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This section, "Religion
and Science" will answer common questions that deal with the relationship
between religion and science and the conflict that some times results. This
category includes questions on creationism, evolution, the "big bang"
and other such topics.
Remember, if you're searching
for something specific, hit "control F" at any time to do a keyword
search on this page.
Q. Why is Creationism prohibited to be taught in public schools, while the Theory
of Evolution is allowed?
A. Both the ToE and Creationism
may be taught in public schools, not as truth, but rather as theories. Religion
classes are allowed as long as they do not emphasis one religion as superior or
as the truth. Most schools do not teach Creationism because it is only one story
of creation, when there are, in fact, many different stories from all kinds of
religions, nor is it considered science, while the ToE is.
Q. How could
people possibly believe that we evolved from monkeys? If we did, why do monkeys
still exist?
A. They don't believe we evolved
from monkeys. People believe we evolved from a common ancestor, not a monkey.
Even still, just because certain branches of creatures evolve, does not necessarily
mean that the originals don't exist. Even if we had evolved from monkeys,
monkeys still could exist.
Q. Didn't Darwin
renounce his theory on his deathbed? Why do some people still believe it, especially
when it directly contradicts Creation?
A. That was actually an urban
legend. Yet nevertheless, even if he had, his work is still looked upon today,
and him changing his mind does not change the work he did upon it. What he *did*
retract was his original beliefs that humans evolved from monkeys - and later
changed it into a "common ancestor" before publishing his infamous book,
the "Origin of Species." Darwin once was a religious Christian (nearly
became a pastor) and because his wife was very religious, he was very sensative
to the feelings of Christians. He did not intend to start a religious debate
and because of this, he even held off publishing his book for nearly 30 years.
Q. Can you believe
in both Creation and Evolution?
A. Most Christians and Jews will
say yes; you can interpret Genesis to incorperate evolution by saying that God
created everything, before setting evolution in progress. This does not mean that
God's original creations were imperfect, just that He gave them flexibility to
adapt and change and become more advanced with time.
v
The
Passion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas
• Finding
Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution
by Kenneth R. Miller
• The
Face That Demonstrates The Farce Of Evolution by Hank H. Hanegraaff,
Phillip E. Johnson
• The
Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin
• Creation
Vs. Evolution (Examine the Evidence) by Ralph O. Muncaster
• The
Triumph of Evolution: And the Failure of Creationism by Niles Eldredge
v
Theology
for a Scientific Age: Being and Becoming-Natural, Divine and Human (Theology and
the Sciences) by Arthur Peacocke
• Faith,
Science and Understanding by John Polkinghorne, John C. Polkinghorne
•
God
and the New Physics by Paul Davies
v
Religion
and Science by Ian G. Barbour
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