A Fort Collins Coloradoan columnist named Jan Waterman just wrote down exactly what I have been thinking about those Gallup poll results reported last week.
She just put it much better than I could have.
When asked the question, "Do you personally believe in the theory of evolution?" 39 percent of 1,018 American adults answered yes, 25 percent answered no and 36 percent had no opinion.
Gallup's question is flawed because evolution is a scientific theory, and scientific theories are not something in which to believe. A scientific theory is a statement about a pattern that exists in the natural world and a process that explains that pattern.
The theory of evolution attempts to explain the diversity and history of life by reference to natural observed laws of the physical universe. It is not so much concerned with how life began as it is with what has happened since life began. It has nothing to do with religion, nor is it something to believe in. As with any scientific theory, evolution is a substantiated explanation incorporating fact and hypothesis.
Gallup's question is flawed because evolution is a scientific theory, and scientific theories are not something in which to believe. A scientific theory is a statement about a pattern that exists in the natural world and a process that explains that pattern.
The theory of evolution attempts to explain the diversity and history of life by reference to natural observed laws of the physical universe. It is not so much concerned with how life began as it is with what has happened since life began. It has nothing to do with religion, nor is it something to believe in. As with any scientific theory, evolution is a substantiated explanation incorporating fact and hypothesis.
Waterman's opinion piece is entitled "Belief doesn't enter into evolution equation."
With all of the "oh no you didn't!" posts I've been writing around here lately, Waterman's conclusion has given me quite a bit to think about.
Like Darwin, we can be curious about the diversity of life. We can question and investigate the amaz-ing world around us. God is not limited by our ideas. Truth is true no matter what our beliefs about it. As we open to consider new ideas and possibilities, we enrich our lives.
I agree with Reverend Thurmond Tillman of the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Ga., that "the faithful should focus on uniting mankind - not dividing his origins."
Tillman goes on to say, "And the test of how we relate with (God) is how we relate with one another."
Isn't that what really matters?
I agree with Reverend Thurmond Tillman of the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Ga., that "the faithful should focus on uniting mankind - not dividing his origins."
Tillman goes on to say, "And the test of how we relate with (God) is how we relate with one another."
Isn't that what really matters?
Edited for grammar, 10:07, 2/22/09
posted by Jeremy Mohn
