Does evolution defy religious beliefs of creation?

Answer 1

Every human tribe had/has its own "creation story" that evolved from an ancient time when science was not available to explain how we got here. People made up their own stories to explain the world around them and it's events. Creation stories/beliefs all revolve around some gods and goddesses giving birth, somehow, to the human race, in its present form. The Judeo-Christian creation story is that humankind was created in god's image and all humans came from a single pair only a few thousands of years ago: Adam and Eve.

Evolution defies that notion by showing that the evolution of life on earth was a slow process and that the present life forms evolved over millions of years. It is difficult to argue with the vast number of earlier human remains, some millions of years old, that now populate research facilities, universities and museum collections around the world.

Evidence supports evolution as a fact. No evidence supports any of the various religious creation myths.

See also:

http://Christianity.answers.com/theology/when-science-challenges-the-bible
http://history.answers.com/bible/conundrums-of-the-creation-myth

Answer 2

Though some believe in Divinely-guided evolution, this is often not the case. The general paradigm in which Evolution is taught, is one of mere random events, especially mutations.

The narrative of Divine Creation, which is contained in Genesis ch.1 and 2, states that God created the universe. This teaches us that God exists, that our lives and the world are not random, and that the created things may be assumed to contain vast wisdom in their beautiful and purposeful design. (In recent decades, this wisdom has indeed been partially revealed, through increasingly powerful microscopes.)Evolution through random mutations, on the other hand, may be understood as implying that life is an accident, that perceived beauty and wisdom are ultimately purposeless, and that our instinctive yearning for the Eternal is just an electrical impulse in our brain.

Many think that science, and specifically Evolution, have proved that there is no God. They don't comprehend that even if Evolution was an unquestionable fact, it would not automatically follow that God isn't there. They also may be unaware that there are some highly-qualified scientists who do not believe in Evolution.

See also the Related Links.

Link: Evidence for Creation

Link: Can you show that God exists

Link: God's wisdom seen in His creations

Answer 3

The Theory of Evolution is not intended to defy religious beliefs, because there is no such agenda on the part of scientists. In defining this theory, they merely set out to describe how evolution of species really happened. Of course, religious beliefs that rely on a special act of creation are placed in a difficult position because they must promote an ultimately lost cause. Recognising this, many of the world's religious leaders have come to an accommodation with the reality of evolution.

Answer 4

Though some believe in Divinely-guided evolution, this is often not the case. The general paradigm in which Evolution is taught, is one of Atheism.