Is evolution a religion?

Originally posted by KellyJay
So it involves only the supernatual, you couldn't be religious over say
baseball, or some sports team?
Kelly

Or ANY discipline that involves being obsessed with it, like a virtuoso pianist or sculpture artist or dancer or chess player. If that is all you do, couldn't you also say THAT is their religion?

Originally posted by C Hess
Atheists may hold strong beliefs about this or that, but atheism is only about not believing
in the supernatural. It's like saying that because a lot of christians believe in sharing, that
therefore being christian is synonymous with socialism. I can think of quite a few
christians that would have a problem with that.

The theory of evolution describe ...[text shortened]... olutionist can also be a christian, muslim or
whatever other unrelated label you can think of.

"3.personal beliefs or values: a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by"

The word supernatural isn't part 3, only personal beliefs or values,
a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that someone lives
by. I have to say that the Atheist I know here sort of fit that to a tee!

I agree with you that some Christians would have an issue with being
compared to socialism, but you'd win that debate in my opinion. Just
because I don't like something does not mean it isn't true or real.

I believe life evolves, but most people that have debated me here know
I do not believe it evolved from a single life form. I believe in butterfly
to butterfly, not worm to eagle, jelly fish, or oak tree. So when you
say butterfly to butterfly shows evolution, I'm agreeing with you, when
you say it shows it proving it all, I'm not agreeing with you.
Kelly

Originally posted by sonhouse
Or ANY discipline that involves being obsessed with it, like a virtuoso pianist or sculpture artist or dancer or chess player. If that is all you do, couldn't you also say THAT is their religion?

If it is their life, it consumes them, why wouldn't we say that? That is
also not to say they cannot have other beliefs as well, that would cross
into the supernatural too.
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
The word supernatural isn't part 3, only personal beliefs or values,
a set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that someone lives
by. I have to say that the Atheist I know here sort of fit that to a tee.

That's impossible. This atheist may have strong opinion on many things, but his non-belief
in a god can't be "something to live by".

Originally posted by C Hess
Actually, this thread isn't about evolution so much as it is about what constitutes a religion.
What are the requirements for calling some belief religious? If any belief that can't
immediately be verified, but takes some work on the part of the "believer" to be understood
and verified is a religion, doesn't that belittle what's traditionally considered ...[text shortened]... he same as having a religious belief? Or is there something more to
having a religious belief?

I just remembered we had a thread very similar to this one that went on for 14 pages:

http://www.redhotpawn.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=149456

Originally posted by C Hess
That's impossible. This atheist may have strong opinion on many things, but his non-belief in a god can't be "something to live by".

I think you will find that several theists here think Christianity is the default belief and any deviations from that are deviations due to belief.
So when you don't attend Church on Sunday - you are acting according your atheist beliefs.
When you don't say 'Thank God!' every time something good happens - you are acting according to your atheist beliefs.
When you defer to science instead of the Bible to determine what happened in the distant past - you are acting according to your atheist beliefs.
Almost everything you do is not influenced by a belief in God - and thus, as they see it, influenced by your lack of belief.

Originally posted by KellyJay
I believe life evolves, but most people that have debated me here know
I do not believe it evolved from a single life form. I believe in butterfly
to butterfly, not worm to eagle, jelly fish, or oak tree. So when you
say butterfly to butterfly shows evolution, I'm agreeing with you, when
you say it shows it proving it all, I'm not agreeing with you.
Kelly

Many small changes equals one big change. Therefore, if we can show that small changes
occur in nature, then evolutionary theory at its most basic assumption is proven correct.
You, who believe that many small changes cannot lead to larger changes, need to
demonstrate how that's possible.

Originally posted by twhitehead
I think you will find that several theists here think Christianity is the default belief and any deviations from that are deviations due to belief.
So when you don't attend Church on Sunday - you are acting according your atheist beliefs.
When you don't say 'Thank God!' every time something good happens - you are acting according to your atheist beliefs ...[text shortened]... not influenced by a belief in God - and thus, as they see it, influenced by your lack of belief.

Well, they're wrong.

Originally posted by vivify
I just remembered we had a thread very similar to this one that went on for 14 pages:

Thread 149456

They never learn, do they?

Originally posted by C Hess
Well, they're wrong.

I agree.

Originally posted by C Hess
Many small changes equals one big change. Therefore, if we can show that small changes
occur in nature, then evolutionary theory at its most basic assumption is proven correct.
You, who believe that many small changes cannot lead to larger changes, need to
demonstrate how that's possible.

I agree, many small changes make a big one. Not denying that; however,
it does not mean that within a DNA stand small changes will take make
the types of changes you are talking about! I agree you start with dogs you
will end up with dogs, you start with butterflies you end up with butterflies,
not at all denying that! What you need to show is something a little more
such as go from warm blooded to cold, or cold to warm. Something with
no eyes, now having them, along those lines! You have not left what the
Bible says is true by staying within kinds by just seeing butterflies turn into
butterflies. You may as well say the Bible is true, because all you have done
is demonstrate what it says true.
Kelly

Originally posted by C Hess
They never learn, do they?

I could say the same thing about Atheist.
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
I agree you start with dogs you will end up with dogs,

Its funny how many times it has been pointed out to you that wolves and dogs can interbreed, yet you conveniently forget this fact.

What you need to show is something a little more such as go from warm blooded to cold, or cold to warm.
How about simply showing the genes involved and patterns in how they evolved from one another?
You could start here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543078/

But I recommend learning some relevant biology first. Try this excellent free course:
https://www.edx.org/course/mitx/mitx-7-00x-introduction-biology-secret-1768

Originally posted by KellyJay
I could say the same thing about Atheist.
Kelly

You could say it, but you'd be wrong.

Originally posted by KellyJay
I agree, many small changes make a big one. Not denying that; however,
it does not mean that within a DNA stand small changes will take make
the types of changes you are talking about! I agree you start with dogs you
will end up with dogs, you start with butterflies you end up with butterflies,
not at all denying that! What you need to show is something ...[text shortened]... well say the Bible is true, because all you have done
is demonstrate what it says true.
Kelly

I don't understand. You admit that many tiny changes inevitably lead to a large one, and
then in your next sentence you say this can't happen. I wish you'd make up your mind. If
small changes can accumulate over time, then it's inevitable that they would produce large
changes in the long run (like an eye or any other organ developing). The only way this
could not happen is if there's something specifically holding these changes back. You
need to demonstrate that such a something exist before you get to dismiss evolution.