tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post7760605534719922724..comments2024-03-26T15:30:39.733-07:00Comments on Rainy Day Thoughts: Creationism-- two possible versions?Rain Trueaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-89310989616789849112010-12-11T20:40:36.481-08:002010-12-11T20:40:36.481-08:00Living species are not the only things that evolve...Living species are not the only things that evolve. Religious doctrine, political ideology, economic theory, and even personal philosophy change over time. No one, at least none of us that have been blessed (cursed?) with a critical mind, hold the same world view as when we were young. The traditional Judeo-Christian view of the afterlife changed over time from Sheol (the place of the dead, both good and bad) to Hades, borrowed from Greek mythology. The dualism of good/evil and material/spirit is Zoroastrian in origin. And now we have American Evangelical Fundamentalists who have morphed the story of grace and redemption into the conglomeration of Social Darwinism, the Gospel of prosperity, Republican politics and free market capitalism resulting in a religion that does not resemble the teachings of Christ. But, in our haste to discard the myths of scripture let’s not swallow every scientific theory that comes our way. After all, scientists are no more intellectually honest than the Christian fundamentalists. Even the theory of evolution has evolved. Most of Darwin’s original ideas expressed by his “Origin of Species” have been disregarded by modern theorists and only the most basic concept has remained. So where did we come from? What’s it all about? Don’t ask the scientists and theologians because they don’t know. I would be undone to find out that the universe had no intelligent first cause. That there was no point to it all. One thing is sure, that it is a place of mystery and paradox.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03204625068309822016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-52230450497348795202010-12-10T22:45:42.399-08:002010-12-10T22:45:42.399-08:00Annie said exactly what I wish I could say. Well r...Annie said exactly what I wish I could say. Well reasoned post, as always, Rain.Fran aka Redondowriterhttp://redondowriter.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-86893953212913947892010-12-10T16:35:15.919-08:002010-12-10T16:35:15.919-08:00I well understand your choice to be in a church fo...I well understand your choice to be in a church for companionship and to have the enjoyment of singing with a group, Annie. We each must make our own choices for what works. I still miss both the churches I once attended. I got to counting it up and it was really 30 years of regular church attending. First the Catholic Church, which I still love the Mass, and then a rural Evangelical Church which had wonderful community.<br /><br />As best I remember, I have never read de Chardin but am not much for struggling with deep, religious literature these days. If I read it his ideas, it was years back and they were part of a period of time where I read a lot of theology.<br /><br />I really like Ricky Gervais and will definitely have to see if I can get hold of a DVD of his discussion of the whole thing as it looked very humorous.<br /><br />Robert Hagedorn, I have seen allegories described for pretty much any of the main Biblical stories with what they 'really mean' and Adam and Eve is no exception. More important to me than whether there is a secondary way to take the story-- pretty much with most of life there always is-- it's where does it take you. Your idea for the allegory would again take you to obey god and I guess don't use birth control? *s* I don't know but what I do know is the end result is very similar for how this is different than a belief in evolution... I hope you continue on with this and see where I take it.<br /><br />I appreciate all your comments on what can be a difficult topic for people to be open about.Rain Trueaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-63316813630684630062010-12-10T12:20:49.689-08:002010-12-10T12:20:49.689-08:00Of course there is a lot to cover in this, yet ano...Of course there is a lot to cover in this, yet another thoughtful and well written article by you. I took a lifetime to come to the position of an Atheist. In the recent decade science, specifically Stephen Hawking, has come up with a very strong case showing that god is not necessary to have created the universe. I blogged about this here: <a href="http://pleadignorance.blogspot.com/2010/09/something-from-nothing.html" rel="nofollow">Something from Nothing.</a><br /><br />They say if you want to become a non-believer, read the Bible. In fact there are many ancient texts which tell similar stories and morality tales; the Bible has plagiarized many of these stories, they are not original.<br /><br />And they don’t make sense. When one reads the contradictory and inaccurate messages in the Bible one has to ask, is this really the best work of an all-perfect being?<br /><br />Scientist Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project fully supports evolution, for obvious reasons, but is also a Big Loving Daddy God believer. He completely drops the scientific method in his book, “The Language of God” and makes some really astounding leaps of faith. I came away from reading his book with the feeling that he really really really wants there to be a comforting god out there after he dies. Unfortunately wishing really hard for something doe not make it so.<br /><br />Most adherents to the Bible literacy also have no problem availing themselves of medical technology and science when it suits them. The more I learn the more convinced I become that god was created in man’s image.<br /><br />On a lighter note about the Bible, watch Ricky Gervais’ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvqlWhsMdfY" rel="nofollow">video on Genesis</a>.Robert the Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10863488312604865183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-32417994673279555312010-12-10T11:06:48.019-08:002010-12-10T11:06:48.019-08:00I am not a Jew or a Christian although I have stud...I am not a Jew or a Christian although I have studied Judaism about 10 years ago. Also having experience making pots on a potters wheel, I have come to be in awe of the insight of creating woman from Adam's rib. His rib to me is like a potter's rib used to shape a vessel. I often imagine myself God-like when I am painting or making something different from what I have ever done before. I am sorry that more people can't just enjoy the Biblical story as enhancement to being a creative human.Diane Widler Wenzelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05270246393901276648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-87760228135470605802010-12-10T09:17:38.515-08:002010-12-10T09:17:38.515-08:00Have you ever read the writing of Teilhard de Char...Have you ever read the writing of Teilhard de Chardin ? He was a scientist and theologian. His book: The Phenomenon of Man, made a great impression on my youthful seeking. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Teilhard_de_Chardinmandthttp://adgitadiaries.blog-city.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-54151595870990441172010-12-10T08:29:20.083-08:002010-12-10T08:29:20.083-08:00Something created the Universe. I prefer to call t...Something created the Universe. I prefer to call that something God. I put no limits on God-in fact I can only comprehend God on a very basic level with my finite intellect. It is I who am limited. Creationism and Darwinism are two ways in which human beings view their universe. Did Darwin have it right-perhaps. Do the Creationists have it right-perhaps. I don't take everything in the Bible literally, because some of it flies in the face of my intellect. That being said I use Jesus as my guiding light.Paulhttp://ShadowofDiogenes.blogs.com/shadow/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-75659188460877473252010-12-10T08:19:56.789-08:002010-12-10T08:19:56.789-08:00Once upon a time, I was an avid reader of creation...Once upon a time, I was an avid reader of creation stories from many cultures. It became clear to me then, that Adam and Eve is but one of many many creation stories we humans tell ourselves to explain the inexplicable. For some reason, we are compelled to do that. We have our creation myths, and our myths about floating up to heaven after we die.<br /><br />I, for one, am quite comfortable with the mystery. We all find out sooner or later, don't we?Taradharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17665801586196931603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22918248.post-24996108641231106582010-12-10T05:48:38.274-08:002010-12-10T05:48:38.274-08:00Hi Rain,
I empathize with the issues you faced le...Hi Rain,<br /><br />I empathize with the issues you faced leaving a church you belonged to. I've been leaving and joining various spiritual communities over a long period of time and can relate to the dilemmas involved. On the one hand I am very clear about what I believe and have a difficult time being part of a faith community that believes something quite different. On the other hand I appreciate some of the value of being part of such a community. <br /><br />Today I am in a rural community and want to learn to sing. The only game in town is the Baptist church choir, led by a very competent and likable choirmaster, who also happens to be a friend of mine. I am learning a Christmas cantata that is full of stuff I don't believe in but is beautiful music, and the other members of the choir seem positively ecstatic to welcome me into their ranks. In fact the whole darn church seems extremely welcoming. But some of the tenets of belief here make my skin crawl. It's a big dilemma for me, I feel like a fake.<br /><br />As for the Biblical accounts of the beginning of the world, to me it just seems obvious that these stories were never meant to be taken as literal fact, they were stories people told themselves long before there was any "science" to tell them otherwise. Of course the world is amazing and whoever created it must be amazing. How could all this possibly happen by accident, how could it just Be, without some One behind the scenes making it Be? Today we still don't really know how it could have happened, but thanks to the invention of science we are more willing to entertain more ideas about it than simply postulating an All-powerful Being who created this world and planted us humans in it for "His" pleasure.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03787701515460812026noreply@blogger.com