What are some christian's beliefs on how evolution effects moral values?

It may show their greatness but they did not to it because of the greatness that could be gained. I don't understand. Why was it painful?

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If you say there no absolutes, I ask you, are you absolutely sure?

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These speculations about the evolutionary reasons for altruism seem like wild guesses to me. It may be this and it may be that . . .

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Sure. Whats the problem with that? Thats how enquiry happens. Would you not be more concerned if I said I knew these thoings to be certainly true becuase a burning bush told me so?

The reference to Christ is painful to me because I have always found the Christ story very moving, and I did not want to seem to be mocking it.

It's the assumption that there had to be evolutionary reasons, and then making guesses, that bothers me.

Since only occasionaly will features exist without something to select them the assumption that there are evolutionary reasons for them isn't too far out. Is this the part you have a problem with and, if so, why?Then the process of science takes over. This frequently starts with guesses and speculations. Once these have been battered about a bit a few of them may be worth testing in some way. If they are untestable then they are either discarded or put aside until a test is feasible.When a test it feasible they are conducted to see if the speculations stand up. It is surprising what can be tested.I'd agree that if the process stopped with guesses then it would be a problem and bother me too. It doesn't. It may here, because we aren't researchers.This message has been edited by NosyNed, 12-15-2004 08:18 PM

The idea that there had to be an evolutionary reason for all human behavior strikes me as an unwarranted assumption.

Aswell as a load of baloney.I remember this severly dodgy philosophy - apparently, a goodwill gesture becomes an evil, selfish evolutionistic reason to do things.For example, if you give food to the poor - it's because you want your selfish species to exist. These lies are actually believed by some gullible people.

That I agree with completely. We are not under the total control of our evolutionary past. I would hope, for our sakes, that we can make decisions using our minds that override what we might otherwise do.It is not individual actions that are likely to be explained by evolutionary reasons in anything like all cases. However, when we see strong common tendancies we might ask why they are there.

Gosh, I'm sorry I missed the opportunity to answer before your debate.I feel as though I can speak as authoritatively as anyone on this subject, because I went from antievolutionist to a believer in evolution, and then later had much to do with converting our church/community to evolution over the space of about four years.Morality-wise, we are a typically Judeo-Christian community. No sex outside of marriage, no drugs or drunkenness, no rock 'n roll, etc.Evolution has had zippo effect on anything except our literalist approach to the Bible. We have become less literal (in some ways), but we'd be willing to claim we live, quite literally, more like a Biblical church than anything any of the 200 of us have ever seen anywhere; and many of us searched for something like the church in Acts for years before winding up here.On the other hand, if Christ is preached as dependent upon a book, and that book is dependent upon being literally true in every word, and the evidence for evolution destroys a person's belief in a literal Bible and thus in Christ, then losing a belief in Christ will probably affect their morality profoundly.

Welcome back dear, we've missed you.

Thank you, Asgara. I have been popping in and reading here and there, but was reticent to post, because I knew I probably wouldn't be able to answer any responses.In fact, better not get too carried away tonight, because time constraints aren't better than they've been.

That's okay. It's just we get all excited when folk like you, Sylas and Brian grace our little world.This message has been edited by jar, 12-16-2004 12:32 AM

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Hi Truthlover. Good point. Evolution doesn't effect our belief - and many believers are evolutionist.I guess evolution is very important to people in this town though.I still think you shouldn't let evolution have any say on God and what he can do. God is quite capable of literal Genesis aswell as none-literal. There's no reason to favour those who think theory concerning events back in time - are correct about their beliefs.This message has been edited by mike the wiz, 12-16-2004 08:00 AM

Evolution as far as I am concerned is a FACT. Abiogenesis is another matter.

Well don't worry, Jesus' actions were the only actions that were truly selfless. Everyone else probably has a bit of selfishness in their good actions (as you pointed out), but Jesus is the exception.

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If you say there no absolutes, I ask you, are you absolutely sure?