Probably one of the most controversial subjects in today’s society and throughout the world is creation: How was the world created? Who, if any, created it, and how did humans beings get here? What makes these questions so debatable are a person’s belief or faith, or lack thereof. On one hand, many people believe in what the Bible says about creation, that God created the heavens, earth, and all living things; and on the other hand, others believe that the world was spontaneously created out of nothing, known as the big bang theory, and eventually human beings evolved, known as evolution. In an attempt to answer both of these questions, society looks to Intelligent Design and evolution, however, society cannot agree on either of these theories,
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Change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.” Many evolutionists argue that intelligent design is not science but rather a religion, and therefore should not be taught in the classroom. These same opponents claim the true agenda of intelligent design to teach and persuade the Christian faith to students and are masking the agenda of intelligent design by claiming a “higher power” to further the Christian religion. Another opponent of intelligent design, George F. Will, author of “A Debate That Does Not End; ‘The most widely publicized misdemeanor case in American history’ went to trial 80 years ago this month in Dayton, Tenn,” argues “.. it is not a scientific but a creedal tenet—a matter of faith, unsuited to a public school’s science curriculum.” In contrast, Author Jonathan Wells, Ph.D., a supporter of intelligent design, argues that we all agree on the definition of evolution, change over time, but “the problem is Darwinism- the theory that all living things are descended from a common ancestor by unguided processes such as natural selection…” (The Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Debate, pg. 1). The teaching of evolution is just that, we all descended from a common …show more content…
In the article, “Is atheism a religion?” Author Daniel Smartt states, “a better way to determine whether a worldview is a religion is to look for certain characteristics that religions have in common.” Smart is referring to the Seven Dimensions of Religion (narrative, experimental, social, doctrinal, ethical, ritual, and material) as defined by Ninian Smart, which have been accepted by anthropologists and researchers of religion alike (Smart). The first characteristic is narrative: atheism has an explanation of where everything came from ~ hence evolution; the second characteristic is experiential: Darwin had experienced evolution from his grandfather – past events; the third characteristic is social (possibly the strongest evidence): trying to convert ‘religious’ people to their worldview, just as a missionary would do and just as atheism tries to do; the fourth characteristic is doctrinal: beliefs and philosophies developed out of a religion – the creation of Secular Humanism was created out of atheism; the fifth characteristic is ethical: an ethical system of how to act or what is accepted. Atheism is very vague and broad in the ethical arena; the sixth characteristic is ritual: atheists have begun to celebrate Darwin’s birthday as an annual ritual; and the seventh characteristic is material: things created by a religion, and that natural features
Change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.” Many evolutionists argue that intelligent design is not science but rather a religion, and therefore should not be taught in the classroom. These same opponents claim the true agenda of intelligent design to teach and persuade the Christian faith to students and are masking the agenda of intelligent design by claiming a “higher power” to further the Christian religion. Another opponent of intelligent design, George F. Will, author of “A Debate That Does Not End; ‘The most widely publicized misdemeanor case in American history’ went to trial 80 years ago this month in Dayton, Tenn,” argues “.. it is not a scientific but a creedal tenet—a matter of faith, unsuited to a public school’s science curriculum.” In contrast, Author Jonathan Wells, Ph.D., a supporter of intelligent design, argues that we all agree on the definition of evolution, change over time, but “the problem is Darwinism- the theory that all living things are descended from a common ancestor by unguided processes such as natural selection…” (The Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Debate, pg. 1). The teaching of evolution is just that, we all descended from a common …show more content…
In the article, “Is atheism a religion?” Author Daniel Smartt states, “a better way to determine whether a worldview is a religion is to look for certain characteristics that religions have in common.” Smart is referring to the Seven Dimensions of Religion (narrative, experimental, social, doctrinal, ethical, ritual, and material) as defined by Ninian Smart, which have been accepted by anthropologists and researchers of religion alike (Smart). The first characteristic is narrative: atheism has an explanation of where everything came from ~ hence evolution; the second characteristic is experiential: Darwin had experienced evolution from his grandfather – past events; the third characteristic is social (possibly the strongest evidence): trying to convert ‘religious’ people to their worldview, just as a missionary would do and just as atheism tries to do; the fourth characteristic is doctrinal: beliefs and philosophies developed out of a religion – the creation of Secular Humanism was created out of atheism; the fifth characteristic is ethical: an ethical system of how to act or what is accepted. Atheism is very vague and broad in the ethical arena; the sixth characteristic is ritual: atheists have begun to celebrate Darwin’s birthday as an annual ritual; and the seventh characteristic is material: things created by a religion, and that natural features