can christians believe in evolution?
832294
Read the book "Letter to a Christian Nation" - it deals in depth with the problem of religious "moderates."\n\nThe gist is that it's really not possible to be a "moderate" member of a dogmatic religion.  You're only moderate insofar as you've "fallen away."  The lunatics, the avowedly frightening fundie freaks, those are the ones who are really in the main line of tradition, as you can see from a glance at history.  If you're really a Catholic, for example, you're required to believe all sorts of things that a nonpartisan 10-year-old would laugh at for their sheer idiocy; the degree to which you don't is just the degree to which you've "lapsed."  What happens, of course, is that most "religious" people quite unconsciously pick and choose which aspects of their religion they pay attention to.  Not to say they only pick the "pleasant" aspects; but they simply refrain from considering (e.g.) that being Catholic means that they have to reject every major advance in science.\n\nAs we've seen with "Unity" type churches, though, it's possible to lift a terminology and apply it to a fundamentally different set of ideas; and maybe that IS the best thing to do after all with the problem of "christianity."  People have been brainwashed from birth to automatically associate the name of Jesus with all that is good; but our definitions of "good" have changed - or SHOULD have changed - over the millenia of the religion's existence.  So maybe the best we can hope for, if the ignorant peasant masses can't be trusted to give up their own self-destructive superstitions, is to change the meaning of the symbols to reflect truth as we know it today.  This IS, after all, how christianity itself began - all its legends and rituals having been hijacked from earlier pagan cults to create a composite Roman state religion.\n\nTo answer the question...LOL...no, a "christian" can't really believe in evolution, if definitions as they stand really count for anything.  To accomodate such a belief, we have to change the definition of christian - which may not be such a bad idea.
283170
A god-fearing fundamentalist named Charles Darwin first theorized on evolution. Here's what he wrote (see ref.):\n....During these two years (March 1837 - January 1839) I was led to think much about religion. Whilst on board the Beagle I was quite orthodox, and I remember being heartily laughed at by several officers (though themselves orthodox) for quoting the Bible as an unanswerable authority on some point of morality. I suppose it was the novelty of the argument that amused them. But I had gradually come by this time (i.e. 1836 to 1839) to see the Old Testament, from its manifestly false history of the world, with the Tower of Babel, the rain-bow as a sign, &c., &c., and from its attributing to God the feelings of a revengeful tyrant, was no more to be trusted than....the beliefs of any barbarian....\n  ....Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress, and have never since doubted for a single second that my conclusion was correct. I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so, the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother, and almost all my best friends, will be everlastingly punished.\n  And this is a damnable doctrine....\n\nSomehow I suspect he was less "ineduacted" than the questioner...
200544
Well, that's pretty much the official belief of many Christians, including the Roman Catholic Church. They believe in evolution, an old-earth, etc. They just believe that God was the driving force guiding that evolution.
263310
ROFL, typical responses that you were probably expecting given your question.  You have logged onto a site where it seem many literalist fanatics like to reside.  The vast majority of christians in my country, the UK, do not believe or wouldn't even entertain the idea of creationism -As a whole, thankfully, we are a country of ardent Evolutionists.  I cannot say the same for the US, maybe some US citizen can.\n\nThere is a massive amount of research and findings that support the evolution theory, but it is that, a theory.  In fact almost everything in science is a theory, Science isn't math.  Scientists want to know the truth, most don't care whether evolution is the correct theory or not, they just want to know the answer.  At present based on all the available work done world wide, the scientific community and most european societies accept that evolution has the best foundation, evidence and answers to how we and world got here.  They have spent the most time looking at it too.  There is no accepted peer-review paper on why creationism is true or even worthy of investigation. \n\nWhy would I accept a book that was compiled by a roman for political means as the truth to all things, because the book itself tells me too, please come on.\n\nDarwin sat, thought and observed.  Since his theory has been constantly looked at, and 9 times out of 10 the evidence supports it.  For those 1/10, we just don't know the answer yet, ID and creationism is not the answer; I will not be jumping to conclusions prematurly.\n\nour science isn't perfect and we often tear down pre-existing theories.  Evolution will be no different.  The fact that it has lasted since its conception is a testament to it's probable correctness.\n\nScience itself will tell you that given all the evidence Evolution is still the best theory they will endorse for how we all got here.  And in my opinion there is more than enough evidence to prove evolution to me.  Despite looking, and reading throughourly creationist arguments and evidence, not one of them even remotely made me doubt evolution.  The evidence for evolution is quite simply overwelming.\n\nWe cannot and should not accept old ancient texts versions simply because they are there, and others do.  It should be demonstratably true, and the evidence should match the hypothesis.  Creationism doesn't even come close to a science.
1023959
I think most people who believe in Christianity also understand that science has a part in the process as well. Thus, while God may have created the Earth and all, there is still a process of evolution that occurs.
669746
While it's certainly nice to want to embrace some of the tenets of Christianity the cost of actually believing is far too great.\n\nI could never put aside my belief in reason and embrace intolerance just because some book has levied a threat against disbelief.\n\nEvolution is undeniable. We see it at work every day. Dog breeds, anti-biotic resistant strains of germs are both evidence in favor of evolution. I know, I know microevolution versus macroevolution. However, seeing it in any capacity lends credence to the greater argument. \n\nOur knowledge base is still in its infancy. Six-hundred years ago the Earth was flat and the center of the universe. Now we know better. What will we discover in the next six-hundred years?
451517
My dads a christian minister, and he believes in evolution - he says that the creation story in the bible is like a parable, but in acutal fact it took much much longer than 7 days to create everything, and evolution is part of god's plan - it's how he created everything.  He says that evolution cannot be agrued with, as there are no holes in the 'theory' - it is a fact, not a theory,  so the only sensible way to look at the creation story is as a parable.
1158348
Either you believe Gods Word or you dont.  There is no inbetween like believing God allowed evolution.  God said He created everything in six days, do you take it by faith or do you need proof.  Their's the 2 choices.  Its not that difficult.
1138125
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.
1164641
By God of course.  Every other belief is just a theory withouth any proof.  The proof that we were created by God is not only the Bible but everything around us.  It makes no sense to believe in evolution, because why has evolution taken a break for a very long time? Huh!  Charles Darwin was a scumbag, I bet he got hit with that evolutionary rock multiple times.
472227
I think both or either are applicable because it totally depends on what you believe. The idea of evolution, for example, is really more of a religion than actual science. But, the only person you can really believe in is Darwin, who himself couldn't totally believe in it. Christians believe that Christ was the Son of God, but they also believe the other thing written by God through other people, like the Prophets or Paul. I don't think there's really a 100% right answer for this one.
1022720
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...
314054
We know that evolution exists. Science can prove it. We also know that modern man was created by God, the Bible proves that! So what about all those creatures that existed on the Earth for hundreds of thousands of years? Of course they evolved. And some of them very much resemble modern man. But God said He created us in His image. Maybe not necessarily physically, God doesn't have a body! But the difference between us and those creatures is indeed that "missing link" that cannot be "found". The link is God. The difference is that we (modern man) were created with a free will. No other creatures have ever had that. \n\nIf you read Genesis 1:1 you see that God created the heaven and earth. But something very drastic happened probably over a very long period of time between verse one and two because we see in verse two that the earth was without form, and void...\nNow what does God create that is without form and void? Nothing! Everything God creates is perfect.\nSo what happened and how many years passed between verse one and verse two? Science tells us that, there's no mystery. Creatures of all kinds evolved, the popular idea is something hit the earth and tilted it on it's axis. That triggered all kinds of weather changes, ice ages countered by global warming (without benefit of fossil fuels I might add), dinosaurs lived and died off. Primitive man-like creatures became dominant. It's all there!\n\nSo yes, you can believe in God and understand that creatures indeed evolved. But modern man, with all of his uniqueness, was created by God.\n\nNow concerning your lack of passion for your faith... read Acts Chapter 2 in the New Testament a couple of times and see if that piques your interest. I'll guarantee you have never been taught that in the catholic church. You need to ask yourself why. It is clear by the scriptures that Jesus intends that everyone with a love for the truth receive the gift of the Holy Ghost just as described in Acts 2. Read it again! It still happens just that way. It's still real. I see it every week. I see the power of the Spirit being used through ordinary people like you and me. Ordinary people like Jesus and the disciples were. Jesus didn't come and die so that we would have to seek everything we needed through a priest. He came that we could boldy go directly to Him with our needs. That is scripture! You need forgiveness? You need to ask Jesus, not another man. You need compassion and love? Ask Jesus, don't ask another man. Do you want to understand exactly what He has for you in this life and the next? You need to ask Him, not some portly old fellow in a black robe. Ask God directly. Go boldly to the throne and tell Him you need to know more. You will be amazed what you will experience if you are sincere and have enough character!\n\nUpdate 5-1-06\nI read with interest one of the answers below that demonstrates exactly what is wrong with the churches today. Sure, just ask someone (other than God). And if you don't like that answer just go ask someone else. That say's two things:\n1. The "authotities" in the churches don't even agree on truth.\n2. People only are interested in what they want to hear.\n\nThat's what I meant when I said God will show you the truth if you seek it from Him with a true desire to know. Why ask another man who has no clue anyway? We are talking about something as important as the salvation of your soul. Why wouldn't you go directly to the source if the source asked, indeed pleaded with you, to do so?\nAnd Paul absolutely did not encourage people to believe whichever way was best for them. He wrote to the Ephesians in Ep. 4:5 that there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism". You see this repeated throughout the New Testament. There are not many paths to God, there is one.  Please, read the scriptures for yourself. You do not need someone to interpret the Bible for you. Let God show you
438082
God does...I believe in the creation of all, but that doesn't mean that some species haven't evolved...There is probably room for both God and science, in the whole scenario..but not knowing enough about evolution, I couldn't say what part it has in the scheme of things..\nAltho God is my primary focus, I try to keep an open mind and learn things...
980309
I am a christian and I believe in evolution, we didn't just spontaneously appear however the process had to start somewhere, the probability of the random event occurring to start life is so low its near impossible.
628501
Do you understand that over two thirds of the world's Christians accept evolution as a matter of fact?\n\nAnd do you understand that over 85% of people belonging to other religions accept evolution a a matter of fact?\n\nYou seem to believe that religion and acceptance of the fact of evolution are somehow incompatible. Only for a small group of American fundamentalist 'Christians' is that the case. Most people see no dilemma.
851653
Some Christians claim that evolution and Christianity are compatible. \n\nThey claim this by saying that the world was not necessarily made in 7 24 hour days, and God could have used evolution to create us... that we evolved and, eventually, we were conscious. That the creation story is symbolic and allegorical. \n\nThen the problem comes in... it's symbolic, but there is a geneaology in the Bible, from Adam all the way to Jesus. At what point does that geneaology stop being symbolic and start being literal? Because according to that geneaology, humans didn't come into being until after the domestication of the dog. \n\nSo, yeah, it takes some major picking and choosing to rectify the two.\n\nFor literalist Christians, those that take creation literally, there are all kinds of conflicts with science, evolution being just one of them.