Atheism and evolution

Does Atheism demand an unwavering belief in evolution?

Sorry to post and run, but I probably won't be able to get back to this until 10:00 tonight. I'm asking now because I know I'd forget to do it later. lol

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Asked by popzaroo at 3:42 PM on Feb. 16, 2012 in Religious Debate

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Answers (36)

Both faith and science, at least the way I see them, aren't about arriving at one moment, but are constant processes. They're fluid, IMO, not stagnant. As we discover more and more about our world we can apply it to what we already know and adjust our theories accordingly, or replace them all together. Both are consistently working towards truth, starting where one can and applying what one can learn to the equation. There's a beautiful symmetry, IMO...

Answer by bandgeek521 at 3:59 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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No however since they tend not to believe in the supernatural (ie Gods) evolution is the best logical explanation for the changes and variations in species as we know them. (Even if you do believe in a god or gods) I suppose you may find an atheist or two that use less conventional or scientifically proven methods to explain the variations among species (Like alien experiments or something) but they are few and far between.

Answer by KristiS11384 at 3:48 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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Atheism itself makes no demands. Though in the end most Atheists do believe in evolution as the best scientific explanation for the variety and changes between species from one generationt o the next

Answer by KristiS11384 at 3:49 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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Correction...Most Atheists ACCEPT evolution as the best scientific explanation, as it has loads of evidence to support it, it wouldn't really need classification as a "Belief"

Answer by KristiS11384 at 3:55 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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Atheism doesn't "require" anything. It's not a club, there are no requirements for membership. Atheism is simply not believing in the supernatural. It is nothing more, and nothing less than that. Most atheists do accept that there are scientific explanations for everything (whether discovered, theorized, or to be discovered), including how the earth was created and how life evolved from different forms. But again, we don't have to have an "unwavering belief" in anything. Science isn't unwavering, by the way. Responsible scientists leave room for new discoveries and new ways to consider, explore or approach old questions.

Answer by jsbenkert at 5:49 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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My atheism doesn't demand my uwavering belief in anything. The only "atheist" part of me is the belief in no gods.
While I do believe in the theory of evolution, it is not unwavering.

Answer by sahmamax2 at 4:05 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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The only commonality of atheism is no belief in a diety. That's it.

While the majority of our modern world (religious or not) give credence to evolution, you'll still find people who don't believe this. There's people who believe aliens brought life here.

Besides, there were atheists long before evolution was discovered.

Answer by anng.atlanta at 4:20 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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I second what Kristi said. I don't think atheism demands an unwavering belief in evolution, but since the evidence overwhelmingly supports it, why would an atheist believe anything different?

Answer by my2.5boys at 3:52 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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Science supports evolution and so that's what I believe but I don't actually care about the when, why and how we all got here.

Answer by IhartU at 4:11 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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The Theory of Evolution merely explain the changes in a given species from one generation to the next, not where matter, etc. Come from. You are once again confusing several differing scientific theories Such as teh Big Bang, Evolution, and Accretion, in order to more easily dismiss them from your own lack of understanding.

Answer by KristiS11384 at 4:06 PM on Feb. 16, 2012
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