A funny thing happened at last week's debate between candidates for the Republican party nomination. When asked for a show of hands on who did not believe in evolution, Mitt Romney abstained and kept his paws on the podium. In other words, he signified that he did believe in Charles Darwin's elegant description of the origin of species.
Well, it is no secret that Romney has been courting Christian conservatives. This past weekend he gave the commencement address at Pat Robertson's Regent University. It's quite a balancing act, really, considering that Robertson's own Christian Brodcasting Network has declared Mormonism a cult.
The candidate and his Christian supporters have been working hard to overcome Evangelical antipathy toward the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, whose 19th-century founder, Joseph Smith, said he revised parts of the Bible to correct it.But his statuesque demeanor at the debate regarding his views on evolution have caused some evangelicals to seek further clarification on where the candidate stands on the matter of the earth really being only 6,000 years old. In response, Romney's campaign has released a statement:
"Governor Romney believes both science and faith can help inform us about the origins of life in this world."It's classic Romney. Vague, wishy-washy, and will further the perception that he is constitutionally incapable of taking a stand on a controversial issue and sticking to it. The question for the former governor is, what happens when science seems to contradict a matter of faith, as in the case of the age of our planet? Furthermore, how do we decide who is right when two faiths disagree on bedrock cosmological questions? Your evangelical constituents want to know, Mr. Romney.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 14)
61. It seems like it should be difficult to deny evolution in one breath and speak of our dependence on FOSSIL fuels in the next.
j.k. smith at 7:54PM on May 8th 2007
62. It seems as though a lot of people choose to believe in evolution just because they don't like the idea of a Supreme Creator. I'm not talking about scientists, just people in general. Scientists haven't done a bad job theorizing on what we don't know. Although, probably the majority of the world believes in a Supreme Being. I also think that having a president who believes in evolution and having a president who is open-minded are two completely different things. I'm pretty sure most of us would agree that Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt were pretty good presidents, and they all believed in God. Who knows? Maybe it is possible that someone who believes in God could make a good leader of this country.
Jenn at 7:59PM on May 8th 2007
63. The fact that Romney - who incidentally was a liberal Republican when he ran for gov of Mass - has now lowered himself to pander to a wack job like Pat Robertson. This is sheer desperation on Romney's part - laughable if it were not so sad. Robertson has trashed Mormons forever...Romney has betrayed his church. Can people not see this guy for what he is? Romney is an empty suit....
David Thompson at 8:20PM on May 8th 2007
64. What all of the bible thumpers forget is who wrote the thing? Man, thats right, man! You know man is the only creature on earth that can comprehend death, and because he can not accept the idea that u are born, u live, and die, and are no more so he created religion to make himself feel better and not fear death so much! Man created religion, man wrote the bible and if he wants to stick his head in a hole to hide thats his ( god given right ). I pray that I'm wrong but I know that I'm not. But you know it dosn't really matter if there is a God or not, people should love and care for their fellow man. Life is very very short, make the best of it and enjoy, live every day like it was your last, you never know! Peace my fellow traveler on this rock sailing through the universe.
the one at 8:46PM on May 8th 2007
65. In addition to Comments already made about Romney, being from MA, I can testify that he only made a huge mess there too. Look at the "Big Dig" construction project that took almost a decade to complete and was over-budget by millions of dollars. Not to mention it was unsafe and people died because of faulty construction. All done under his watch.
Jenny at 8:54PM on May 8th 2007
66. If a candidate does not believe in evolution they are either uninformed or "in the tank" for the rightous extremists. In either case they would be unqualified - in my opinion.
Kevin O at 8:58PM on May 8th 2007
67. The real issue isn't whether or not Mitt believes in evolution. The REAL issue is that he is associating himself with Pat Robertson, who is the religious wingnut of all time! Any politician who doesn't distance himself as much as possible from this hypocrite deserves everything he gets!
L.A. at 8:58PM on May 8th 2007
68. I just think it is funny that no one here knows Darwins true beliefs. If you want to discuss the Black Box or the theory of evolution go for it, but know the author. His wife was a christian. He himself became a christian. Science is mad up of so many hypotheticals, theories that never becam true laws. Wait am I over your head. You do know that is how things go, right. There is an order to how things become true scientific facts. We are still waiting on that missing link, and will be for a long time.
As for the bible. You better read your history if you truly think it is fiction. Is true to every historical book you want to hold it too. As for the science. Read a little and you will discover even science has found there to be a great flood(probably the demise of the dinosaurs), they have shown the loss of time which is mentioned(God stopped the sun in the sky during a battle) I could keep going. So if you don't want to belive in Christ, that He came, lived as a man and died for all of us....I am sorry.
But if you are going to rampage on about fact and fiction then do your homework.
handsrlife at 10:16PM on May 8th 2007
69. Evolution is a very flawed scientific theory, and there are several respected scientists and intellectuals that actually have problems believing in Darwinian Evolution (see the book Uncommon Dissent). Just because someone questions evolution, it does NOT mean they are against science. The essence of scientific discovery is to QUESTION conventional wisdom.
Noel ALcoba at 9:29PM on May 8th 2007
70. JACKIE, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF WHICH EVER HOLE IT'S IN AND SAY SOMETING THAT MAKES SENSE, AND SPELL IT RIGHT WHILE YOU'RE ABOUT IT
the one at 9:32PM on May 8th 2007
71. A lot of people that question the Bible or dismiss it right off the bat haven't even read the book. They believe that they gain automatic intellectual credence and respectability when they dismiss the merit of the Bible. I bet a lot of them don't even realize the Bible is the first ancient text to say that the world is round and that it hangs in space, as opposed to the common ancient belief that the world was held up by elephants.
Noel ALcoba at 9:32PM on May 8th 2007
72. Speaking of religious extremist wingnuts, let's talk about Al Gore. He has now elevated alarmist environmentalism to the level of religion. It's too bad that in 50 years when it turns out global warming was a very flawed scientific model, no one will remember how hysterical everyone became over Al Gore's wild claims, supported by tenuous pseudo-science.
Noel ALcoba at 9:36PM on May 8th 2007
73. when God starts talking to politicians I am leaving. If your belief in a religion gives you certain views, so be it. THEY ARE YOUR VIEWS!!!! Not mine or others. Religion is seperated so that no one religion is allowed domination over another. Organized religion is a view of certain people. Because you believe does not mean that I believe. Take your religion and shove it. This question to candidates is a loaded one that makes christians, catholics, prodistants vote for an individual because of thier beliefs. If I want to sacrifice a goat today, I want to be able to sacrifice the same goat tommorrow. You may not like it, but I am sure you would eat it if prepared another way. Evolution and God need to keep themselves as far away from politics as possible. Politicians have enough problems, question them on moral issues and all is lost.
coggy at 9:57PM on May 8th 2007
74. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you ... Yes, I, an old retired scientist, am refering to scripture (as the Devil ...or a Cleric might)... to make a very important point.
We all need to listen more openly to other points of view and be ... a bit less unpleasant in presenting our own. We might each learn something... Neither of us may be completely correct!
Words matter... as it helps enormously to actually understand what I am talking about and what you are saying.
Science is a way of organizing thoughts and seeing if data support them. It supports CONCLUSIONS that continue to be refined or better understood as we learn more.
You and I are free to "believe" just about anything. We can actually "know" as little or as much as we individually need to be comfortable with our "Belief".
But to conclude something in the scientific sense, we must look everywhere and test whenever practical. I don't "believe" science! We "conclude" that this is the best explanation of waht we know today.
Science knows nothing ... has no data and no widely accepted concepts ...of where this Universe came from and only some excellent but unproven ideas about where we are going, how and when.
We are all well advised to tread lightly where we know so little. To be brutally honest about when we have only partially informed speculations.
So it is with Religions. Religion is NOT science. It doesn't fit our rules... period. We are different ways of deciding. This is not demeaning.... it simply reflects the true meaning of the words. Science demands that we form ideas, seek data and test where practical and grow these ideas to Theory if enough results justify it. The next test or discovery can always cause revisions to theories. They are working concepts... evolving ... you might say.!
Each current Religion instructs in the written word, songs and rituals that we should accept and "Believe". Many of us find great comfort in this!
Being free to live my life honoring my beliefs is wonderful.
Forcing you to live your life by my beliefs is hateful.
In many areas of life, including the unknowable and untestable ideas about our existance, our death and our Universe. Religion(s) ask us to believe. The object is not to go and seek other dogmas, beliefs and construct tests. (That would be science and it has NOTHING to add to this discussion,save that certain foolish and totally unnecessary human interpretations of religion stray into conflict with real facts .... you know, the Sun does not revolve around the Earth ... the Earth is not Flat, and everything we can test sets the age of our planet in Billions of years, not thousands... That sort of stuff....
Religious leaders fail us and confuse (weaken) their rightful place in suggesting how humans should live when they stray out of Religion and into fact. It hurts when one person you want to believe says foolish things that are proven ... yes .... proven ... wrong ...to the extent that we, with the faculties creation provided, can judge.
Be gentle... be thoughtful. We need each other.
Tomorrow .. or next week, something may be discovered that surprises us all.
In the meantime, Believe what makes you comfortable and productive ... and don't shrink from information that leads you to conclusions that may surprise you.
Every day our eyes open is a gift.
Evolution is not something that I, that you or anyone should "believe in". Evolution is simply the best available explanation for how all life forms came to be what they are today ... or were when they ceased to exist.
No, every square in the tapestry of life on this planet is not understood. But all the evidence, and a lot of evidence ... does exist .... suggesting that evolution is BY FAR the best explanation for how life has progressed.
Some very recent examples of change in life forms to meet challenges to their existance can be seen living on mainlands and nearby islands. Some can be seen in test tube experiments.
NO evidence exists nor have any credible experiments questioned the basic premise of life evolving to meet its challenges and expiring where it fails to adapt.
This does not allow me and should not encourage anyone to "believe" in Evolution.
The available data should encourage everyone to consider that evolution might be the way life actually progresses.
Having considered that, one should be mindful that several parts of living things are NOT explained by our current knowledge of evolutionary processes.
I caution you that not being able to explain something ....proves only one thing.... that we cannot currently explain this. I don't know is simply that. I don't know how these things came to be.
There are open items in the sea of information that cause most thoughtful people to CONCLUDE, not BELIEVE that evolutionary concepts ... Theory ... best explain what we know today.
Don't Believe it; Conclude it... or not...
And always remember .... that science doesn't know how some facets of life evolved doesn't prove ... doesn't even suggest that evolution is incorrect... just that thes items remain unexplained.
The God that may have started evolution in motion would have been a clever god indeed.... worthy of worship... and clearly one who helps those who help themselves...
Honor each other..
Amen...
DonMcL at 10:05PM on May 8th 2007
75. Only when Muslums rule the planet (George will convert) and the Islamic Flat Earth Society is taken seriously, will genuine peace and order replace the present, questionable practice of beheading. Allah is greatg and good . . . PRAISE ALLAH !
Daniel Mullane at 10:03PM on May 8th 2007