RE: Humans evolved from monkeys
March 9, 2016 at 1:36 pm
(This post was last modified: March 9, 2016 at 1:37 pm by TheRocketSurgeon.)
That's pretty much it.
In the colloquial sense, "monkey" is a generic/layman's term for all primates, so the argument "we didn't evolve from monkeys" is stated by people who don't know the distinction between a monkey and a primate or ape. So when an atheist responds, "yes we did", we don't mean that we evolved from the actual monkey, as used in a scientific sense... we're simply responding to people who truly believe that humans are created separately and not as an evolved part of the natural world. Much like "theory" means something very different in the colloquial versus the scientific sense, the same applies here.
Your friend is just playing games with semantics. Lots of Christians understand evolution just fine; atheists pretty much have to, since we're attacked with the "monkeys" bullshit any time we announce ourselves as atheists in the presence of literalists/fundamentalists.
(Edit to Add: He's also creating a strawman version of atheism. You need to call him on that.)
In the colloquial sense, "monkey" is a generic/layman's term for all primates, so the argument "we didn't evolve from monkeys" is stated by people who don't know the distinction between a monkey and a primate or ape. So when an atheist responds, "yes we did", we don't mean that we evolved from the actual monkey, as used in a scientific sense... we're simply responding to people who truly believe that humans are created separately and not as an evolved part of the natural world. Much like "theory" means something very different in the colloquial versus the scientific sense, the same applies here.
Your friend is just playing games with semantics. Lots of Christians understand evolution just fine; atheists pretty much have to, since we're attacked with the "monkeys" bullshit any time we announce ourselves as atheists in the presence of literalists/fundamentalists.
(Edit to Add: He's also creating a strawman version of atheism. You need to call him on that.)
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
