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James Zediana

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Why is there such heated debate over Creationism vs. Evolution?

Recently Fox News and Gallup posted some poll results:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/07/fox-news-poll-creationism/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/07/fox-news-poll-most-believe-prayer-heals-45-believe-in-creationism/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/145286/Four-Americans-Believe-Strict-Creationism.aspx

I found them interesting and wondered why they cause so much discussion. Two theories both sides unwilling to budge. So I devised an experiment and on a Christian blog I posed that evolution was true and on Ted as you may know I posed a debate on evolution and sided against it.

In both cases the arguements were fierce and hence my final question on the subject in TED. I appoligize for those who got heated and there were a few. I thank those who tried to answer.

So for this question I am wondering about why this topic is so heated? Your answers will help my report for school.

Topics: religion society
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    Gail . 50+

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    Oct 16 2012: As a parent and a tax payer, I believe that schools exist for the purpose of education, not indoctrination. I do not want to have my (now) grandchildren) indoctrinated. I consider it child abuse.

    The anti-intellectualism of the evangelical christians is a frightening thing to watch. I see it as a danger, not only to children, but to the country itself. America has already entered the dangerous realm of a christian theocracy. Those of us who are non-christians are forced to violate our consciousnesses in the name of this theocracy with its hateful god.

    If christians were less intolerant, vengeful, pro-violence, and ignorant, I wouldn't give a hoot what they believe. When they force me to honor their God (whom they have shown me does not deserve my respect, let alone my honor), my basic human right to my most important freedom is erased, and I am forced into slavery.

    Slavery is horrible thing to endure.

    PS: Evolution is not a theory, and anyone who believes that it is is dangerously uninformed - a threat to all. Ignorance is not strength. It's a weakness.

    Faith = belief in spite of lack of evidence.
    Evidence does not involve faith. It stands alone.

    There is ZERO evidence in favor of creationism. There is abundant evidence in favor of evolution, a theory, in spite of the fact that it may not be complete. Evolution would not be a theory if all of the facts were in. If all facts were known, it would be a LAW. It is a theory because not all the facts are in. ZERO facts are in favoring creationism, therefore it is not a theory.

    Creationism isn't even a hypothesis because a hypothesis requires a propsed test, which Christianity hasn't yet presented..
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      James Zediana

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      Oct 17 2012: Interesting that a country founded on religious freedom should now have those same freedoms that made the country so great viewed as danger.

      But you are right you are a slave of a master. And so am I, but it is a different master. I know you won't understand that but I hope some day you do.
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        Gail . 50+

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        Oct 17 2012: I'm an EX-christian. Christianity has changed a LOT in the last 25 years. It is no longer recognizable as Christianity. I know you won't understand, but I hope that some day you do.
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          edward long 100+

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          Oct 17 2012: Sorry, Ms. Lover, but there is no such thing as "an EX-christian". The reason is simple. God decides who will receive the gift of Faith and once it is given it cannot be lost. Christianity is not a human construct. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is. If you are not a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ now, you never were, but you could become one if God so chooses. Ask, seek, knock. Peace.

        • Entropy Driven 10+

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          Oct 17 2012: (My apologies Edward for what I had written here. It was not a good way to convey the message. May I try and clean my act by saying that of course, I understand that you think this idea comes from your god, rather than from you, yet, telling someone that he/she was not a Christian is calling them liars. Think how you would react if somebody called into question that you truly are quite sure that you have been chosen by this god. That's it.)

        • Jerry Whidby

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          Oct 18 2012: Doesn't that mean that you let yourself be robbed of your beliefs. I never view any religion by its parishioners. Christianity is the same as it was and will be under its worst and best representations. That would be like equating everyone's beliefs to that of any president, and saying the president represents what all American's believe. The perversion of a religion doesn't make the religion bad anymore than the nuclear bomb makes science bad. Heck atheist have been responsible for quite a few deaths from Hitler to Stalin. What we have chosen to do with the gift of free will is our choice. By giving us that precious gift we have also been allowed to muck up, and misrepresent a deity's words. I have met those who represent their beliefs very well, and others who drive people away from "their" religion at break neck speeds. Fortunately I do not have to suffer fools. I can simply read for myself, and make my own conclusions. I am sorry for your loss especially if it was do to others mishandling of a belief.

      • Entropy Driven 10+

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        Oct 17 2012: The danger is not your freedom of religion. Te danger is in the pretence to pass religious beliefs for science. In trying to force disguised indoctrination into science class. The problem is the fundamentalist Christians trying to undermine this freedom of religion by despicable tactics. By introducing their beliefs to unaware children using tax-payer money. That's the danger. If creationists want to reach the science curriculum, they should use the proper channel: scientific endeavours, scientific findings, scientific discoveries, the long and winding road that other scientific findings took before been of enough importance to make it into science class. But no, they know they have nothing scientific to present, so they prefer courts and disguising their beliefs hoping that judges will not notice. How's that for danger?

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