I gave
my students extra credit on the final exam for my Evolution course in Fall 2017
if they shared their thoughts about evolution and religion. I wanted to pass a few
of them on to you. I did not require them to agree with me; they could write
anything they wanted and get credit, so long as they gave reasons for their
beliefs. Remember, my university is in rural Oklahoma. Very few of the students
actually had to take the course; it was a self-selected sample of students
taking an elective. There were actually more anti-religious than religious
students. The samples below are from the more thoughtful answers, often some
combination of creation and evolution.
“I
believe the theories and approaches of evolution are scientific fact, proven to
be right, therefore, un-arguable. Evolution has shown prediction of how life
flourishes and expands. Personally, I still believe there is a greater “force”
that drives life and consciousness, and our intelligence is trying to hint to
us there is something more, even if it’s not a white man with a beard.”
“Jesus—Done…I’m
kidding. I am a Christian, so I do believe that God created existence. I think
that God answers the question “Why is there something instead of nothing?” Why
was there a big bang? Why was there a first cell? Why was there anything?
Science can explain how, but not why. That is why I believe in creationism.
With that said though, I also know evolution occurs. I mean come on, the
evidence is strong for it. I do think that some of the Bible is metaphorical
and poetic…”
“I am a
Christian…However, I believe that evolution occurred and is still occurring
today…We have billions of years of evidence suggesting its validity, so who am
I to say it’s wrong. I’ve seen a catfish walk from one pond to another, this
makes me believe that they could have stayed on land like Tiktaalik.”
“…if I
was to create something then why not create a natural law to creation so you
don’t have to keep changing things…Either way I shall always have an open mind
and learn.”
“I am a
Christian but my belief system isn’t anchored to the infallible bible. I…see
the Bible as a book of wisdom…That being said, I believe that God created all
that is and allowed the laws of nature to form life as we know it…There is no
need to attack timelines because what God gave us was love for one another and
never intended on us fighting over when things happened.”
“I have
yet to understand why our origin story wants to be dictated by so many
institutions. Rather I wish we could look back and appreciate just how amazing
the story of our earth and species is. Instead of argue about it, why don’t we
try and figure out more about it.”
“I was
raised Southern Baptist and thought about salvation…the divine, etc. I had an
early traumatic event when I was left alone in my house when 3-4 years old—I,
literally, thought I slept through the rapture and was left behind, I went
wandering outside crying and could not find anyone…I continued going to church,
but things kept happening that made me question everything I’d been told…While
I respect the beliefs of individuals I’ve found it increasingly hard because I
do not understand how a person can be content…not questioning something that
makes up such a large part of our identity…”
“I don’t
believe evolution…Science does not care about opinions, it only is concerned
with fact. The fact is that evolution has occurred…The idea of a god creating
all life that we know is truly insulting to the billions of years of history of
life fighting to survive.”
“I don’t
know.”
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