"I have long been at a loss to understand how it is possible to believe the evolutionary theory, riddled with holes and inconsistencies as it is, more that the creationist view. The facts we see in front of us fit the notion of a rapid creationist view far better than a long evolutionary one, and why the evolutionary theory is considered to be "science" but the creationist theory is not eludes me completely. It was partly a serious study of evolution that led me to conclude that I'd rather be the product of a creationary God than an evolutionary accident, and so embrace Christianity. I am so pleased I did, life has become so much less gloomy.
Robert Harper, Battle, England"
The above is from the comments section at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7613403.stm
I'm happy that Mr Harper's life has become less gloomy, but I suspect that it is not Christianity that has improved his life so much as either belonging to a group or having something to believe in - perhaps even a shifting of responsibility away from himself.
The debate over creationism is an curious one, for just the reasons that Mr Harper points out. His belief in Creation comes down to what he wants to believe, rather than what objectivity suggests. Mr Harper doesn't discuss this, but I suspect that he'd rather there be a Santa Claus than that there not be one. I'm curious to know what he does at Christmas time.
The problem with creationism has nothing to do with Creation: it has to do with the difference between religion and science. Science allows for debate. Religion, at least in this case, does not.
2 comments:
The big thing creationism has going for it is that atheists are so boring and lame. A couple of times a week, all the Hatians in my neighborhoods are at the church next door, singing songs, seeing the neighbors, wearing their best clothes, generally behaving like healthy social animals. Sunday morning at the atheists' house is usually a drag. Not that this means I want to start believing in god, but it does make me want to borrow some of the emotional architecture. I'd feel much better in my supposedly "smarter" worldview if we all got together and sang songs about dinosaurs or whatever on a regular basis.
The last chapter of The Meme Machine by Susan Blackmore is a nice meditation on how relinquishing all of your magical thinking and living in the present moment, informed by evolutionary biology, makes your daily life easier and more pleasurable.
Post a Comment