RE: Question on Theistic Evolution
October 23, 2018 at 2:47 pm
(This post was last modified: October 23, 2018 at 2:58 pm by Simon Moon.)
(October 22, 2018 at 8:17 am)Grandizer Wrote: This is something I've been curious about for a while based on how some theists have described evolution in the past.
From Wikipedia:
Quote:Francis Collins describes theistic evolution as the position that "evolution is real, but that it was set in motion by God", and characterizes it as accepting "that evolution occurred as biologists describe it, but under the direction of God".
Bolded mine. What does that mean exactly? Does natural selection still play a role in theistic evolution? Did God, according to theistic evolution, only cause life to emerge and then let the natural processes of evolution do their thing? Or does he continually do the selecting as opposed to nature?
It's just a last ditch effort to keep their god on life support, in order to continue to believe he/she/it/they has some effect on the natural world.
Sorry theists, but there is just no need to insert a god in the evolutionary process. There is no missing piece that requires magic.
(October 23, 2018 at 2:22 pm)Drich Wrote: In essence God knowing how to manipulate nature for things to evolve into a finished or final product, god plants the first dna seed or God places two chemicals in the right condition at the right time, and protects and fosters growth much like you would in a green house or garden.
There are no 'finished or final products' in evolution. Every organism is on an evolutionary continuum.
Evolution does not lead to some pinnacle organism. There is no end goal. Only survival and reproductive success.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
