Poll for Christians about creation and evolution

[AMumInScotland]

I realised recently that I work on the assumption that most UK Christians believe in some form of evolution rather than direct creation, but I wonder if I'm right or not. I know MN Christians are not necessarily a random sample, but I'd be interested to know at a very basic level whether you believe -

a. all species of life on earth were created in more-or-less their current form directly by God. This may have been in 6 days, or in a longer timescale, but each one is the way it is because God made it so, and there has been only fairly minor change over time and certainly no new species coming into existence because of evolution.

or b. the species currently in existence on earth have evolved from simpler life-forms. This may or may not have been influenced by God to a greater or lesser event. Species have come into existence through a process of change in previous species,

If anyone who does not consider themselves a Christan wants to join in, they're welcome, but could they please give some brief info about their religioous (or atheist) views to clarify.

Well, I think it does matter whether we've evolved from other life-forms or not, though it doesn't bother me particularly what we think the mechanism might be, or whether people think God has been very involved in the process on a day-to-day basis or just set up the ground rules. But I think it can have big implications for how we view the world in general, and our place in it.

Come a long way from the Skopes Trial

The Butler Act, which made it unlawful, in any state-funded educational establishment in Tennessee, "to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.">>

it is a for me though i do believe in micro evolution ie evolution within species

b for me

b. Think all species evolved with the exception of current man

Laurie - so how do you think current man developed if not evolution from an earlier species?

hi -wishy washy liberal CofE mumsnetter here so it's evolution for me, with God initiating it, IYSWIM

So we've reached -
a 4
b 15

I think it's staying fairly consistent, about 20% creation : 80% evolution, which is maybe about what I'd have guessed. It's interesting, as I seem to be much more aware of comments in the press etc which are "creationist" these days, but it doesn't seem to be reflected in these figures, so I guess it's just what gets reported! (Or what I notice...)

It actually irks me that the vocal minority within the evangelical group and among scientists paint all Christians as believers in Creationism. This is far from the truth.

There is a very good article on this in today's Independent:

www.independent.co.uk/news/science/religion-vs-science-can-the-divide-between -god-and-rationality-be-reconciled-955321.html

As is said in the article, nobody believes that when Burns says his love is like a red, red rose he literally believes she's a plant. So why would they believe that the earth was formed in seven days?

Even the Pope doesn't believe that!

Hi amuminscotland. I think the following is possible (not probable, could also just as easily be a metaphor). That God created Adam and Eve as two individuals whom he talked to and walked with. They had children who then went out of the garden and mated with the people who evolved out of apes outside the garden.

So, I get round a few arguments with this. God created us specially and also had a hand in people evolving from apes outside. It also explains the missing link in biology terms and the two different homo types found.

I am a catholic. I'm not a creationist. Nor do I have a belief that God "created" evolution. In fact I'm not sure what that means. I no longer spend time trying to reconcile my supernatural belief with the natural world.

Laurie - I can see that would get round a few things, though I have to admit I'm not convinced

b

a

Bride1, >>Even the Pope doesn't believe that!>> this one may not but evolution was officially an evil lie until relatively recently. I put a link further up to the Skopes Trial where a teacher was prosecuted for saying evolution was true.

I think it's a bit rich after being told for so long that evolution was evil nonsense that christians can imply that creationism was never believed. On the other hand if the christian movement is finally facing up to the fact that it was wrong before that is fine.

Well, even the pope before this one didn't believe it, either, which takes us back a good quarter century of non-papal insistence on creationism.

In fact, belief in creationism was generally more widespread until WW2. There wasn't the carbon dating, etc, back then to show as much evidence for evolution.

ok just 1900 and something years then of persecuting people who said the bible might not be 100% accurate. I think we atheists should at least be allowed to say "we told you so"

Didn't mean to hijack this thread, but I have just seen that the CofE has apologised publicly to Charles Darwin for their treatment of him.

athiest - so b but without the God bit.

Am so so so resisting the urge to ask "how on earth can you believe in creationism? What about the dinosaurs? and shouting loudly to all As - "You're all mad!!!".

AS I said, I'm resisting this urge - so just go about your normal business...

Oh we've had some seriously long threads on those questions! I'm trying to avoid getting into those chats again on this one, just give me some nice figures to work on... [frustrated statistician emoticon]

Oh and we're now at

a 5
b 17

Oh, and I'm not going to count atheists - I'm cheerfully assuming they'd all be "b", unless any of them want to confuse me by by believing something else

Or rather they'd say "just" evolution, without any mention of God. It's only those of us who want to believe in a creator God and evolution who have to fit the two together somehow.

I'm a Christian and I believe in panspermia evolution.

(IMHO I think Genesis pretty much spells it out, the Fall being when we became homo sapiens etc. No aliens tho )

I wouldn't say I believe in evolution either though. Although I do find it a convincing account

I agree that you shouldn't count us atheists in this and I'm finding the numbers interesting.

At the risk of confusing things I'd quite like to believe in panspermia. Not spores and such, but aliens building pyramids and landing strips. I always thought that was a fun idea.

christian - a