Difference between revisions of "Origins debate"
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Most people throughout history have ascribed origins to a First Cause - [[God]] or various [[gods]]. Materialist views have also been put forth, some as early as [[ancient Greece]]. | Most people throughout history have ascribed origins to a First Cause - [[God]] or various [[gods]]. Materialist views have also been put forth, some as early as [[ancient Greece]]. | ||
| − | Judaism and Christianity simply posit that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) Then He created plants (Genesis 1:11-13), animals (Genesis 1:20-23), and finally people (Genesis 1:26-27) | + | Judaism and Christianity simply posit that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) Then He created plants (Genesis 1:11-13), animals (Genesis 1:20-23), and finally people (Genesis 1:26-27). Other major religions have similar creation stories. |
| − | + | Materialistic views are many and various, and the prevailing views in modern science (i.e., astronomy, geology and biology) are the [[Big Bang]] theory and the [[Theory of Evolution]]. Supporters of the theory of evolution frequently call it "evolution", but this is a confusing term (see [[Definitions of evolution]] and [[Aspects of evolution]]). | |
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| − | Materialistic views are many and various, | ||
There is considerable debate over whether there is any viable middle ground between | There is considerable debate over whether there is any viable middle ground between | ||
Revision as of 15:08, April 3, 2007
The origins debate is the age-old conflict of ideas about how human beings appeared on the Earth, how the various kinds of animals and plants came into being, and how the Earth itself came into being.
Major views
Most people throughout history have ascribed origins to a First Cause - God or various gods. Materialist views have also been put forth, some as early as ancient Greece.
Judaism and Christianity simply posit that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) Then He created plants (Genesis 1:11-13), animals (Genesis 1:20-23), and finally people (Genesis 1:26-27). Other major religions have similar creation stories.
Materialistic views are many and various, and the prevailing views in modern science (i.e., astronomy, geology and biology) are the Big Bang theory and the Theory of Evolution. Supporters of the theory of evolution frequently call it "evolution", but this is a confusing term (see Definitions of evolution and Aspects of evolution).
There is considerable debate over whether there is any viable middle ground between the materialist views and the Creationist views. Gallop polls show that one third of Americans believe that human beings "evolved" in a process guided by God. [1]