The Whys of Evolution

I agree with you that a lot of people are searching for the why of their existence. Some find it in religion. Some find it in other belief systems. I guess I am just a person who doesn't ask "why do I exist?", I just exist and go from there.You have said this before, and I applaud you for it, that this is not a topic for science class. The problem, though, is that many people think it should be a question that permeates every subject of education that might oppose or disagree with their sense of purposeful existence. Most people cannot live with the idea that there is no purpose in their lives or no meaning behind their existence. If you are a biblical literalist, then Genesis has to be true or your existence might be meaningless. I've read where groups in Texas have argued against Social Studies textbooks that say humans were hunter-gathers before farmers because Cain and Able were farmers! The same people have argued that we should not use the metric system b/c Jesus had 12 apostles and not 10! Where does it end? Are a group's beliefs in the importance of their existence a justification to teach those beliefs to others, especially if that group believes that all of existence depends on their viewpoint?Take care.

Personally I didn't approach my decision to accept the Christian faith to answer the question "why do I exist". It was more a search to figure out just what it was that I believed to be the truth. There not much point in being a Christian if it isn't based on truth. As we can't prove or test our faith in the manner of a scientist in the physical world, we are left with more philosophical ways of finding truth, and it is different for each individual. In the end I became a Christian because I believed it to be true. Years later I am more convinced than ever. I think that with your whole paragraph taken in context the key is the difference between the justification of trying to teach and trying to impose. Freedom and free will are a critical part of Christian doctrine that often seems to be overlooked.

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Most of the people on this forum seem to think its pretty important regardless of the camp they come from, if the amount of time that they are willing to take to make their point is any indication.

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Actually, from the perspective of teaching and science, most of us are here because we object to people's musings on "why" being pushed as the equivalent of the science of "how". Like hitchy, I don't spend most of my creative energies on "why" but as a scientist I want to know "how". I agree with your assessment that the "why" could be a good topic for a philosophical or comparative/history of religion course topic, but there is a large segment of society that wants it presented as science.