Evolution, religion, and ignorance.

[Esquilax]

So, we've been getting a few evolution-denying theists around recently, and their threads attempting to poke holes in the theory have reminded me of an old question that I'd like to get an answer for, and maybe you creationists can help with that:

Is it possible to deny evolution and understand what it is at the same time?

So far, every one of you who has stated a disbelief in evolution has gone on to prove that you don't know what it is. Given that, what I'd like is for all the evolution denying theists here to let me know two things:

1. What is evolution?

2. Why do you not accept evolution?

Have at it, theists.

[The Valkyrie]

So, we've been getting a few evolution-denying theists around recently, and their threads attempting to poke holes in the theory have reminded me of an old question that I'd like to get an answer for, and maybe you creationists can help with that:

Is it possible to deny evolution and understand what it is at the same time?

So far, every one of you who has stated a disbelief in evolution has gone on to prove that you don't know what it is. Given that, what I'd like is for all the evolution denying theists here to let me know two things:

1. What is evolution?

2. Why do you not accept evolution?

Have at it, theists.

Wait until I get my popcorn.

[Whateverist]

We'll see who wants to play but my atheist answer is no.

Creationists just bore me now. No one who believes in that crap can have anything to say that's worth listening to.

[Minimalist]

Yeah... now that everyone pretty much knows that germs cause disease and the earth is round the lowest rung on the intellectual ladder is occupied by dumb fuck creatards.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

So, we've been getting a few evolution-denying theists around recently, and their threads attempting to poke holes in the theory have reminded me of an old question that I'd like to get an answer for, and maybe you creationists can help with that:

Is it possible to deny evolution and understand what it is at the same time?

So far, every one of you who has stated a disbelief in evolution has gone on to prove that you don't know what it is. Given that, what I'd like is for all the evolution denying theists here to let me know two things:

1. What is evolution?

2. Why do you not accept evolution?

Have at it, theists.

I suspect you'll be disappointed.

I agree that most creationists don't understand evolution, but that's a damned poor excuse for not accepting it. By way of analogy, I don't understand how my television works, but I accept that it does. Why? Because I can see it work.

Given the overwhelming evidence for evolution - plus the fact that we can see it happen - I think the creationist denial of science goes even deeper than simple ignorance. It is a willful denial of facts, evidence and observation. This is why creationists almost never accept evolution, in spite of the evidence for it (witness Rev's recent travesties). The reason for this is pretty plain: it simply adds one more phenomenon to the ever-growing list of things we don't need to invoke God for as an explanation. God's list of Things To Do Today has been shrinking ever since Thales picked up a lodestone, thought about Zeus and said, 'Hang on...'. The fact that scientists today do the same thing with Jehovah causes creationists no end of sleepless nights.

Boru

[Zen Badger]

Because to accept evolution and what it implies means you have to utterly reject the myth of Christianity.

And one of the hardest thing a person can do is give up what they believe.

[FreeTony]

Because to accept evolution and what it implies means you have to utterly reject the myth of Christianity.

And one of the hardest thing a person can do is give up what they believe.

It's quite easy to say "your're not meant to take that part literally" though. Apparently it is obvious to tell which bits are and are not literal, though the results of this determination seem to be entirely dependant on the education of the Christian.

[Cato]

Is it possible to deny evolution and understand what it is at the same time?

I can't see how and look to theists that aren't completely delusional for an answer. Believers that accept scientific fact, such as evolution, turn back and reconcile their beliefs to what is demonstrably true. This is typically done by giving God credit for creating nature's laws that result in evolution.

[Esquilax]

I suspect you'll be disappointed.

I agree that most creationists don't understand evolution, but that's a damned poor excuse for not accepting it. By way of analogy, I don't understand how my television works, but I accept that it does. Why? Because I can see it work.

But there's a difference between knowing how a TV works, and knowing what a TV is: Even without knowing how your TV works, if I asked you what it is, you'd tell me some variation on the theme of "it's an electronic device that outputs signals as visual and audio media."

That simple threshold of understanding, that one would expect to be the minimum requirement for having a cogent opinion on something, is lacking when theists speak about evolution. We've had multiple threads recently that do this, but it's a common enough refrain, where we're asked for evidence of evolution, and then when we all supply it, the creationist responds "yes, but where's your evidence of dogs turning into cats?"

If I asked you what a TV is, you could give me a correct answer. When I ask a creationist what evolution is, I'm told it's something it absolutely is not, which makes any opinion that creationist has on evolution roughly equivalent to their opinions on televisions, if they'd started the conversation by telling me that a television is a four wheeled vehicle driven by horses.

Hence my question: I'd like to know if any of the evolution deniers here actually know what evolution is, and conversely, whether any of the people who actually do understand evolution could still have a reason to deny it.

[SteelCurtain]

My Prediction, if you get a response:

1) Snarky non-definition.
2)Because Jesus.