Once again religion and evolution are in the news.
I would say this is all getting a bit old, but I created this blog ten hours ago. So. You know. It’s hard to speak of “old” topics here.
In my younger years, ’round about the high-school times, I was a fairly conservative Christian. I have since become an athiest, which is another story for another time. The… journey… between these two ways of thinking is peppered with self realizations. Many of which I am ashamed of.
For example, religion taught me how to close my mind like a jewel-encrusted bear trap. All it took was a simple rationality.
“I don’t want to believe you, therefore I will not. Rather than argue on your terms, I will make a biblical argument and I will be right (because I used the bible) and I will have won (because I used the bible).”
This was a very useful way of thinking. It rationalized a self-righteous, patronizing view towards homosexuality, other religions, people I didn’t like, people I liked but thought I was better than, and science that conflicted with the bible.
These days I project the bitterness I have towards my former self onto religion. It’s a personal problem, and I’m working on it. To this day still, though, I am occasionally haunted by my past self.
“Evolution is telling you that you’re like an animal,” Bryce agreed. “That’s why people stand strong with Christianity, because it teaches people to lead a good life and not do wrong.”
Well, Bryce, or might I say, John from 1999, I see what you’re trying to say. My only response is this: When I was your age, I realized that a statement on the merits of Christianity has nothing to do at all with the validity of the scientific method. Much to my embarrassment.
It took me close to twenty years to figure that out.
The ‘evolution tells us we’re animals’ thing has always confused me. For one thing, it’s flat-out wrong; basic biology tells us we’re animals. It’s blindingly obvious to anyonoe with even a tiny amount of scientific education.
And what exactly is so bad about being called an animal?
forknowledge has it right. Think of twenty questions, the first is usually animal, vegetable, or mineral? Well, which would you want to be? Me, I’m an animal.
Further, I have done a lot of traveling and wildlife viewing. I have looked in the eyes of wild chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. I have seen for myself that they are my cousins. What else could explain the ease with which we can read each others faces almost as easily as those of our own species?
But, the proof of evolution is obviously far greater than that. Such stories are merely anecdotal. In much the way that the religious know they are right without doubt, I know evolution is true without doubt. But, that does not make it so. That is emotion, in my case bordering on a form of spirituality of its own.
The proof is in the abundance of scientific evidence. I’d suggest reading some of Steven Jay Gould’s writing. He could explain Darwin’s line that there is grandeur in this view of life as well as anyone. Try Full House as a start. I think it might help you get past some of the issues you seem to be having.
As for your bitterness to your former self, I can say that even with only a very mild indoctrination to religion, it takes time to come around to trusting evidence rather than faith. The more deeply held your beliefs were and the more deeply you were indoctrinated, the harder it has likely been for you.
Rather than beating yourself up for your former beliefs, take some time to congratulate yourself on your growth. You’ve earned it. Welcome to a world of reason. There is a lot of beauty yet to be discovered in reality. Wallow in it!!
The last point is key; when it comes to matters of truth, subjects must be measured on how they pertain to truth. Does to make you feel good to believe in God? That’s great! Does prayer comfort you? Does religious belief reduce crime rates? Stupendous! (It actually doesn’t; religion is more strongly associated with crime in western society than atheism, but that’s aside fromt he point)
However, none of those things have any bearing on the truth value of the existence of a God, the accuracy of the Bible, etc.
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