Since when did it become okay for "christians" to believe in evolution?
923518
You are absolutely right.Too many Christians are being deceived into believing satan's lie of evolution. They are not taking God's word literally,and they should. We are not to add words to His Word.(Proverbs 30:6) neither should we take from His word. \n  This world is not billions of years old. All life WAS created in literally 6 days.The Bible says in Genesis 1:5 "and the evening and the morning were the first day." Genesis 1:8,13,19,23,and 31 all clearly says the same for each DAY. Evening and morning constitutes a 24 hour period,ONE DAY. God spoke everything into existence.He didn't need a "big bang" to do His work for Him. HE IS GOD. \n  Christians,we aren't admonishing you.We are gently trying to remind you of just who you serve.The Great God Almighty is fully capable of doing just what He said He did. We can't let the world tell us any differently. We need to stand up for what we know is true,and don't compromise our faith in any way.Even the smallest compromise to our faith can cause the world to find fault with it.Yes,there are certain things we don't understand,but God's Word is what we must stand on,and we must take it literally,because that is how God wrote it.
295714
:}\nEact is always acceptable\nremember evolution is a theory\nyou Ara in school to learn  learn the theory. but remember your beliefs. If you have questions ask them out of class to Christians who are well informed. go slowly at first until you find out how much you can say or challenge.
1091281
I can understand where your coming from but before you make any conclusions on evolution take a look at this website.  It has all you need to know about evolution vs. creationism.  http://www.talkorigins.org/.  The reason so many people believe in evolution is that every field of natural science supports it independently from geology, biology, genetics etc. and it makes a lot of sense once you sit down and really analyze the fact.  Unfortunately there is much misinformation out there so I urge you to read the information on the website and then make up you mind on evolution.  Personally I feel that evolution and religion can co-exist.  I feel that its a shame religious leaders exploit controversial topics in order to rally their base.  The true teachings of religion are of acceptance and forgiveness and any dogmatic interpretations of the bible (or any religious text) only serve to weaken message.
991994
Could you clarify your question?\n\n\nEDIT:\nRead the answer carefully from Leviter_atin... It is good.\n\nReally look at the website s/he provided.\n\nAlso, I recommend you look at at least one book about evolution- "Finding Darwin's God," by Ken Miller.  Miller is a Christian and a cell biologist.  He does a VERY good job of explaining how science/evolution are NOT incompatible with Christianity.
875133
I think the most important thing to do is to get rid of the word, 'belief', when it comes to evolution.  It is a tactic used by creationists to marginalize evolution and it bring it to the same level as theology.  It's very important to take out the word, 'belief', when it comes to scientific systems because we're not talking about belief.
180126
10,000 American clergy members signed this letter to the same effect.\n\nFor too long, the misperception that science and religion are inevitably in conflict has created unnecessary division and confusion, especially concerning the teaching of evolution. I wanted to let the public know that numerous clergy from most denominations have tremendous respect for evolutionary theory and have embraced it as a core component of human knowledge, fully harmonious with religious faith.\n\nIn the fall of 2004, I worked with clergy throughout Wisconsin to prepare a statement in support of teaching evolution. We were called to action by a series of anti-evolution policies passed by the school board in Grantsburg, WI. The response was overwhelming. In a few weeks, nearly 200 clergy signed the statement, which we sent to the Grantsburg school board on December 16, 2004. Additionally, groups of educators and scientists sent letters to the Grantsburg School Board and to the Superintendent of Schools protesting these policies. In response to all of this attention, as well as the efforts of others, the Grantsburg School Board retracted their policies.\n\nThe outpouring of support from clergy around the country encouraged me to make this a nationwide project. If you want to read more about it or join us in sharing this important  perspective, click here.  Encourage your clergy to consider signing the statement and please feel free to link to these webpages.  And, while the current focus is on Christian clergy, please let me know if you are willing to write and/or host a statement from other religions.\n\n\nSincerely,\n\nMichael Zimmerman\nDean\nCollege of Letters and Sciences\nUniversity of Wisconsin Oshkosh
40386
In 1950, Pope Pius XII wrote an encyclical addressing the Catholic teachings about the origins of human life, and what parts of "evolutionary theory" can be compatible with Catholic Faith.  You can find the english version here:\n\nhttp://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html\n\nBasically, Catholics must believe that Adam and Eve were real people and that God created the human soul directly.  As far as how He created our bodies, it is acceptable to believe in some form of evolution, as long as you believe God created the universe from nothing.\n\nSo the concept of Darwinism (we came about from random mutations that were not guided or designed by a creator) is unacceptable.  We (as Catholics) can still believe in evolution as long as we believe that it is a process that was designed by God.
1103050
No.\n\nBut I think its fair to say that Christianity is incompatible with a believe in evolution.\n\nNot that you are an idiot just that the real Christian bigots won't accept you.\n\n10 dangers of theistic evolution\nby Werner Gitt\n\nThe atheistic formula for evolution is:\n\nEvolution = matter + evolutionary factors (chance and necessity + mutation + selection + isolation + death) + very long time periods.\n\nIn the theistic evolutionary view, God is added:\n\nTheistic evolution = matter + evolutionary factors (chance and necessity + mutation + selection + isolation + death) + very long time periods + God.\n\nIn this system God is not the omnipotent Lord of all things, whose Word has to be taken seriously by all men, but He is integrated into the evolutionary philosophy. This leads to 10 dangers for Christians.1\n\nDanger no. 1: Misrepresentation of the Nature of God\nThe Bible reveals God to us as our Father in Heaven, who is absolutely perfect (Matthew 5:48), holy (Isaiah 6:3), and omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:17). The Apostle John tells us that ‘God is love’, ‘light’, and ‘life’ (1 John 4:16; 1:5; 1:1-2). When this God creates something, His work is described as ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31) and ‘perfect’ (Deuteronomy 32:4).\n\nTheistic evolution gives a false representation of the nature of God because death and ghastliness are ascribed to the Creator as principles of creation. (Progressive creationism, likewise, allows for millions of years of death and horror before sin.)\n\nDanger no. 2: God becomes a God of the Gaps\nThe Bible states that God is the Prime Cause of all things. ‘But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things … and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him’ (1 Corinthians 8:6).\n\nHowever, in theistic evolution the only workspace allotted to God is that part of nature which evolution cannot ‘explain’ with the means presently at its disposal. In this way He is reduced to being a ‘god of the gaps’ for those phenomena about which there are doubts. This leads to the view that ‘God is therefore not absolute, but He Himself has evolved—He is evolution’.2\n\nDanger no. 3: Denial of Central Biblical Teachings \nThe entire Bible bears witness that we are dealing with a source of truth authored by God (2 Timothy 3:16), with the Old Testament as the indispensable ‘ramp’ leading to the New Testament, like an access road leads to a motor freeway (John 5:39). The biblical creation account should not be regarded as a myth, a parable, or an allegory, but as a historical report, because:\n\nBiological, astronomical and anthropological facts are given in didactic [teaching] form. \nIn the Ten Commandments God bases the six working days and one day of rest on the same time-span as that described in the creation account (Exodus 20:8-11). \nIn the New Testament Jesus referred to facts of the creation (e.g. Matthew 19:4-5). \nNowhere in the Bible are there any indications that the creation account should be understood in any other way than as a factual report. \nThe doctrine of theistic evolution undermines this basic way of reading the Bible, as vouched for by Jesus, the prophets and the Apostles. Events reported in the Bible are reduced to mythical imagery, and an understanding of the message of the Bible as being true in word and meaning is lost.\n\nDanger no. 4: Loss of the Way for Finding God \nThe Bible describes man as being completely ensnared by sin after Adam’s fall (Romans 7:18-19). Only those persons who realize that they are sinful and lost will seek the Saviour who ‘came to save that which was lost’ (Luke 19:10).\n\nHowever, evolution knows no sin in the biblical sense of missing one’s purpose (in relation to God). Sin is made meaningless, and that is exactly the opposite of what the Holy Spirit does—He declares sin to be sinful. If sin is seen as a harmless evolutionary factor, then one has lost the key for finding God, w
1057808
Of course, Christians ought to be concerned with God, love, forgiveness, justification, redemption, etc--and be sharing these things with as many people as they can reach (WITHOUT shoving their religion down anyone's throats, please!)\n\nHaving said that, fossils, Neanderthals and dinosaurs exist, and Christians who deny or try to hide from this information are only fooling themselves.\n\nGod and science are not in conflict with one another, after all, God invented science.  The conflict is between arrogant theologians who think they know it all, and big headed scientists who know they do.  Both groups are in for a nasty shock, I think!
1172049
there is talk of a split of us to orthodox jim darwinism\n\nthe current mainstream jim darwinism is treating jim darwin like a god and that wasnt the intention
748480
It's an urban myth, like most Creationist stories about evolution. In fact, from the biographies I've read, Darwin lent more and more towards agnosticism or atheism as he got older, starting out as a very strong believer in the Genesis story when he set sail on the Beagle, and disbelieving Christianity but still believing in God when he wrote the Origin of Species.
1178970
To tell you the truth, you could group together the finest of the christians and discover that they each have different belief systems.  In other words, believing or not believing in evolution won't make a dent in one's christianity.  It is irrelevant to the more important or greater issues of life.\n\nEven the most fundamental has certain beliefs which are unfounded in the sacred scriptures, many doctrines will only be clear on "that Day."\n\nSo yes, definitely, one can be a christian and also believe in evolution, just as well as a pious or religious christian who believes in killing in the name of God.\n\nThe same goes for the other religions which also claim disbelief in evolution.
897391
I think that any rational, reasonable individual when presented with the weight of our current knowledge and understanding regards the process of evolution would reasonably have to conclude that evolution is indeed at work on global biology.\n\nHowever, evolution is not just restricted to biological systems.  Consider our collective sense of humour.  Things which were considered hilarious in the very early part of the 20th century (silent movies) some of that humour is now so old to have lost any humourous content.  Why is that?  Because we've moved on and our tastes have evolved to more complex and alternative themes based on our modern life etc.\n\nConsider financial systems.  They too are evolving.  Capitalism is another test bed for the survival of the fitest.  There are winners and losers just as there are in biology.\n\nThere are many more examples.  The reduction of the variety and extinction of languages etc.\n\nThe validity of Darwinianism is only questioned (or rather refuted) by those of a religious nature who have been indoctrinated against the idea and are determined to continue to deny its validity irrespective of the weight of evidence presented for it.\n\nLogic does not play a part in their argument.  Faith and belief without understanding is all that is required.  In my opinion people who carry on about their lives in this bubble of ignorance are neither rational nor reasonable individuals.  They are brainwashed into submission and ignorance.  And sadly they have a tendency to fight long and hard to stay that way.  Most although not all are beyond help.\n\nOne final example of evolution in action:  It has been predicted that science will have eradicated religion within a couple centuries, as increases in the availability of education and the spread of democracy continue.  Given the negative impact that such religious stigmatisation and dogma is currently having on main stream scientific advancement, as far as I'm concerned, societal evolution resulting in the demise religion can't happen soon enough.
417171
As it seems this question has raised yet another debate, I'd like to add my 2cents. As the father of paleoboy, and a Christian, I believe I have raised my son well. Because I have not fallen into the ignorance, as I will call it, of pre-empting God. Evolution is merely a theory, man should  not be assumed to be included in this factor. In fact, there exists more questions  of man's progress than proof of any evolution. \nThe animals however, and lower life, could have been designed by God in many numerous ways. Who are we to question the means, or claim to know as to how God works? He works, as we know, in mysterious ways! Could he not have in fact, by design, created species that could evolve and adapt to earth changes, if for no other reason, to allow clues behind for the event of man to discover, to weed out those that would choose to use this information, to disprove His existence?\nTo claim we have all the answers to the mysteries of God is to fall into ignorance as Christians. I back up my son's answer, as an open, unquestioning mind as to the works of God. Paleontology is a science, based on evidence, and a great deal of theory, which is always subject to change with newly discovered evidence.
3430
There's no good way to answer this question.  There are millions of Christians belonging to thousands of demoninations, etc.  \n\nMany Christians believe in the generally accepted scientific explanation of the age of the eart and certainly believe that there were dinosaurs millions of years ago.  Many other Christians take a very literal reading of the King James Version of the Bible and believe that the world is less than 6000 years old and that if dinosaurs ever lived, they must have lived at the same time as humans.  There are probably as many different viewpoints about this as there are Christians.\n\nA better question might be, What does xxx denomination teach about creation or evolution?  The Catholic church accepts evolution as does the United Methodist protestant faith.  Some denominations feel much more strongly about this than others.  \n\nIn short, there's just not one answer to your question.
1081289
People like you give the rest of christianity a bad name. If you don't want to get an education, why don't you just stop telling others what to believe. Evolution is real, live with it. Sticking your fingers in your ears, and humming isn't going to make the truth go away. its just going to make people like you look like morons.\nGod would not be proud of that kind of  juvenile nonsense.
1134073
Thank you for voicing your Truths.  Whether they are right or wrong, to me it doesn't matter.  I feel blessed that you have the Trust in your convictions to voice and learn.  I am sorry for all the arrogant answers, from both the creationists and those of  the evolutionists    It just proves my point, we don't allow anyone to voice their facts without ridiculing them.  God Bless. The Joy is in the Journey.  Peace and Love