Is evolution a religion, Part II

Sender · Post by **Sender** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:49 am

I see the original thread was locked, so I thought I would continue here for a moment.

Grumpy, juliod and Cathar, let me say I apologize to you guys pubilcally for my part in a discussion that got way out of hand real quick, and I take full responsibility for my actions. I was wrong in going "over the top" in voicing my displeasure of your attitudes.

How I react to any situation is ALL on me and nobody else. I am sorry and ask all of you to forgive me.

I take my faith in Christ very seriously, and it is because of Him I come to you publically to aplogize. I am a gruff old former Marine whose takes no prisoners attitude gets me in trouble at times, but the soft heart God has given me also pricks at my being to go back and make it right when I do stupid stuff.

Again, I realize I am an idiot, and I hope you all see this is what part of Christianity is about, swallowing your pride and admitting your mistakes and asking those you offended for forgiveness.

I may be a hot head at times but I am no phoney. Just needed to do this because number one I am truely sorry, and number two, I don't want to give my Savior a bad name for my childish behavior.

Thanks for listening.

Post by **otseng** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:09 am

Thanks for the apology. I really do appreciate it.

Lotan · Post by **Lotan** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:43 am

Sender wrote:I see the original thread was locked, so I thought I would continue here for a moment.

Will you actually be addressing the topic then?

micatala · Post by **micatala** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:32 pm

Thanks, Sender, for your comments above. It was very gracious, and I certainly appreciate it both as a mod and a fellow forum participant.

Yes, I think this topic is worthy of discussion and look forward to an interesting debate.

While I don't want to pre-empt others from offering their own definitions, I will simply quote Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary.

religion:
1. The service and worship of God or the supernatural: commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance. . . .
2. a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.
3. archaic . . .
4. a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.

Also,

religious
1. relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowleged ultimate reality or deity.
2. of, relating to , or devoted to religious beliefs or observances
3. scrupulously and conscientiously faithful. b: fervent, zealous.

Now, these definitions do seem to me to leave room for ambibuity, so I would suggest up front that evolution might be 'a religion' or 'religious' under one of these definitions and not others. Obviously, the history of this debate over time has sometimes included the notion that evolution is somehow 'equivalent' in its status as a 'religion' to Christianity or other traditionally religious belief systems. I think part of the debate should include discussion of this particular point.

I also think Bart007 had a very relevant comment in the other thread. It is possible for an individual to 'religiously believe' in a belief system, or set of idea, even if that belief system itself is not a 'religion.' In his view, some people believe in evolution 'as a religion' or 'religiously'. Certainly, I think it is fair to say that there may be people who believe in evolution 'uncritically' or for reasons other than their examination of the evidence and arguments in support of it.

Now, my own view is that, in and of itself, evolution is not a religion. THere is not part of the basic scientific theory that involves 'faith' or 'faithful devotion.' There is no mention or even relevance to the supernatural or a deity.

WHile some people may accept evolution as part of their 'belief system,' in and of itself, evolution is not a belief system, but rather an explanation for the physical evidence we have from the present day and the past regarding the history and diversity of life on earth.

micatala · Post by **micatala** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:44 pm

I've removed my post here, and put it in the new Is evolution a religion thead back on the Science and Religion forum. I think otseng has suggested we continue the discussion there.

Post by **otseng** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:51 pm

Lotan wrote:
Sender wrote:I see the original thread was locked, so I thought I would continue here for a moment.
Will you actually be addressing the topic then?

I've moved this thread to RR since it's more of an apology than starting a topic of discussion. So, I've duplicated the original thread that I've closed and given everyone a chance to start fresh.

(micatala, could you repost your last post in the new thread?)

micatala · Post by **micatala** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:50 pm

Will do.