Where does Evolution Leave God?

 “Where does evolution leave God?” ~http://bit.ly/2Bhi7s~ Karen Armstrong vs. Richard Dawkins.

We commissioned Karen Armstrong and Richard Dawkins to respond independently to the question “Where does evolution leave God?” Neither knew what the other would say. Here are the results.


Karen Armstrong says we need God to grasp the wonder of our existence

Richard Dawkins has been right all along, of course—at least in one important respect. Evolution has indeed dealt a blow to the idea of a benign creator, literally conceived. It tells us that there is no Intelligence controlling the cosmos, and that life itself is the result of a blind process of natural selection, in which innumerable species failed to survive. The fossil record reveals a natural history of pain, death and racial extinction, so if there was a divine plan, it was cruel, callously prodigal and wasteful. Human beings were not the pinnacle of a purposeful creation; like everything else, they evolved by trial and error and God had no direct hand in their making. No wonder so many fundamentalist Christians find their faith shaken to the core.

But Darwin may have done religion—and God—a favor by revealing a flaw in modern Western faith. Despite our scientific and technological brilliance, our understanding of God is often remarkably undeveloped—even primitive. In the past, many of the most influential Jewish, Christian and Muslim thinkers understood that what we call “God” is merely a symbol that points beyond itself to an indescribable transcendence, whose existence cannot be proved but is only intuited by means of spiritual exercises and a compassionate lifestyle that enable us to cultivate new capacities of mind and heart…

Richard Dawkins argues that evolution leaves God with nothing to do

Before 1859 it would have seemed natural to agree with the Reverend William Paley, in “Natural Theology,” that the creation of life was God's greatest work. Especially (vanity might add) human life. Today we'd amend the statement: Evolution is the universe's greatest work. Evolution is the creator of life, and life is arguably the most surprising and most beautiful production that the laws of physics have ever generated. Evolution, to quote a T-shirt sent me by an anonymous well-wisher, is the greatest show on earth, the only game in town.Indeed, evolution is probably the greatest show in the entire universe.

Most scientists' hunch is that there are independently evolved life forms dotted around planetary islands throughout the universe—though sadly too thinly scattered to encounter one another. And if there is life elsewhere, it is something stronger than a hunch to say that it will turn out to be Darwinian life. The argument in favor of alien life's existing at all is weaker than the argument that—if it exists at all—it will be Darwinian life. But it is also possible that we really are alone in the universe, in which case Earth, with its greatest show, is the most remarkable planet in the universe…

~here for full article

Re: Where does Evolution Leave God?

I disagree with the idea that evolution leaves God with nothing to do. In fact, the theory of evolution and science's evolution have brought humanity to the where it needs to be for the next group of revelations that God is going to send. Humanity doesn't see it now but will soon. I see the picture forming and I know that this is true, no matter how out of sorts it sounds. Remember, one of the key quotes I have coined and have been using all along (from revelations I have received) is “The Lord has not changed, humanity's ability to perceive The Lord has.”

Re: Where does Evolution Leave God?

Yes, that's very much akin to what Armstrong posits above.

Thanks, Mr,

Nicole

Re: Where does Evolution Leave God?

Yes, I've always felt like more of an Armstrongian than a Dawkian on this issue.

Re: Where does Evolution Leave God?

like that, Mr, Armstrongian :)

Re: Where does Evolution Leave God?

to start, evolution leaves a god at the beginning, responsible for setting in motion that which would give rise to evolve. For the planet earth existed for billions of years before the very first spark of life, thus if there is a plan it is a trillion year long process.  For example; if dinosaurs only existed to eventually become our fossil fuels, then what will we be in the next few billion years, oil for smart reptiles?

As far as the present, and humans now, concerned of the from and to,
the Tibetans teach that…time is a like a machine producing enlightened beings.
I tend to lean towards this belief aswell, for we do not know enough to answer why yet…..
U.R.U.

Re: Where does Evolution Leave God?

URU, fascinating, thank you so much,

Love,

Nicole