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Can evolution be explained simply as the "process" of God's work? Why or why not?

Do your religious views clash with the idea of evolution?

From the lens What are the important spiritual questions? religious debate!.

How do you fit evolution into your understanding of spirituality?

  • Keeferz Feb 14, 2012 @ 3:13 am | delete
    I hear concepts if word written by men translated by men... U speak as if god himself told you all of these "concepts" (man made realities). Speak out your ignorance, but don't claim it be true. Sure it's about faith, but not of fear guided concepts passed down from the ones who were born before us... Stop searching, start accepting.. When u figure out who u r, u just might understand your god. Science just explains what religion cannot.... Religion explains what science cannot... 2 paths to one truth.. Make your choice and choose wisely.
  • mariomiless Aug 4, 2011 @ 2:54 pm | delete
    no it can't work. for the simple reason that for evolution to happen there needs to be death. evolution states that things get better off of what dies. but in the garden of eden there was no death until adam and eve sinned and god killed an animal to give them something to cover up their nakedness. but before that there was no death. now evolution is happening now but its more like adaption.
  • compugraphd Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:15 pm | delete
    B"H

    I was not aware that figs were animals. The world was a vegan world until Noah's time.

    And, as far as "not working", evolution predated Adam and Eve -- Adam wasn't "born" until the very end of the creation process.
  • LaughingOutLoud May 5, 2012 @ 10:11 pm | delete
    That is entirely untrue.. death isn't required for evolutuion.. I pass on my genes prior to dying, or are mating with dead people to produce more evolved species? I didn't think so.. at least, I hope not.
  • rajendra May 22, 2011 @ 6:08 am | delete
    No, Its not god work, it is every creatures work. Every creature is a combination of mass and energy. At the beginning of evolution energy content was very less, In every birth a creature can raise its energy level. Energy resides in the living creature in the form of thoughts while after death it exits from the body as a soul(bundle of energy). Energy (thoughts) beyond a particular threshold may be called God.
  • masunyoananda Apr 12, 2011 @ 12:35 am | delete
    As we are normally, we are attached along with the Ego. Once the ego is dropped, then we merge with God. This is the evolution...we have to work for the ego to be dropped by itself. And this working is through meditation. The cleansing of our bodies.
  • halibound Mar 18, 2011 @ 6:10 am | delete
    Sure. with god all things are possible. Including that sewing machine and 50 grand I have been dreaming about... Hint hint... Its being taken care of as I write:o)
  • compugraphd Feb 22, 2011 @ 2:13 am | delete
    ?"?

    Absolutely! G-d created the world and evolution was the route (S)He took in creating the world. Science and G-d are not antithetical. G-d created science to help us understand His/Her world.
  • Rognir Odinnsson Jan 11, 2011 @ 2:35 pm | delete
    It could be. But as you know there isn't much written about the creation. Most all we know comes from Iceland. And the story of Ymir and how his grandchildren: Odin, Vili, and Ve, killed him and created the Nine Worlds from his body. Never is there a mention (at least that we have found that explains how all the creatures of Midgard were made.
  • c Sep 3, 2010 @ 2:28 pm | delete
    God said let man be created in "our" image. There is God w the cap G and he is the prime creator.
  • Keeferz Feb 14, 2012 @ 2:58 am | delete
    Did god tell u that?
  • Aug 23, 2010 @ 3:38 pm | delete
    Evolution is an imaginary thought that is mixed in with proven science. There is no proof of it yet we are forced to believe in this faith in the public school system and pay for it with our tax dollars.
  • Keeferz Feb 14, 2012 @ 3:00 am | delete
    Seriously... Science is something u know not much about... Hold your ignorant tongue and stick to the subject
  • compugraphd Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:10 pm | delete
    B"H

    To be honest, I can't understand why people must argue over this -- they aren't mutually exclusive. I happen to believe in both (the order in Genesis follows the same order as evolution). I think this belief that you have to choose one or the other has led to a new phenomenon -- huge percentages of scientists who are atheists or agnostics because they can't reconcile the two. One of my favorite books is "Genesis and the Big Bang" -- while I'm told some of his science is a bit off (you couldn't prove it by me), it doesn't really matter from my perspective. People don't know everything (that's why we still search for knowledge).

    I think we all need to respect each side of the argument. That intelligent people feel the need to belittle the other side means, IMHO, that neither group is certain enough of its own beliefs and, therefore, needs to belittle the other group (demonizing others makes it easier to ignore their beliefs). Just take it on faith (sorry for that turn of phrase -- I don't mean faith as in religious belief set) that there is some truth in each side. Those who believe the literal interpretation of the bible (as translated into whatever language -- unless you do happen to understand and speak Hebrew, but, even at that, there are words and phrases in the beginning of B'Reishit -- Genesis -- that really don't appear anywhere else) have to explain why science has found things that disagree with it and the scientists have the explain where the matter that caused the "big bang" came from. I don't think either side can adequately explain their view without at least a smattering of the other side.
  • LaughingOutLoud May 5, 2012 @ 10:14 pm | delete
    Evolution is quite proven.. and you are ignorant to the fact that it is not. Creationists that try to ignore evolution are doing harm to any intellectual who believes in I.D.. The way you evolve an idea, refine it, to make it better and work more productively so does nature. Societies evolve, fashion statements evolve, even utensils we eat with evolve in the sense that humans create new ideas to make them better.. do you think we just created that trait? No, we work on evolution and so do our brains/thoughts.
  • Wellthoughtatheist Jul 15, 2010 @ 10:44 am | delete
    I think that christians who believe in evolution as 'gods' work, are simply coming up with a way to include god in what is a proven life process. If god came up with evolution, why does the bible contradict this, and if god didn't come up with it, why is there evidence to support it?
  • sunil May 4, 2010 @ 12:35 am | delete
    evolution is nothing but an illusion and bing bang a theory . to understand this you have read the upanishat which clearly expalins this .it is a difficult journey if somebody is ready to learn you will definitley find a guru . the way a guy drowning thirsts for oxygen your urge to know god should match that then you will get the answer. this univesre is just and illusion if you think it is real there are various reasions for it so try to learn upanishath you will get the answer.
  • Dan the athiest Jul 15, 2010 @ 10:49 am | delete
    An illusion? Why would an omnipotent god be so out of control when it comes to emotion that he has an urge for worship, and therefore puts in 'tests of faith'? Indecently, if I have misunderstood your comment, please not that if are in fact saying that evolution was made up by humans as an answer to science questions, then you are ignoring an unbelievably large amount of proof
  • sunil Aug 14, 2010 @ 4:04 am | delete
    sorry dan i was busy and could not reply. u have understand one thing we understand only matter subject or objects which r time bound .u have to then understand three stages of conciousness we call awakening stage, the dream state and drealess state. and these r all states where there is a sublime feeling of univesre. u try to analyse all the three stages and whatever doubt you have ask.
  • Dan the athiest Aug 14, 2010 @ 9:00 am | delete
    Don't worry, it sounds like a well thought out theory you have, but if there is no evidence to support it, then surely it is also a theory, just like the big bang? I wish to know more, if you could explain more in another reply then that would be great as i am willing to change my views if i see fit, thank you for the reply.
  • compugraphd Feb 22, 2011 @ 2:19 am | delete
    ?"?

    Read "Genesis and the Big Bang" -- the author says it better than I can (he also knows the physics behind things better than I).

    Maimonides says that if we find a contradiction between G-d (or religion) and science, than we obviously misunderstood/misinterpreted one or the other.

    Judaism is a religion of deeds, not belief, It doesn't matter if you believe in G-d -- G-d doesn't feed off your belief, Your deeds are more important, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile.
  • mariomiless Aug 4, 2011 @ 3:01 pm | delete
    its not an illusion it just never happened. evolution and God can't coexist because there was no death in the garden of eden until adam and eve sinned and knew they were naked. then God killed an animal to give then skin to wear (that was the 1st death). for evolution to happen there needs to be death. because if there was no death then the weaker gene wouldn't die out. however i don't say that evolution isn't happening now but i see it more as adaption. (evolution without the thought that it was the start)
  • compugraphd Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:23 pm | delete
    B"H

    "Tests of faith" so to speak aren't for G-d's benefit, they are for the person's benefit. This is true about everything in the Tora (Jewish law, Jewish Bible, Pentateuch). It's to improve the life of each person, the improve the world (in Judaism we call this concept "tikkun olam" which loosely means fixing or improving on the world). Belief isn't the issue -- deeds are; what you do, how you treat people, respect, understanding......
  • Mark Martinez Feb 22, 2010 @ 2:19 pm | delete
    God has no work to do, only infinite joy to share. Evolution is a blessing so that the ego can experience becoming... :D

    Mark
    Superconsciousmedia.com
  • compugraphd Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:25 pm | delete
    B"H

    I like that -- G-d created the world so (S)He could give -- and love is one of the things G-d gives.
  • compugraphd Feb 14, 2012 @ 12:25 pm | delete
    B"H

    I like that -- G-d created the world so (S)He could give -- and love is one of the things G-d gives.
  • sarah Sep 28, 2009 @ 4:40 pm | delete
    Its a bit like oprah isnt it!!! thankyou for your time, blessings x
  • spirituality Sep 28, 2009 @ 12:46 am | in reply to sarah | delete
    If you're already letting go, with mutual agreement, of the previous relationship, you are free to discover whether what you have with this other man is worth exploring. And what it means to have such a strong mutual connection with him. You'll have to find out what it is in this life: friendship or love. Talk about that with him. Don't let the past life stuff replace the very real practical questions in this one. Good luck.
  • sarah Sep 27, 2009 @ 2:59 pm | delete
    Thankyou for info, so can you help me with this then? why would i meet a person i know i have spent many lifetimes with? its an incredible situation to find myself in.....this man is aware of our connection too. He is a very decent man and would no way take advantage of this situation. what would be the reason for two souls meeting again and being aware of this fact? it almost feels cruel to me, it feels like we have connected again for a reason that perhaps i am missing. I was at a talk that he was at and he put his arm around me to say hi and my body felt like it disapeared, the strangest feeling?
  • spirituality Sep 27, 2009 @ 3:21 am | in reply to sarah | delete
    Sorry to say this, but I'd stop texting with him. In this life you need to get over him, unless you're willing to leave your steady relationship over him.

    And no, I don't think you're a fool. The emotional stuff you're going through is fairly common. Not everybody is aware of a past life connection in such cases, but that's not the essence of the problem.
  • sarah Sep 26, 2009 @ 12:25 pm | delete
    Thankyou, it all makes me sound quite irrational really. Although i only see him a couple of times a year we text alot....he helps me with understanding alot of stuff that is going on for me at the moment. Peace and love to me and you!! by the way i love the doable thing!!x
  • spirituality Sep 23, 2009 @ 12:51 am | in reply to sarah | delete
    Just because you met someone in a past life, doesn't mean you should be close to them in this one. There is a reason we usually forget these things: we have to move on. Three times a year seems to me, forgive me, doable. Just tough it out is what I'd say.
  • sarah Sep 22, 2009 @ 6:30 pm | delete
    hey guys can anyone give me some solid advice on what to do when you meet someone who you are aware that you share many lives with. Dont know how to deal with this, i am in a long term relationship and untill i met him was very happy. Now i cant release myself from thinking about him. I am aware that this could just be limitation of the mind. I meet him about three times a year and i cant just seem to cope with the emotion that surrounds me during his visits. Thankyou, blessins x
  • sunil Aug 14, 2010 @ 3:56 am | delete
    dear sarah u seem to be confused u say u like the person but then why r u tensed
    give the exact reason for ur unhappiness.and what do u expect from a relation.
    regrds
  • am2877 Aug 26, 2009 @ 11:54 am | delete
    http://creation.com/don-t-fall-for-the-bait-and-switch

    http://creation.com/refuting-evolution-chapter-2-variation-and-natural-selection-versus-evolution

    from a different perspective on evolution vs variation
  • spirituality Sep 13, 2008 @ 9:44 am | delete
    The question doesn't make sense for me as I don't believe in God. But yes, there is evolution and yes it involves the creativity of the All, which is divine. Is that an answer?
  • sunil Aug 14, 2010 @ 3:58 am | delete
    good thing u do not believe in god then why do you belive in evolution. what has evolved the mind or the body.

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