Evolution and Religion
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Are evolution and religion complimentary or contradictory? Should religious people oppose the teaching of evolution because is necessarily violates their beliefs or should they embrace it as an example of how the human mind can discover and learn about the very nature of our existence here on earth?
Very often, it seems as though evolution and religion must be locked in a desperate struggle of life and death - and, for some religious beliefs, perhaps that impression is reasonably accurate. However, the fact that some religions and some religious dogmas are not entirely compatible with evolutionary biology does not mean that the same must be true for all religions or religion generally.
Because there are such fierce debates over evolution, religion, and their relationship with each other, many questions are repeatedly asked about these subjects. Some of the most common are listed here along with links to answers of varying detail and depth. If you have a question which you don't see answered, write in and suggest it!
Does evolution contradict religion?
There is so much debate in America over evolution and the nature of life that it is worth considering whether or not the theory of evolution contradicts religious beliefs. However, the question is too broad. There is no such thing as "religious beliefs," without context or content.Does evolution contradict creationism?
Debates about evolution in America typically take the form of a contest or conflict between two competing ideas, evolutionary theory and creationism. Because of this, it is generally assumed that the two are incompatible and mutually exclusive - an impression which scientific creationists are often quick to instill and perpetuate.Does Evolution contradict Christianity?
Is Christianity compatible with the Theory of Evolution? It seems like it should be - after all, quite a few churches (including the Catholic Church) have recognized that the Theory of Evolution is acceptable for describing the development of life on this planet.Does evolution require atheism?
One of the things which seems to cause many people to be inclined to rejecting evolution is the idea, often perpetuated by religious fundamentalists and scientific creationists, that evolution and atheism are deeply intertwined. According to such critics, accepting the evolutionary explanation for life on Earth necessarily leads a person to being an atheist (along with associated things like becoming a communist, immoral, etc.).Isn't evolution a religion?
The idea that evolution might be a religion seems very strange at first glance - after all, we don't see anyone trying to claim that Atomic Theory, Plate Tectonics, or Einstein's Theory of Relativity constitute religions. So why the focus on evolution?Evolution and Jehovah's Witnesses
A closer look at the book Life: How did it get here? By evolution or by creation?, published by the Jehovah's Witnesses to attack evolution in the guise of offering a balanced presentation. Just how useful is this book?
Evolution & Creationism Glossary
Learn more about the terminology used in biological evolution, as well as in debates over creationism and evolution - from
abiogenesis to
Young Earth Creationism!
(over 50 entries)
