Evolution = Atheism?

Eddy Tiner · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:32 pm Post subject: Evolution = Atheism?

Here's an argument I hear pretty commonly:

Atheists believe in evolution. Atheists are wrong about there being no God; therefore, atheists are wrong about evolution. Thus, evolution is false. (Other versions exist. Logically, I believe they are similar.)

Although I agree that atheists are wrong (BAD wrong) about God, I don't see how that makes them wrong about everything, by default. Consider a hypothetical example: suppose an atheist doctor told you that you had cancer. Hearing that, you have several options, I guess. And while I'd certainly recommend that you get a second opinion, there is absolutely NO WAY I would recommend the option that you just ignore the doc's words with something along the lines of "That doctor is an atheist, so there is no way I could have cancer."

I would assume that there's close to 100% agreement on that. My question is, how is that any different from completely ignoring and denying the possibility of evolution simply because "atheists believe in it"?

Plenty of atheists also happen to believe the Red Sox won the World Series last year.

And they happen to be right.

Shame on us as Christians if we fail to acknowledge God's truth, and allow the atheists to be the ones with the right answer.

ekspiulo · Ferret Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 123

Eddy Tiner has a good point. Also along those lines one could argue, "Christians believe in evolution. Christians are right that there is a god; therefore, Christians are right about evolution." He has pointed out the association fallacy.

Additionally, although it is largely irrelevant in argumentative terms, most atheists give the existence of god(s) more of a chance than several forum goers give the Theory of Evolution. They simply claim there is no compelling reason to believe in the existence of any religions god or gods. Whether or not they are right is the subject of much debate; however, unlike the Theory of Evolution, it is not subjected to the scientific method. The scientific method is the best tool that currently exists for determining the reality of the material world and it could have disproven evolution with many great discoveries in geology, biology, and genetics, but each has affirmed it. My point is, unlike the situation for religions and their tenets ,the Theory of Evolution is already almost as strongly proven as anything in its domain can be.
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"The obvious must be observed and re-observed and argued for. This is a thankless job." - Sam Harris

joman · Tiger Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 823

Ed,

I agree that evolutionism doesn't require belief in the nonexistence of God.

Joman.

gbunty · Alley Cat Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 182

Eddy Tiner · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:49 pm Post subject:

joman · Tiger Joined: 07 Jun 2004 Posts: 823

Parousia · Newbie Alert Joined: 23 Oct 2005 Posts: 0

FFT · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:15 pm Post subject:

ekspiulo · Ferret Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 123

Actually FFT has it right. That is what I meant. Evolution has not stood the test of time, time is no test. Loads of junk philosophy and elaborate collections of myth are carried as true for 2000 years.

Evolution is falsifiable and all scientific discoveries and continuing discoveries in all scientific disciplines continue not to do so. That is all I meant.
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"The obvious must be observed and re-observed and argued for. This is a thankless job." - Sam Harris

SDMD · Show Poodle Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 253

andy82 · Tadpole Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

creation and evolution can actually comer together to form one truth as long as we take the word of the scriptures to be representational because in ths sense time scales become completly obscured because gods time in immesurable. the bible says that god created everything in six days but how do we know how long a day is to god.

FFT · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:18 am Post subject:

How special is it to have created a world over the course of millions of years? Why should we worship a being that took so long, and then told us it only took a few thousand?
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When Science was in its crib, Religion tried to strangle it. When Science was in its infancy, Religion tried to abuse it. Now that Science is grown up, Religion wants to be in its good graces.

Theology is philosophy/ethics for people who already know what conclusion they want to come to.

andy82 · Tadpole Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

and is it not special to create a world and life in its entirity

nakhash · House Cat Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 171

andy82 · Tadpole Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 16

could you explain that for me plaese