Howdydoody/lisa123
"Because to me to say "well in was some time in the millions of years of the evolution process" is far more woolly than believing in creation.
And while I'm at it why dont we see mid state human/monkeys, why has the process just stopped?"
The essential difference being that there is evidence for evolution and no evidence whatsoever for the existence of some bloke in the sky with a beard. Science, unlike religion, moves forward by disproving its own theories and admitting its own ignorance in the hope that this will spur others on to new discoveries. We are just standing at the boundaries now. It's incredibly exciting.
Slightly confused by your second question. Are you saying that evolution has stopped? Or are you wondering where an exact mid-point between humans and monkeys occurred, ie where are the monkeys with human arms and monkey heads? If the former, no, evolution has not stopped, though it usually takes place over such a long period that we who only live for relatively few years might not see any changes to any lifeforms in our lifetimes. If the latter, I strongly suggest that you read an elementary textbook on how evolution works. You don't wake up one day with longer arms, or a bigger head, or fins.
Caroline:
I assume UQD, Krang and others (who's atheism is theism - surely?) - that you did not marry in church or Christen your children or send your children to a CofE or other faith school?
No, my atheism is not theism because I do not believe in a God of any kind. Atheism is defined as "a rejection of belief in God or gods.' And no, I did not marry in church, or have my child christened, and he's not yet old enough for school. I wouldn't mind him going to a faith school if it was the only alternative as I am quite happy for him to learn about the beliefs of others if he wishes. He can then make his own choice as to his beliefs. It is vital to ask questions and find out about other religions in order to make up your own mind about things.
Oh, and the conscience/consciousness question. Sorry, typing and reading in a hurry, misread the vital word! TBH, my answer remains the same. I have no idea. Around the time that man/woman first figured out that being nice to other people gave them an evolutionary advantage, I imagine. Interesting question though and I have been thinking about it a lot this weekend. I shall investigate what others far more qualified than me say.
MrsSpoon
Krang, in answer to your question "if you live by Leviticus 17:14 and 7:26, why not also live by Leviticus 12.6?" this was part of the Mosaic Law that Christians at the time lived by but when the Mosaic Law was lifted this was said at Acts 15:28&29
"For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!?
Christians were no longer required to make animal sacrifices but were still required to abstain from blood.
Did the Mosaic Law also lift the requirement to kill those taken in adultery by stoning? (Deuteronomy 22:23-24)
And the requirement to stone to death a woman who was not a virgin on her wedding night? (Deuteronomy 22:13-21) And the requirement to stone to death anyone who touches Mount Sinai? (Exodus 19:13)?
And the requirement to execute 'a man who lies with another man'? (Leviticus 20:13 Incidentally, if this last one has also been lifted, I really think there's some Anglicans who should know about it.