Danica McKellar Becomes A Bible-Believing Christian After Leaving California

[Set Harth]

Spoiler

I mean, from my perspective, why am I supposed to believe that the DSC writers intend to allow for the existence of God and the Progenitors simultaneously? How am I supposed to reconcile that?

...ask Ridley Scott?

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Some? In fact, by an overwhelming margin, most religious people in the US do believe that humans exist because of evolution, when counting those who believe that God can guide the process [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-r...olution-depends-on-how-theyre-asked-about-it/]. Not to mention, most people of all kinds in the US, religious or not, believe that humans exist because of evolution.

The concept of so-called "theistic evolution" is one that's widely debated, among Christians and others. I personally don't believe any form of macro-evolution, because to me it just doesn't make any sense. I do acknowledge limited genetic variation, but that's not the same thing.

 

[Tosk]

Isn't that what evolution is though...genetic variation?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

The concept of so-called "theistic evolution" is one that's widely debated, among Christians and others. I personally don't believe any form of macro-evolution, because to me it just doesn't make any sense. I do acknowledge limited genetic variation, but that's not the same thing.

I'm not really interested in what you believe personally. Part of the beauty of the First Amendment is that neither one of us needs permission from the other to state what we believe.

I was simply setting the record straight regarding the fact that "some might", while technically accurate, is misleading, because in fact the stronger statement "most do" is true, which, unless one is attempting to downplay its significance, takes precedence.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Isn't that what evolution is though...genetic variation?

Strictly speaking, it depends on what you mean by using the term "evolution". When it comes to the realm of scientific study, there's actually six different types, as listed below...

Cosmic Evolution - The origin of time, space, and matter from nothing in the “Big Bang”
Chemical Evolution - All elements “evolving” from hydrogen
Stellar Evolution - Stars and planets forming from gas clouds
Organic Evolution - Life beginning from inanimate matter
Macro-Evolution - Animals and plants changing from one kind into another
Micro-Evolution: Limited variations forming within the kinds

Of all these types, only the last one is visible through repeatedly visible scientific study. There's a lot of scientists and professors who believe in the others, but they can't conclusively prove it in a laboratory. Examples of limited variation are things like hair and eye colors, the length of hair or nails, height, muscular and skeletal structures, etc. But the moment a person starts saying "we're related to chimps" or "we came from whales", that's no longer science. It is true that we have a large number of genetic compatibility with primates, about 95% by most estimates. But even a 5% disparity is a significant gap, when you're talking about genetic information. We also happen to share more than half our genetic material with chickens, fruit flies, and bananas, for example...so automatically assuming that genetic similarity equals a shared ancestry is not reasonable.

 

[Tosk]

Strictly speaking, it depends on what you mean by using the term "evolution".

I think it's pretty obvious from the thread what kind of evolution I was referring to.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

I think it's pretty obvious from the thread what kind of evolution I was referring to.

Well, a lot of people who don't believe in creation, tend to use the word "evolution" as a blanket term. So in this case, I felt a detailed explanation was necessary.

 

[Tosk]

Yeah, but the topic was already being discussed.

 

[fireproof78]

many Christians certainly do hold that belief and preach about it that way.

Many Christians are wrong.

There's a reason why I study the Bible from Hebrew and Greek and don't lean on my assumptions.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

...ask Ridley Scott?

What about him?

 

[Set Harth]

He made Alien prequels where humans are created by a precursor race but the movies also have Christian characters and references.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Contradictions abound, it would seem!

 

[bdub76]

Contradictions abound, it would seem!

When I was a kid my parents would send me to Bible study camps. The problem is that one summer I’d go to a Baptist one. Another summer I’d go to a Lutheran one. And during the school year, I’d go to Catholic CCD. I was all messed up because while they all read the same Gospels, their dogma was different. This was hard to wrap my head around when in grade school.

You also find different concentrations of denominations in different parts of the country. I’ve lived in the Midwest, the south, and the southwest and religion is a whole lot different because on top of different denominations in different regions, you also have different views on religion in general.

 

[Set Harth]

Contradictions abound, it would seem!

As UssGlenn suggested, a "fix" of sorts is to assume God created the progenitors, for whatever that's worth.

 

[fireproof78]

...ask Ridley Scott?

Nope. I don't like his work.

When I was a kid my parents would send me to Bible study camps. The problem is that one summer I’d go to a Baptist one. Another summer I’d go to a Lutheran one. And during the school year, I’d go to Catholic CCD. I was all messed up because while they all read the same Gospels, their dogma was different. This was hard to wrap my head around when in grade school.

You also find different concentrations of denominations in different parts of the country. I’ve lived in the Midwest, the south, and the southwest and religion is a whole lot different because on top of different denominations in different regions, you also have different views on religion in general.

By biggest frustration with Christianity in general is the intense and overwhelming need for denominations. I've been to Catholic services, was dedicated Catholic, been to Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Nazarene, and nondenominational. I once walked down a street and passed two churches kitty corner from each other and was struck how ridiculous it was that they would see that need.

Denominations drive me nuts. I do not care for them at all.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Strictly speaking, it depends on what you mean by using the term "evolution". When it comes to the realm of scientific study, there's actually six different types, as listed below...

Cosmic Evolution - The origin of time, space, and matter from nothing in the “Big Bang”
Chemical Evolution - All elements “evolving” from hydrogen
Stellar Evolution - Stars and planets forming from gas clouds
Organic Evolution - Life beginning from inanimate matter
Macro-Evolution - Animals and plants changing from one kind into another
Micro-Evolution: Limited variations forming within the kinds

Of all these types, only the last one is visible through repeatedly visible scientific study. There's a lot of scientists and professors who believe in the others, but they can't conclusively prove it in a laboratory. Examples of limited variation are things like hair and eye colors, the length of hair or nails, height, muscular and skeletal structures, etc. But the moment a person starts saying "we're related to chimps" or "we came from whales", that's no longer science. It is true that we have a large number of genetic compatibility with primates, about 95% by most estimates. But even a 5% disparity is a significant gap, when you're talking about genetic information. We also happen to share more than half our genetic material with chickens, fruit flies, and bananas, for example...so automatically assuming that genetic similarity equals a shared ancestry is not reasonable.

Ox… I hear a lot of Hovind drivel in this …
No offense, but I think you are stuck up on the notion of different „kinds“ which is not a scientific term at all.
The way creationists tend to use that term is to imply a hard „border“ between organisms.
There is not.
The difference between what you call micro and macro is just time and lots of accumulation of changes.
Creationists always seem to require proof of a modern species changing to a species from a completely different family/ order.
That is in fact impossible.
Organisms don’t jump different branches. Their respective branch just shared a common origin back in the past.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

As UssGlenn suggested, a "fix" of sorts is to assume God created the progenitors, for whatever that's worth.

I'm down with that.

In any case, if any of you were expecting a rant from a Bible-thumping fanatic, I'm happy to disappoint you.

 

[fireproof78]

I'm down with that.

In any case, if any of you were expecting a rant from a Bible-thumping fanatic, I'm happy to disappoint you.

Same. The origin of species concerns me little in terms of mechanism or my faith. As one apologist I've been enjoying put it: "I don't mind the big bang. I just happen to know the banger."

 

[bdub76]

Same. The origin of species concerns me little in terms of mechanism or my faith. As one apologist I've been enjoying put it: "I don't mind the big bang. I just happen to know the banger."

That doesn’t sound quite right especially if God is a woman.

 

[fireproof78]

That doesn’t sound quite right especially if God is a woman.

Ok, first cause, to quote Thomas Aquinas.

Eta: my current shirt that I wish to buy.