So do you BELIEVE IN eternal matter, or an ETERNAL GOD?  The key word in both cases is BELIEVE.  Yes, like it or not, Evolution IS a system of belief.
217007
The Big Bang \n\nAbout fifty years ago, American astronomers studying the galactic star clusters, stumbled on evidence that the entire Universe is blowing up before our eyes. According to their observations, all the galaxies in the Universe are moving away from us and from one another at very high speeds, and the most distant are receding at the extraordinary speed of hundreds of millions of miles an hour.\n\nFirst there was nothing and it blew up and then there was everything and scientists have calculated that it all happened in 1043 of a second. [The] echo of that explosion can still be heard bouncing around in space. Scientists claim that in the big bang all of the fundamental particles necessary for life were formed. All of the complexity we see around us is the result of this massive explosion.\n\n"The new finding hit the scientific world like a thunderclap." It meant that the idea of an ultimate beginning was no longer merely religious dogma. Science itself now indicated that the universe burst into existence at a particular time in the remote past.\n\nIn 1992 measurements by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) and by the Hubble Space Telescope seemed to confirm beyond any reasonable doubt that the Big Bang cosmology is indeed correct. George Smoot, Professor at the University of California at Berkeley and Principle Investigator of the COBE team which made the discovery, said regarding these new observations, "What we have found is evidence for the birth of the universe . . . It's like looking at God."\n\nWorking backwards, the evidence implies that there was a time when the universe was infinitesimally small. The evidence from general relativity also indicates that it was not merely a case of the matter in the universe being concentrated at a particular location, but that space itself was this tiny. At a sudden instant in time all of the energy and mass in the universe was located at this infinitesimally small point and exploded. The currently observed outbound motion of the galaxies from each other is a continuing effect of that explosion.\n\n"The scientific community is prepared to consider the idea that God created the universe is a more respectable hypothesis today than at any time in the last 100 years," Frederic B. Burnham, science historian, declared.\n\nHowever, some die-hard secularists propose that the universe goes through endless cycles of expansions and collapses. Hence, eternity becomes nothing more than an eternal succession of big bangs followed by big crunches followed by big bangs followed by big crunches over and over again and again forever.\n\nBut this violates the second law of thermodynamics, the law of decay, that implies that the universe is in a process of gradual disintegration - running down, like a wound-up clock. And if it is running down, then there must have been a time when it was wound up. Once the big bang takes place and the universe begins its expansion, entropy starts to increase. From this point on it will never be able to go back to its original state.\n\nWhat's more, the first law of thermodynamics (the conservation of matter) implies that matter cannot just pop into existence or create itself. And therefore, if the universe had a beginning, then something external to the universe must have caused it to come into existence - something, or Someone, transcendent to the natural world.\n\nThe facts clearly indicate that the universe is not eternal, and it cannot originate itself The implication is that the universe began at a definite moment in time, in a flash of light and energy. Science has begun to sound eerily like Genesis 1: "And God said, 'Let there be light"' (1:3).\n\nThe evidence requires that we believe God formed the universe at His command, pointing to the importance of taking God at His word literally - from the beginning both of time and the Bible. Second, there is such a striking parallel between the Hebrews 1
577163
I agree.  Evolution is the basis of life as we know it?  Where is the evidence?  Even if I wanted to believe that evolution was the method that God used to create our world, where is the evidence of that?  \n\nThe evolutionist isn't looking for a "missing link"...they are looking for countless missing links between EVERY species, and have nothing to show for it.  The fossil record would be rife with evidence if the theory had one ounce of merit.  Rather, it shows the complete opposite.\n\nLikewise, mutations are an extremely implausible vehicle through which upward change can occur.  They put their "faith" in mutated DNA somehow producing new species, I put my faith in a Creator.\n\nWhy do they still believe evolution is plausible?  Because they want to reject God, and evolutionary theory is the best they've got...
390095
Well, I'm not sure which version of Webster's you got your definition from, but I have the 2003 edition of Webster's New World Dictionary, and here's its definition of religion.\n\nReligion: n, from the Latin religio, holiness. 1. belief in and worship of God or gods. 2. a specific system of belief, worship, etc., often involving a code of ethics.\n\nSeeing as how Evolution isn't a God(or gods, considering Micro and Macro evolutions), it can't be a religion by definition 1. Secondly, while people can believe in evolution, maybe even worship it(heh, if one's nutty enough. Most people I know who know evolution to be fact don't worship it, but I suppose there might be some nuts out there who do...), there's no code of ethics involved. Scientific rules as to what defines evolution, but no ethics demanding it.\n\nTherefore, it's not a religion. The very definition of religion shows that.\n\nAs far as Macro and Micro evolution, while Macro can't be observed, that's because Macroevolution takes place over thousands and millions of years. Last I checked, people barely lived to be 100. Unless someone's able to live for that long, it's impossible for us to truly observe it, at least with current technology.\n\nHowever, Microevolution is tiny, observable steps within a given species. These are clues to the answer of Macroevolution. It's like a puzzle. Microevolution is observable in the here and now. Macroevolution takes thousands and millions of years. But each moment of Microevolution leads to Macroevolution, one piece of the puzzle at a time. Considering that, Macroevolution is as good as observed from each piece of Microevolution.\n\nSo it's not a religion on the basis of the very definition of a religion, and while Macroevolution can't be seen because it takes so long to occur, it can be observed over time by putting together the instances of Microevolution.
650599
God and evolution can go hand in hand. If you believe that God created all life, then you must believe that same God created the bacteria from which all life has been scientifically suggested to have evolved from. So when you say "Life" I assume you are specifically referring to human life. Genesis tells us that God created Adam and Eve. It also says that they gave birth to 2 sons, Cain and Abel. Therefore, if you indeed believe every word in the new testament, you have to believe that incest is okay, because no other children they had are documented yet here we are today. Eve was only one female that God created. If they had more undocumented kids, which they must have under the circumstances, then a crucial part of the story was left out, but incest was still involved in order to populate the planet. I prefer to believe that I evolved from bacteria than from incestuous biblical characters, but that's just me. Many creatures in this world survive without any organs at all. They are called single cell organisms and it has been scientifically proven that they indeed have evolved over millions of years to create higher forms of life. If your religion requires you to follow every documented word blindly, then do so, but not if it means sacrificing common sense or intelligence in the process of believing what you have been programmed to believe.
574281
I understand what you're saying -- I believe in the theory of evolution.  But you do realize that people are just going to say God put it there in the beginning?  As fossils -- not as ancient creatures imprinted or encased in stone.
376461
ONLY a theory? hehe! Then those people don't even understand the terminology they're using. Yes a theory is a proven hypothesis (versus disproven).  Only when someone can disprove it will it lose it's status.  So evolution is a theory. :)
421960
My belief is Atheism. The proof of its truth is obvious. (Above you will find an excellent explanation by 'Michael' which helps to explain 'How' it is obvious.) \n\nAnyone who claims direct knowledge of God or gods, ghosts, spirits or the like is either insane or an outright fool and a liar.  We live in an infinitely changing universe of matter, energy and space - there is nothing supernatural which has been found anywhere within it.  There is no truth to the belief that there is life after death or before birth.  That, by definition, is just nonsense.\n\nUntil I am presented with believable evidence that I am incorrect, I have no choice than to remain solidly atheistic.  It is the only logical course available.\n\n{}{}{} r u randy? {}{}{}\n.
575263
Agnostic is someone who believes that it is impossible to know wether there is a God.\nSo he would have to be referring to Creation. Since Evolution has nothing to do with creation.
154433
Evolution is a fact. People, plants, animals, weather, land masses and bodies of water all evolve. The word evolve means to develop or achieve gradually. However, the theory that evolution and the big bang are the origin of life is not a fact, only a theory. The beginning of life and matter is the one most significant and extraordinary event of all time, so how it happened is likely to be similarly extraordinary story. The Bible does not say "Thou shalt not evolve", nor does it say that "nothing ever develops and changes", in fact it calls us to evolve - spiritually, socially, and mentally. The Bible teaches us that there is only one thing that never changes - God. Why is it easier to believe that all of a sudden everything blew up and here we were - oops! No, things happen on purpose more often than they do by accident. Especially extraordinary things. They say that a bunch of monkeys could type the works of Shakepeare if given enough time... but wouldn't it be more efficient and infinitely quicker to let Shakepeare do it on purpose? And isn't one of the basic principles of nature efficiency? (i.e. the path of least resistance) So, no I don't think it's difficult to believe that an organized and developed being created an organized and developed universe. Also... as a Christian, I do not believe that we were created to assuage God's boredom. I believe we were created to love God - by our own free will rather than by force.
317448
Something has to be eternal, perhaps! Some say it is God, some say it is the energy-matter stuff or nature. I know that I don't know the answer. I would like to leave it that way. \n\nSome people believe in God or a supernatural power. Such people are in the modern educated populations of Christian, Islam and other religions as well as many tribal populations. There are also atheists in different pockets of the world. But in today's context, it would be perhaps ignorant, and even dangerous, to think whatever  'I'  believe is the only truth and hence everyone should believe the same (sorry to stray, but have seen this tendency in many questions/answers here). \n\nMany of us believe in exploring the truth in our own limited way, some of us don't care how it all started and many find answer in God-concept. So be it. We should try to understand each other's thinking and hence it is a valid question. But I don't think there should be any conflict.\n\n---\nWhen I started writing, Emmiboo didn't post .. I should perhaps learn to type faster..!
231050
Evolution is by no means a one road definition.  That is, not even those who study it completely understand it.  I think, however, it may be unwise to think of evolution as having a "purpose".  Evolution is a process, with definite outcomes, but saying it has a purpose almost implies it is a living thing.\n\nI believe you may mean that in order to evolve, then beings must die.  As it stands right now, this is absolutely correct.  That is to say, in order for a species as a whole to change, mutations must happen, and then be passed on to further generations, and then become selected for.  If this in fact happens, then the those with the old traits will be selected against, and hence may die.  This is not because they are supposed to die, but because there is now something out there which better fits a niche and will compete for it.\n\nAs for the idea of eternal life, as it stands right now, it is completely unknown, and almost unfathomable.  One of the reasons for this is because the niches we live in are continually changing.  If organisms did not change as a species to fit them, then they would die out completely.  As long as the environment changes, one way or another, life will change to fit it as best it can.\n\nThis is not to say, however, that the idea of immortality is impossible to fathom.  There is nothing in evolution that touch on anything spiritual, including what humans call the soul.  These things are inherently seperated from evolution because of the fact that you can completely describe evolutions effects without considering it.  However, if you choose to believe in a soul, then I see no reason why it couldn't be a possibility.  But evolution does not encourage it.  I'm sorry.
3760
There is a difference between belief and the practice of verifying things by observation. I'm not one to say that science can address every aspect of what it is to be human. We need art, and storytelling, and music, and things that don't lend themselves well to scientific explanations. I could describe for you the mathmatical relationships between notes in a symphony, but that would be somewhat missing the point.\n\nEvery society has stories that have been told through the ages about how the world came into existence. Humankind has had a need for mythology to explain things about the human experience that are beyond our understanding. Teach all of it. It's a part of being human. But recognize the difference between mythology, philosophy, religion, and science. We have for the most part given up using primitive belief systems as the basis for, say, medical treatments. In most cases there is an understanding that science does a better job of predicatably explaining what will happen with, say, food poisoning or small pox than any of the other systems of thought that I mentioned. Schizophrenia is a more enlightened explanation than demonic possession, and has more explanatory power.\n\nSo teach the belief systems, but don't teach them as science. Evolution is not a theory, it is the basis of modern biology. For decades, modern advances do nothing but support what was already known. There is no reason to revert to mythology to explain things that can be verified with evidence. Keep your faith, keep your beliefs, whatever they may be, but accept the world we live in and the understanding we have of how it works.
515733
Whatever you think about evolution and creation is your own business but to say that evolution is religion is a mistake. Evolution is a science and says nothing about God or salvation; if you think it does, you're mistaken. If evolution is a religion then so is physics and chemistry because evolution is based on the very same principles that tell us everything we know about the physical and chemical world.
47004
>>>>Is God real or did evolution acualy happen?\n\nWe can’t know whether God is real or not. There is no objective evidence for the existence of God, the only evidence exists inside the minds of people. Since gods (and there are more than one) are supernatural and lack any objective evidence they fall outside the scope of science.\n\nDid evolution actually happen? Yes, that’s one thing that all the evidence agrees on.\n>>>>>I seen a story on the news and it was staying how religion in school was not taught because of the evolution therory.\n\nNo, you didn’t. You misunderstood the story on the news.  \n\nReligion is not taught in public schools because the US Constitution says that it can not be taught there. It violates the separation clause. It has nothing to do with the theory of evolution. It has everything to do with that the law quite clearly states.\n\nWhat the story would have actually said was that some attempts to teach religious beliefs as an alternative to evolution are still illegal and unconstitutional because it is still the teaching of religious beliefs.
425032
I don't say that evolution does not exist, I say that however life came to be, God put it there. In other words, if there is evolution, God started it. Maybe there was a Big Bang, but God started it. That's all.
647248
Evolution is a theory. It is what science is all about. Religion and Science can go hand in hand. I believe the biblical creation story of 7 days to God is actually like a million years to us!! god gave man intellect to study the creators creation therefore study God's marvelous works. peace.
598165
Evolutionism isn't like that.  You don't have to try to get people to subscribe to it. Evolution doesn't require worship like "God" does.  Evolution will continue to exist even if noone belived in it, "God" would not.