Generic Phrases

Why is evolution such a threatening idea?

I don't see why it changes anything, and it is a pretty elegant and straightforward explanation of a natural phenomenon. Yet some people feels like it threatens their very way of life and even find the word itself offensive. Such a thing doesn't make us into another generic ape, it just shows how amazing it is that we rose from the chaos to civilization. I don't see why people use the reasoning behind the phrase "because the bible said so" because the bible says alot of things and many of the them are disregarded by almost all people. I'm not declaring people abandon their beliefs, I just want to know why out of all ideas, evolution is regarded with such disdain.

Public Comments

1. Because contradicts the stupid bible.
2. im not threatened by evolutionary theory. im threatened by people who cant understand its a theory...
3. Darwin also didn't see why his theory should change people's religious beliefs, but he knew it would upset people. People are stubborn and there are many that feel that the bible must be interpreted literally.
4. Because evolution (along with modern physics) explains how we came to exist through a haphazard and sloppy process. It also explians the humans aren't part of any "great design" That is threatening to people in the religion business because it makes their "creator" completely unessecary and a little absurd.
5. It's not. It is not true. That's all. God made me in HIS image. not an ape's.
6. That's just where they happened to pick their battle. It mostly comes out of the Scopes Trial several decades ago, when people first realized that it should be an issue to them, though they probably didn't understand why. Still, a lack of information has not stopped anyone from taking up arms before, it's just how people are.
7. Less open-minded people think that it threatens creationism. If only they could understand that evolutuion and creation are not mutually exclusive.
8. It makes sense to me and my idea of a spiritual reality. Once you see that the self is illusion and all life is one it makes plenty of sense. Evolution is how we see life growing and gaining energy thru the lens of the self.
9. It gets rid of their reason for self hatred, no original sin, no point in Jesus.
10. Any and all religious fanatics will staunchly defend their faith even when shown facts which indicate that what their faith-based beliefs are silly and not true. Evolution offers a solution to how we are on this Earth without the need of an all knowing deity molding us in his image.
11. It's all about the Bible and pride. If I was created in God's image ....I'm not an ape blah blah. Maybe they feel they are too good to have come from something ape-like. Plus when you are raised 'this is how it is don't ask why, period' you tend to dismiss a lot of things.
12. Because it contradicts the christian belief that the universe was created on a whim by an all powerful supreme deity. And the kicker is....evolution has evidence to back it up. It's not a fact, but it is a very strong theory.... As opposed to creationism which has absolutely NO evidence to support any claim that it's a viable theory.
13. Ignorance can cause fear. For example, the people who are ignorant to what a theory is, get scared and call evolution "just a theory".
14. I don't understand it, myself. I see people who react with absolute horror at the idea that humans evolved from a common ancestor with primates (they phrase it as'from monkeys'), and it baffles me. Even if we _were_ descended directly from monkeys, what difference would that make to the fact that we are homo sapiens sapiens now? It's bizarre.
15. Because then everyone else would feel like an idiot for believing in a diety.
16. it is in disdain by many because it is false teaching, while aspects of it do occur, like I believe that God made things in such a perfect manner that He built in the ability for us to adapt to our environment, to evolve and become better. I do not think that we were some cell in a swamp that came up on land and became an ape then man, sorry I believe that the bible says we were made in God's image, so why is that so hard for you to believe? I believe aspects of evolution, why can't most evolutionists believe any aspect of the bible?
17. Its not, it is entirely based on coincidental events, nothing more.
18. The real irony here is that religion and science are not mutually exclusive. Evolution only explains the process by which things came to be, it does not say anything regarding the purpose or meaning behind it all. My best guess? Simple ignorance.
19. It's only threatening to some people. It is false though. Total evolution is proven to be impossible. Read up. While it is an obvious and proven thing that happens, it is not soley responsible for how we got to where we are. No one really knows how we got to this point. Like I said, evolution had a hand in it, but it is proven that its not the total answer. Read up.
20. I don't feel threatened by evolution, I just don't see any proof. In my mind it's right up there with statements that vaccines don't have anything to do with the rise in autism. Maybe they do, and maybe they don't, but there haven't been any well done studies to get good data one way or the other. Same with evolution. Scientists like the idea, and push the idea, but don't have any REAL proof.
21. I love me some Jesus. The bible speaks nothing of evolution. If it was true god would have said so. Have you been keeping up on your readings? Try one verse a day and go from there. The bible is the only way, there is nothing else that is worth while. We are here in gods image, that is a fact. It is written in the word of god. Why go against what god as said is true. I trust god over anyone
22. Evolution can also take time and it's not a one step thing