Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedEvolution and Monotheism
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 234
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Maju View Drop Down
King
King
Avatar

Joined: 14-Jul-2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6565 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Evolution and Monotheism
    Posted: 29-Jan-2006 at 03:26
Originally posted by Omar al Hashim

In Islam I can't see any problem, the Qu'ran has plenty of scientific facts in it and everyone has turned out to be correct. I consider Evolution to be one of these, although Maizar in the idoletry thread seems to disagree.


But Quran doesn't have a story telling how God created evrything. You have to go to the Jewish Old Testament for that (as I understand that the Bible is accepted in Islam as holy book). What saves you probably is that you put all the emphasis in the Quran and not the Bible. Most Christians are saved from literalism because the put emphasis in the New Testament and not in the Old (the Jewish text) but many Protestant sects are truly Judaizing, in the sense that they put at least as much emphasis in the pre-Christian texts (OT) as in the Christian ones (NT). And even in this sense, surely Jews are more flexible and rationalist than some Protestant sects.

NO GOD, NO MASTER!
Back to Top
Maju View Drop Down
King
King
Avatar

Joined: 14-Jul-2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6565 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2006 at 03:20
(The database borks daily at about 6:00 GMT)

In this case I think the hierarchies are being a moderating force in all hierarchical churches, as they are not acting dogmatically regarding to science (now - they did in the past, as we all know). Instead in the acephallous Protestant enviroment, where the Bible is seen as only guide, many people tend to be acritical with the content of the text and favors a rigid interpretation.

Of course, there are also Catholic fundamentalists and many many moderate and open minded protestants but, in the USA, the role of tele-preachers of more than dubious intent has become a force in itself, that is not controlled by anything but probably money and power.

This doesn't mean that hierarchical churches are inmune to that. It probably depends on other factors, such as culture and public opinion - though, of course, hierarchies are less prone to change easily.

In any case it is a very worrying trend. I just read yesterday that only 48% of Britons believe that the theory of evolution is correct and the percentage of creationists was surprisingly high for Europe: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4648598.stm

NO GOD, NO MASTER!
Back to Top
Omar al Hashim View Drop Down
King
King

Suspended

Joined: 05-Jan-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5697 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2006 at 03:07
In Islam I can't see any problem, the Qu'ran has plenty of scientific facts in it and everyone has turned out to be correct. I consider Evolution to be one of these, although Maziar in the idoletry thread seems to disagree.

Edited by Omar al Hashim
Back to Top
Periander View Drop Down
Knight
Knight
Avatar

Joined: 25-Jan-2006
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 77 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2006 at 01:42
(I hope this works now, I just lost a post when the database went borked.)

Maju, I agree.

The Orthodox Church views the Bible as infallible as regards its Ethical and Dogmatical stance, however, when it comes to some points of Science and/or Historical accuracy (such as the date of a battle etc.), the Bible can and does err (cf. human element as well as Inspiration = Synergy).

I am not certain how well this sits with the Roman Catholic Church, Anglicanism or even with the Judaic and Islamic Traditions.

Sociologically, although less vociferous, such stances as displayed by the Christian Right (for example) in the US not only deny certain truths that both Science and History may present, but they end up doing more damage to their cause than good. Such sentiments, unfortunately, can be found even within some Churches who have already made the above distinction...
Back to Top
Maju View Drop Down
King
King
Avatar

Joined: 14-Jul-2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6565 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29-Jan-2006 at 00:20
Some sects or even individuals believe that their holy book must be taken to the letter, particularly some Protestant groups. And in the Bible (OT, Genesis) there is a depiction of the creation that doesn't fit with evolutionary biology however you look at it (birds "are created" before lizards, for instance). They see a problem with that and, instead of adopting a more flexible approach to their book, as other correligionaries do, they prefer to adopt an intrasigent attitude on science.

Sociologically it's mostly a problem in the USA but there's people everywhere that prefer to see error in scientists (humans) than in such ancient mythological text (God).

NO GOD, NO MASTER!
Back to Top
Omar al Hashim View Drop Down
King
King

Suspended

Joined: 05-Jan-2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5697 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-Jan-2006 at 23:43
What I don't understand, is what the problem with evolution is. How does evolution have any affect on anyones religous beliefs regardless of whether they are muslim, christian, hindu etc.
The way I understand it, is that because it exists, God must have meant it to exist.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 234

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.102 seconds.