Comments on: Should We Believe in Evolution and Still Care?

By: Earth Not Idolatry · Notes From Off-Center

Earth Not Idolatry · Notes From Off-Center — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:08:41 +0000

[...] we do not understand our obligation to intentionally direct our evolutionary history to make this the most habitable planet we can, we are not following a rather clear command of [...]

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:59:15 +0000

Why would we care, if… This seems to imply that we consider whether or not to care about our fellow human beings in some hyper-rational way, and come to a conclusion yea or nay based on some perception that we are “not just animals”.

I don’t think we decide quite like this whether or not to care for one another or to care or not about the fate of humanity in general. As social animals, whoes existence is dependent on the interactive existance of others, we must care about one another and about our collective fate in general. That is where our evolution has taken us.

We can come up with all sorts of reasons why humans are very different from other animals, and why we are really, really special. All true! But the real reason we care is that that is just who we are.

By: Higgaion » A good answer to a bad question

Higgaion » A good answer to a bad question — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:02:27 +0000

[...] Le Page answers a silly question that came up in the biblicablogosphere on the same day. Duane and Drew answered it too, but then, they knew the question had been asked, so their very fine answers [...]

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:31:54 +0000

“As far as I know, humans are the only animals aware of their own mortality.”

This is a good point too. We are the only species I know of that tries to make sense out of death through various forms of creating order. Death is the greatest source of disorder and dis-equilibrium with our environment. Other creatures mourn and move on (like a wolfpack does). We dwell on it and avoid it incessantly.

By: Beyondwords

Beyondwords — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:08:31 +0000

I’ve never understood the logic that says evolution reduces humans to the same level as animals. I think one problem may be a notion of spirituality that is contrary to incarnation. We falsely assume anything that can be explained by “natural” processes precludes the possibility of a spiritual apsect. But we are so much more than those natural processes. Our capacity to think, for instance, can be explained by biochemical processes and electrical impulses. But that doesn’t reduce our thoughts to chemicals and electrons. Our capacity to love our neighbor can probably be explained by hormones and electrical impulses, too.

As far as I know, humans are the only animals aware of their own mortality. That’s another place where Christianity and evolution meet. Our stewardship of the planet is a component of a stewardship of love as modeled by Jesus and it’s only thing that gives us hope and meaning within that terrible awareness.

By: Sarah Glass

Sarah Glass — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:39:15 +0000

interesting post, drew…. what do you think Calvin would say? hehe jk

By: A Question For Evolutionists « Dr Jim West

A Question For Evolutionists « Dr Jim West — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:19:19 +0000

[...] UPDATE: D.T. gives his take on the topic here. [...]