Evenin' all

[SteelCurtain]

Welcome! Look forward to seeing you around.

[Jollocks]

Thanks, you too.

[Alexmahone]

I'm sure many atheists here familiar with the life sciences also cringe when they hear someone vehemently arguing that humans evolved from apes, rather than from a common ancestor!

Actually, humans are apes: specifically great apes.

[Abaddon_ire]

Welcome. The "militant" version of any position is usually objectionable. 

The only people I have come across that even suggest the crank notion that humans evolved from apes are crank fundamentalist christians, so I don't know where that idea arises.

Then forgive me, I couldn't think of any better adjective at the time.

As for the idea of evolving from apes, well... I spend a lot of time on political debate groups. And yes, I know they're one of the worst places for debate (unless you enjoy talking about Muslims, Trump, and Brexit all day long). But the idea persists, I think mainly because in the UK there's little of any comprehensive education of evolutionary processes in schools.

"Forgive"? No forgiveness required. You did nothing "wrong". I am not familiar with the UK education system so cannot comment on it's merits or lack thereof.

[Brian37]

Newbie here. No, I'm not an atheist, I'm an orthodox Jew. However, I'm also (which is what brought me to this site) a scientist. I don't have anything particularly against atheists, except maybe the more 'militant types', but I do often find it strange that a growing number of atheists claim to place their "faith" in rationality and science, and then display an ignorance of scientific facts and method, or knowledge of common myths. I'm sure many atheists here familiar with the life sciences also cringe when they hear someone vehemently arguing that humans evolved from apes, rather than from a common ancestor!
So mainly, I'm just here to help out, given my passion for the sciences.

Nice to be aboard.

[chimp3]

Welcome!

[Whateverist]

Newbie here. No, I'm not an atheist, I'm an orthodox Jew. However, I'm also (which is what brought me to this site) a scientist. I don't have anything particularly against atheists, except maybe the more 'militant types', but I do often find it strange that a growing number of atheists claim to place their "faith" in rationality and science, and then display an ignorance of scientific facts and method, or knowledge of common myths. I'm sure many atheists here familiar with the life sciences also cringe when they hear someone vehemently arguing that humans evolved from apes, rather than from a common ancestor!
So mainly, I'm just here to help out, given my passion for the sciences.

Nice to be aboard.

Wouldn't it be best to just say we, like the others of our kind, are evolving apes?  I don't think we've evolved beyond that classification, do you?

But welcome to the forums.  I truly hope you like it here and will contribute wherever your interests are triggered.

I find the Jewish take on religion much more interesting that that of most Christians.  For one thing, I don't believe an afterlife is a popular component of most practitioners beliefs; the emphasis on life is refreshing.  My understanding is that "God" means different things to different jews and that even an atheist can be a perfectly good jew.  I'd also give a shout out for the lack of missionary work to enlist more members, nice.

I also hold scientism (but not science) in low regard.  I'll cop to being a person of faith, just not in any gods.  Of course whether any two people mean the same thing by "god" is far from settled.  Personally I find the origins of god belief to be fascinating and sometimes wonder if that could have been instrumental in some way to our transition to propositional thought and all the rest.  I don't feel the compulsion some do to sweep god belief under a carpet to avoid embarrassment, though I'm always on board to prevent the intrusion of religion into secular law.

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I'm sure many atheists here familiar with the life sciences also cringe when they hear someone vehemently arguing that humans evolved from apes, rather than from a common ancestor!

Actually, humans are apes: specifically great apes.

Why thank you, I'm sure you're pretty great too.

[vulcanlogician]

Welcome Jollocks. You seem interesting.

[Fireball]

Welcome! I was taught about the descent of apes from a common ancestor. I've even managed to school a few Baptists into understanding this.

[Angrboda]

Evenin'