Midterm Exam Time · Feb 21, 11:31 AM

I’m sitting here in a classroom watching students write their midterm exam. It’s pretty boring. It’s also kind of a nice break for me, since it’s certainly preferable over the normal three hours of tiresome verbatim reporting.

I’ve been thinking lately about the evolution-creationism controversy, prompted mostly by the Human Evolution course that I’m doing at SFU this semester. It’s pretty clear that the vast majority of people in the academic and scientific world believe in the theory of evolution to explain our origins, and I count myself in that group. I’m currently reading a book called “A History of God”, which details a sort of ‘evolution’ of religion over the past 3000 years. It’s clear that things evolve. What isn’t clear to me is the theory of creationism. I mean, I have a pretty good idea what it describes, but I’m hoping to find a compelling and logical argument in favour of accepting it over the theory of evolution. The two theories seem, to a large extent, to be mutually exclusive. So to believe one, must you discard the other completely? If not, is there a way for the two theories to co-exist harmoniously? And again, I still want to hear the argument for creationism. I’ve heard the arguments and evidence for evolution, and I usually strive to hear a clear account of both sides of any debate so that I can feel satisfied that I’ve made the most well-informed decision. Perhaps it’s a matter of being raised in a religious environment? I’ve never really been to church, so perhaps it’s merely a matter of faith and indoctrination. Perhaps that’s where the controversy comes in. Perhaps it’s impossible for proponents of the two sides to enter into a debate because the one side is using scientific methods and data as evidence, whereas the other is appealing to faith and a belief in something which is fundamentally unknowable and unprovable. They’re using different tools of persuasion, and therefore speaking different languages. This is my best guess anyway, and I suppose I may have to resign myself to accepting that I may never hear a compelling argument for creationism. Though if someone could prove me wrong, I’d be delighted.

1. I agree. Have you been to the belief-o-matic website?

       Lara    Feb 22, 11:52 AM   

2. cool! i took the belief-o-matic quiz, and apparently i’m a secular humanist. what does this mean? http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8040_1.html

       Kelsey    Feb 22, 12:50 PM   

3. hmmmmm, interesting question…I beleive n evolution to a large extent, but could there have been some creationism in there to get things going?? I mean, have we really evolved from ancient crustaceans?? could evolution have taken over at some point?

   hey, still playing ultimate? It sure has been awhile since I played.

       Natalie    Feb 27, 06:49 PM   

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