tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436782247272162797.post334098657253505528..comments2024-03-28T22:00:08.221-04:00Comments on Strangely Blogged: The Problem of Cheap Grace and the Duggar DefendersVixen Strangelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976594951225450413noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436782247272162797.post-40333541668927290462015-05-29T00:23:45.902-04:002015-05-29T00:23:45.902-04:00In the world of Religion, the debate between creat...<i>In the world of Religion, the debate between creationists and evolutionists is pretty small beer. In fact, it is a provincial debate between two competing groups of fundamentalists. This debate not only does not apply to the wider world of Religion, but it doesn't even really apply to the wider world of Christianity. </i><br /><br />I know, right? In terms of actual effect on people's lives, the "belief" in evolution seems to be really more of a political thing, and probably more so in the US than elsewhere. (I believe I've seen a chart where among "developed nations", while most of Europe was pro-evolution, the US was about equivalent with Turkey in terms of evolution:creation ratios. In part, I think it's one of those things where a lot of people have their political exercise at the local level, so generally, concerned (and weird) folks start with PTA and school board meetings. And if they're convinced they can't get prayer into the schools, they will by God do something about that evolution! I think it's indispensable to understanding life sciences and a necessary part of a well-rounded science curriculum, but have wondered if the religious folks could just submit a note for their kids for that part of the lesson the way they can for the sex ed part of Health class. <br /><br />I've never exactly understood why the method of biological diversity occurring on our planet or the planet's age were assumed to have anything to do with the general argument that there was or was not a Higher Power. Once you've decided that the Son of God actually died in a painful tortured way to buy you out of Hell, does it really matter that there's no freaking way Noah had pandas, polar bears, and koalas all on his ark? The claims of the Gospels don't strike me as intersecting with Darwin in any meaningful or disqualifying way. Although it's tough luck if you want to believe creationism and go on to actually do science. <br /><br />This is why I find things like Graham Hancock's and others' research into ancient cultures sort of interesting. I think we've only really scratched the surface in understanding ancient cultures, but they may very well have been more advanced than we give them credit for. It boasts for an even older view of earth civilization than young earthers claim. Vixen Strangelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976594951225450413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436782247272162797.post-85213659278001521262015-05-28T15:07:38.135-04:002015-05-28T15:07:38.135-04:00Hi Vixen, I sympathize with your views about the D...Hi Vixen, I sympathize with your views about the Duggars. I can't tell you how shocked I was when I heard about the pedophile scandals in the Catholic Church. When I was young, I had a couple of friends who were Catholic priests even though I have never been a Catholic. They were tremendously honorable men, and so when the pedophile scandals came to light I think I was more shocked than most Catholics. <br /><br />Religion covers a lot of territory. There's a lot to be praised, and a lot to be incriminated. You may recall that I once said I occasionally ask people to name the 10 largest religions in the world, and people are rarely able to come up with 5. Many religions have different points of view.<br /><br />In the world of Religion, the debate between creationists and evolutionists is pretty small beer. In fact, it is a provincial debate between two competing groups of fundamentalists. This debate not only does not apply to the wider world of Religion, but it doesn't even really apply to the wider world of Christianity. <br /><br />You know, when you move into Hinduism and Buddhism, evolution is actually a tenet of their faith and widely accepted throughout their cultures. Transmigration of souls even postulates the idea that consciousness moves through primitive, transitional forms until it evolves into human incarnation, and then reincarnation takes place until evolution is fulfilled and one no longer requires a physical form. Very Darwinian.<br /><br />Even views that exempt transmigration of souls still regard reincarnation as an evolutionary progress to Nirvana or Satori or various states of Samadhi, at which time physical forms are no longer required for evolution to continue. Even here, evolution continues at times in the non-physical, celestial universe. <br /><br />The Qaballah has a different view of evolution and reincarnation. For example, the mind of Einstein could incarnate in some human independent of other Einstein characteristics. (I am intentionally avoiding Qaballistic terms here.) <br /><br />Early Christianity regarded reincarnation, but this was eliminated in some of the church councils very possibly as one of the safeguards against certain schools of Gnosticism. <br /><br />Should one conclude that evolution is a fact, that would by no means exclude a spiritual teleology casting off transitional forms as consciousness evolved. If one concluded that there was no evolution, that would by no means eliminate the possibility of Intelligence operating in the universe. Neither proposition is a basis from which to assert that decisions about divine life are now concluded. Frankly, I grow weary of all these simplistic notions represented in the public sphere as if they meant something. <br /><br />The historic chain of experience, cognition, and conclusions for thousands of years by theologians, philosophers, and intelligent participants and observers is simply not affected one way or another by a simplistic conclusion about evolution.Formerly Amherstnoreply@blogger.com