I know this. That developing a creation museum that teaches that the world is 6,000 years old and dinosaurs were created by God at the same time as Adam and Eve is not bringing people into the Family of God. It will in fact isolate them in a “Us vs Them” sort of fashion. I say this with all do respect for the doctrine of Intelligent Design and the fact that the world could possibly be 6000 years old even though scientist say other wise.
The thing that scares me is not when people have conflicting doctrinal views but when they feel they need to have a full explanation of these issues to authenticate the Gospel story. We can go around all day arguing this issue internally but what good will come of it? Is it possible for the fundies to loosen a little so that people can focus on mending the broken?
Do a google video search for “creation museum” and see other peoples view points.
Just a dude with a blog that probably shouldn't have one.
I recently read (okay, I listened to the audio book in my car) a book by Francis Collins, PhD called “The Language of God”. I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone because I believe he is off course on a relatively large chunk of what he says about evolution, and he relies heavily on a liberal interpretation of the Bible. I also disagree with his take that Intelligent Design is nothing more than a “God of the Gaps” theory. However, I agree with him on many of the philosophical concepts about the existence of God – mainly because he obtained a great deal of them from C.S. Lewis’s “Mere Christianity”. He has named his religion “bios through logos” or more commonly “Evolutionary Christianity”, and claims that many scientists share his beliefs. Anyway, his book is a good source for understanding the Evolutionary Christian’s point-of-view and for promoting harmony between the two sides (creation literalists vs. naturalistic evolutionists).
Adam thanks for the comment. I hadn’t ever heard of the book. People are definitely all over the map on this one. I don’t want it to sound like I’m that way but I also don’t want to act like I have “the” answer. Because IMHO the good book doesn’t give the complete answer. Its funny because when people try to justify the answer they don’t have they come up with stuff that is a little peculiar. For example: a good friend that I respect told me without even second guessing it that God obviously put dinosaurs on the ark. I’m pretty sure I remember how large a Brontosaurus is from 3rd grade… He would definitely “rock the boat”. Figuratively and literally.
Don’t you and Stephanie have a blog about Alex? I always forget the address.
Thanks for being honest…”listened to the audio book in my car”. hahah
I agree that we do not currently, nor will we ever have all the answers, and I think it was designed that way. There always seems to be an argument for each side. The important thing to note is that you can still be a Christian whether you believe in a 6-day creation or a longer creation event or series of events that may or may not have incorporated an evolutionary process.
The strange thing that I’ve found is that the more you examine evolution the more you come to realize that evolution cannot survive on solely natural forces. At some point, the supernatural must come into play.
I agree that an adult Brontosaurus would “rock the boat”, but what about a couple of baby Bronto’s or even the eggs? Just something to consider.
Oh, Alex’s blog site is: hunts1827.wordpress.com
Even though I don’t really agree I can see why people divide over the issue. Because many fundamentalist bring it back to the inherency of the Bible. If we don’t belive what the Bible says even if its not completely addressed then we are sinners doomed for hell. Seems like a fallacy to me but obviously full proof to others.
I absolutely agree that its impossible to look at evolution as even beginning to give an explanation. Gods hand was in it and that I believe fully. I recently read a news article that said that scientist have found that the big bang theory does not give an answer as to how everything came to be. So here science is again without the ultimate answer. They can say to us well if God created this then who created God…and we can say to them well if the big bang theory doesn’t describe how everything came to be…etc No doubt that the idea of a god is the only answer. Science will never find the answer.
Even if this guy could fit on the ark just think about all the different species of every living thing. There are so many things that haven’t even been discovered yet that its mind blowing. Were really everyone one of those on the ark? Why do we not allow for different kinds of bees to evolve from one kind?… anyways we could go on forever.