Posted on 09/30/2012 8:08:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Forty-six percent of Americans believe in the creationist view that God created humans in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years.
The prevalence of this creationist view of the origin of humans is essentially unchanged from 30 years ago, when Gallup first asked the question. About a third of Americans believe that humans evolved, but with God's guidance; 15% say humans evolved, but that God had no part in the process.
(Excerpt) Read more at gallup.com ...
QUESTION ASKED:
Which of the following statements comes closest to your views on the origin and development of human beings?
1) Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process,
2) Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process,
3) God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so.
Gallup found:
Since 1982 . . .
the 46% who today choose the creationist explanation is virtually the same as the 45% average over that period — and very similar to the 44% who chose that explanation in 1982.
The 32% who choose the “theistic evolution” view that humans evolved under God’s guidance is slightly below the 30-year average of 37%, while the 15% choosing the secular evolution view is slightly higher (12%).
I would put myself in the group that believes in evolution with God as the divine spark. I’ve always believed Science is a gift from God, not against God.
But I never accepted Darwinism. I just don't have enough faith to attend that church. I cannot muster up the vast quantities required. I'll stick with the Bible and with Christianity. That requires faith too, but only a reasonable amount -- an amount of faith that I can handle.
Back in HS/academy days, we had our Christian Studies teacher teach about creationism, then our next class would be Science. That teacher would then teach about the big bang theory. Back then we knew what the difference was.
I find that the most interesting aspect of creationism vs. evolution is that evolutionists have evidence and fossils to show you, but they can never answer a fundamental question. They can never explain how no life suddenly became life.
Evolutionists subscribe to the theory that when the universe was formed, nothing was alive. So, how did this “non-living matter” suddenly come to life.
They can never provide an answer.
The poll is flawed since the only way to vote for the creationist view is to also accept that it happened within the last 10,000 years. I doubt 46% of the population are young earth creationists. It seems there should have been the following choice as well ...
4) God created human beings pretty much in their present form at some point in the past
True...I don’t even know what category I would fit in as I’ve changed my mind several times already and probably will again in the future! LOL.
Right now I am content with....”I don’t know what happened”
Good thing that science isn’t a democracy.
Me too!
The deeper question is how could the universe not only produce life from nonlife, but produce a life form that could posit speculatively regarding the “substance of things longed for, of things unseen”; a definition of which Paul describes as FAITH!
I’ve been wanting to post my thoughts on this ever since (6 months ago???) someone made an entry about the marvelous eye. I’ll try and get it together.
Even if evolutionists could prove that the biological machinery of life arose spontaneously (which they can’t), they can’t even come close to explaining how the genetic code came to be.
The information carried in our DNA is stored as a code and is decoded by biological nano-machinery. A code is meaningless without an INTELLIGENCE bestowing meaning upon what would otherwise be arbitrary arrangements of proteins.
A vastly less complex analogy would be the English alphabet. We have 26 letters that when arranged in certain sequences form words, which when arranged into other sequences form sentences, then paragraphs, etc. There are also spelling conventions and rules of grammar. Yet, absent an intelligent mind assigning meaning to all of the components of written communication and an intelligence establishing rules for decoding written language, our letters and words and sentences would be nothing more than arbitrary meaningless blots of ink on paper. Even if you could somehow prove that the paper and the inkblots arose spontaneously, so what? It is a quantum leap beyond that to prove that the meaning contained in even a simple sentence arose without intelligent design, much less works such as the sonnets of Shakespeare or War and Peace.
Evolutionary theory is therefore foolish. It is impossible for a code to arise by chance since by definition it requires an intelligent mind to assign meaning to it.
I also find it amusing when people quote Darwin's “Origin of Species” as proof of Evolution with out God,, they neglect the fact that when written in 1859, Darwin still considered himself Christian, and, well, Science HAS evolved sense 1859! We KNOW “Origin of Species” isn't pure science. But with the fossil record we do have as well as other evidence, I do believe in a divine hand in an evolutionary process created by God that man doesn't completely understand, but as with all things God does.
Should read “hoped for”...Sorry!
How does one presume to know whether God is “intelligent”?
I know I’ll be considered simple minded, but, if we evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
How does one presume to know whether God is “intelligent”?
That it did not arise by chance does not mean that it did arise immutable. There is no apparent logical reason that evolution cannot be inherent in the design.
I still believe.
Even believing there is a God involves Faith. Because I do believe in God, and that he created all things, even if by using an evolutionary process, I deem this to show a very high level of Intelligence. I believe my daughter is intelligent, and she has yet to master geometry. The creator of all things must have what we define as intelligence. I would think if you don’t believe God is intelligent, you’re an atheist.
Intelligence involves reason, logic, a high level of mental acuity. I wouldn’t have faith in a God not possessing these attributes. Are we not made in Gods image if you are a believer?
If more people believe in it, it must be true. Just like liberalism, even more so, creationism is a full of wishful thinking for insecure minds.
Don't kill the messenger! And anyone can feel free to fix my botched explanation!
Well said. I say the same thing about these liberal cretins who chime in with Darwin’s OOS, and it creeps them out that he actually stated he considered himself a Christian, which has been factual. Then again, arguing with liberals is like explaining the laws of relativity to Daffy Duck.
Science thrives on unanswered questions.
If Americans came from Europe, why are there still Europeans?
True...He could have done it in one day; or before breakfast...
You mean beyond the complex yet ordered universe?
How about DNA then? Not much more complicated living breathing code than that. And it only explains the physical not those intrinsic qualities that we take for granted, bordering on god-like.
I’ve been reading your FR homepage - we have similar backgrounds except I am a ‘now converted’ true believer in yec and everything biblical.
Please consider that true science never discards and hides data which contradicts preferred theories and bias. Also the powers-that-be rarely state assumptions up front causing much more confusion between what has been proven and what is mere conjecture. Modern science imho has been badly distorted primarily due to government forced public-funding and ivory tower thinking.
Also the history of science was a defense of the Bible and has now transmogrified [thanks to Calvin and Hobbes - Oh and it is a real word] into naturalism or proving only the physical - God and god-like pondering no longer allowed!!!
Here is just the 1st link from my FR homepage [the 2nd is my favorite though - all gathered from years of lurking/reading crevo debates on freerepublic]. There is more evidence for yec than against for any fair-minded thinking person.
101 Evidences for a Young Age of the Earth...And the Universe
http://creation.com/age-of-the-earth
One other thing - not sure where you got the idea that conservatives are trying to build a utopian society - I’ve always read, heard, and felt that is a strictly liberal progressive communist ideology. Enjoy.
I don't believe in Europeans.
Being made in God’s image to me has little to do with our opinions of what is or is not reasonable, logical or possessing mental acuity.
“God’s purpose” is, in IMHO, impossible for the human mind to fathom through reason.
I believe Faith in God is a neccesity, but presuming to know the “mind of God” is not Faith but hubris.
How does God gauge complexity or orderliness?
Masters in Applied Mathematics
PhD in Electrical Engineering
Solid YEC ...
But now I'm feeling kindof insecure in my mind ... /sarc
I don’t presume to know the mind of God, that would be impossible, but it doesn’t mean I don’t look for purpose and what he wants for me in everyday life.
Try to remember to ask Him when you meet Him...
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