Belief in evolution boils down to a gut feeling
Gut feelings may trump good old-fashioned facts, and even religious beliefs, when it comes to accepting the theory of evolution, new research suggests.
“The whole idea behind acceptance of evolution has been the assumption that if people understood it, if they really knew it, they would see the logic and accept it,” study co-author David Haury, an associate professor of education at Ohio State University, said in a statement.
But, he noted, research on the matter has been inconsistent. While one study would find a strong relationship between knowledge level and acceptance, another would not. Likewise, studies have contradicted each other on the relationship between religious identity and acceptance of evolution, he said.
Haury and his colleagues figured that another unexplored factor must be at work. Previous research has shown that the human brain doesn’t judge the merits of an idea solely on logic, but also on how intrinsically true the idea feels: Could this process of intuitive reasoning help explain why some people are more accepting of evolution than others?
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An intelligent and informed decision process is significantly more valued than "gut feeling". Have you considered how many poor decision-makers there are in the world?
-WinstonWhat Haury and his collegues fail to realize is that when they teach in universities today, they do not allow for any other explanation of the origin of life. You will be tossed out of class if you question their evolutionary thinking. The whole debate goes to the source of your argument. Christians who deny evolution will base their arguments on the Bible and what it says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…and on the seventh day He rested." This does not take into consideration millions of years of time but a mere six literal days. But, this debate will not be allowed in class today because the university faculties don't want to hear it even though both creationists and evolutionists accept the same facts of science interpreted based on different frameworks. The big problem is not the "gut feeling" but true origins or historical science versus operational science. See "Origins Science: A Proposal for the Creation-Evolution Contrversy" by Dr. N.L. Geisler and J.K. Anderson, Baker Books 1987.
-trapperWhat it actually boils down to is evidence vs. belief. And the evidence is clearly on the evolutionary side of the table.
You can believe in myths and fairy tales all you like. However, that does not mean they should be given equal weight to scientific theories.
-Jeff DixonFirst of all: What evidence do you have that creationists do not have that shows it to be CLEARLY on the evolutionary side of the table? Science is science. Creationists take the same evidence and interprets it differently than do evolutionists. A materialistic or naturalistic agenda that takes evolution as the only means of origin is really unscientific in that evolutionists are the only ones who can interpret the facts and that must exclude God and that is not a tenet deductible by the experimental method, but a philosophical assumption from outside science. Creationists agree with certain facts as made by evolutionists because we believe that a God of order created the universe; but the opposite cannot be true of atheist because of their underlying religious premise, "There is no God" therefore only the theory of evolution must be true.
-trapperhttp://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/essays/courtenay1…
-Jeff Dixonhttp://www.evolutionfaq.com/articles/five-proofs-…
-Jeff DixonWhere is all the evidence for random mutaion? Not in the fossil record. Evoulution? Appears likely. Completely random? Absurd.
-QuestionallJeff, there is a reason why the theory of evolution is called the THEORY of evolution!
-Linda F.A scientific theory means a guess, right?
Umm, no. Lay people often misinterpret the language used by scientists. And for that reason, they sometimes draw the wrong conclusions as to what the scientific terms mean.
Three such terms that are often used interchangeably are "scientific law," "hypothesis," and "theory."
In layman's terms, if something is said to be "just a theory," it usually means that it is a mere guess, or is unproved. It might even lack credibility. But in scientific terms, a theory implies that something has been proven and is generally accepted as being true.
Here is what each of these terms means to a scientist:
Scientific Law: This is a statement of fact meant to explain, in concise terms, an action or set of actions. It is generally accepted to be true and univseral, and can sometimes be expressed in terms of a single mathematical equation. Scientific laws are similar to mathematical postulates. They don't really need any complex external proofs; they are accepted at face value based upon the fact that they have always been observed to be true.
Specifically, scientific laws must be simple, true, universal, and absolute. They represent the cornerstone of scientific discovery, because if a law ever did not apply, then all science based upon that law would collapse.
Some scientific laws, or laws of nature, include the law of gravity, Newton's laws of motion, the laws of thermodynamics, Boyle's law of gases, the law of conservation of mass and energy, and Hook's law of elasticity.
Hypothesis: This is an educated guess based upon observation. It is a rational explanation of a single event or phenomenon based upon what is observed, but which has not been proved. Most hypotheses can be supported or refuted by experimentation or continued observation.
Theory: A theory is more like a scientific law than a hypothesis. A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers. One scientist cannot create a theory; he can only create a hypothesis.
In general, both a scientific theory and a scientific law are accepted to be true by the scientific community as a whole. Both are used to make predictions of events. Both are used to advance technology.
In fact, some laws, such as the law of gravity, can also be theories when taken more generally. The law of gravity is expressed as a single mathematical expression and is presumed to be true all over the universe and all through time. Without such an assumption, we can do no science based on gravity's effects. But from the law, we derived Einstein's General Theory of Relativity in which gravity plays a crucial role. The basic law is intact, but the theory expands it to include various and complex situations involving space and time.
The biggest difference between a law and a theory is that a theory is much more complex and dynamic. A law governs a single action, whereas a theory explains an entire group of related phenomena.
-Jeff DixonIt is fact that humans did not exist for billions of years after the planet was formed. If a student disagrees then they should get the question wrong. Is that what you mean by "tossed out of class"?
-davesAre you that old that you can state with certainty that the planet was formed billions of years ago? Again, as with most atheist, you appear to have more knowledge of the universe than most people do. And, you back up my assertion that there can be no serious dialogue due to the obstinency of atheists.
-trapperI am not an atheist – I love my Christ.
-davesAnd yes – I am certain that Dinosaurs existed for millions of years before humans did.
-davesDaves, I'm sorry but by your billions of years theory you have rejected the plain teaching of scripture. If dinosaurs existed for millions of years before humans then how did they all disappear without dying out before Adam was created? Plainly, scripture teaches that all creation was perfect before Adam's sin brought on death. The beasts of the earth did not eat each other as the historical record in Genesis says that God gave them herbs (vegetables) to eat. The record also reflects 6 literal consecutive days of creation so there could not be billions of years old animals. It's very plain and too many Christians believe that evolution is a fact instead of a man made theory. Atheists, well…they just think it all came from, uh, uh, a blob? squish?
-trapperI do not believe the old testament and I do not like the way it contradicts so much of Jesus' teachings. I also do not like the way it is wrong about science in so many places.
Earth is not the center of the Universe.
-davesTrapper, see my comment further down on this site about the dinosaurs.
-msjallenStarlight alone shows that the universe is billions of years old.
-Jeff DixonHeres my belief ! I have a much harder time putting any faith in man than in God just because I can't see him . Therefore my faith in GOD and JESUE CHRIST and THE HOLY SPIRIT has NO competitution . Thank you GOD for everything because if I had to rely on any human being for anything I would not even exist .
-buckYou are discounting the actions of your mom and dad in that statement.
-Jeff DixonThough there is plenty of evidence that 'natural selection' was and is responsible for 'fine tuning' the survival of species, there is also strong evidence for some force directing major shifts in species and their development periodically. Darwin accurately described why animals on different Galápagos Archipelago islands differ slightly from those on neighbouring islands; he didn't intend to describe how major differences like changes from amphibian to reptile or crustacean to land arthropod occurred. Both evolution as 'fine tuning' and some sort of creative engineering for major changes seem most likely; we have no real means of definitely figuring out exactly what happened, only theories.
-MalikTousSilly notion. That a belief in evolution is based on a "gut" feeling is a very bizarre conclusion. Most people do try to understand the whole complex idea of human origin in a discerning way, however, "faith" in the evolutionary theory requires one to seek proof in false and misleading theories built on speculation. On the other hand, faith in God alone as the creator of our universe and mankind as outlined in the Bible makes perfect sense. I will remain a creationist and place my trust in God, not the speculative theories of men who would prefer to center their lives on the puny intelligence of other men.
-John J Flanagan"Let God be true and every man a liar". "The wisdom of man is foolishness with God."
-trapperThe clincher for me in the debate has been that without higher intelligence, why did life reproduce?
If we ponder evolution, whatever caused the spark that started life, why did the first life form, whatever it was, do whatever it did to multiply? I seems to me that life form would have just lived, eaten, gotten fat, and then died. What made it replicate itself? Was it instinct? Where did that come from? Even if there were billions of the first cell of that life form produced in the first instant of life on Earth, what made them decide to have offspring? Was it a higher intelligence? Seems so to me.
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-ThinkingJust fall back on faith in God and a belief that He is the "higher intelligence." God is God, and we do Him great dishonor when we attribute creation of our universe to merely some "higher power". Evolutionists cannot answer the many complex questions about creation, but a sure belief in God is all the assurance that I need.
-John J Flanagan"Gut feelings" tell you that the sun revolves around the earth, that light objects fall more slowly than heavy ones, that the quickest way to get from New York to London is by flying due east, and that a rock dropped from an airplane falls straight down. None of those propositions are true, either.
-SteveOneof the most uninformed posts I have ever seen. Even a child who has seen two rocks drop at the same time knows this post is stupid! And anyone with a globe and string knows about the "Great Circle Routes!"
-A. ReginaldWhy are religious people so totally clueless about science? Total drivel from a bunch of gullible know nothings who grovel in front of an invisible non-existent god out of made up fear.
Throw your silly book away and start living a life based on experiments and facts instead of made up fairy stories.
You accept science when you buy and use a cell phone but forget it it when it conflicts with one made up book.
-Chris PClearly another uninformed post by another uninformed individual. Chris, either post your credentials or shut you mouth instead of posting drivel!
-A. ReginaldBest definition of evolution that I have seen
-paulc"a gut feeling"
Let the Bible speak…
-msjallenGen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God the Son created the universe in less than a second.
Gen 1:2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. (tohu bohu)
The earth had become a disaster area since Satan used it as his headquarters. So Satan was removed and an ice pack was put on the earth to keep the fallen angels out. Then in the creation of man the earth had to be restored for the occupancy of man on planet earth. It was God the Holy Spirit who restored the earth in six days and then the 7th was a day of rest which means the work was finished. The original creation was made in less than a second by God the Son Gen 1:1.
Gen 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
The same way that the Holy Spirit shines Bible Doctrine into our souls in the Church Age. “Light shines out of darkness”
Continued…
-msjallenCol 1:16-17 For by Him (Jesus Christ) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Even in the cradle and through all of His life on earth and all during the Church Age through all the ages and eternity. We don’t have to be afraid of any evil nation – when it is time for us to go, we will go.
John 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Hebrews 1:10 And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
Now you know about when the dinosaurs existed how they became extinct so quickly all at once.
Evolution is a THEORY,period.
-blackhawkAbsolute void,nothing creates nothing.
If one believes these fools that promote evolution and they die to find out their wrong ;No problem. However if they find out, to late, that God created everything .Oh what a disaster for them or us if we believe their drabble.