It was just today that I was reminded of the following fact: I do reside and work in small-town Pennsylvania, a part of the U.S. that is also know to be part of the "Bible Belt".
It was to my utter disbelief, when by chance during a lunchtime game in our office, the issue of evolution was brought up - and all the reactions of my colleagues seem to reflect that evolution was an unworthy topic best not to be discussed, at all! One colleague even went to the slightly preposterious notion of decrying evolution's validity!
Needless to say, I went back to my cubicle after lunch, amazed and shocked with the degree of mental backwardness that I had just experienced.
Well, "mental backwardness" is a matter of perspective. To a man such as myself who has a slightly higher than average IQ of 128, who has lived his life on thee continents in four different countries, who has a university degree, yes, for a man such as myself it would be easy to label such a denial of the scientific fact of evolution as mental backwardness.
But reflecting a moment on my colleagues' response to this topic, it occured to me, that my colleagues were reacting out of fear. The kind of fear that one would get imbued if one became overtly faithful and willing to accept the bible as the only form of guidance in life.
Faith, like anything else, can be beneficial, but in excess, it will do more harm than good!
My favorite quote in this regard:
Without the voice of reason, every faith is it's own curse!
- Gordon Sumner
Indeed at some point, an excessive amount of faith will lead to unwanted side effects: such as the fear of notions or ideas that one believes to contradict their own faith.
And let's face it: Isn't that how evolution is perceived by conservative christians, as a "faithkiller" whose purpose would be to destroy everything their reverends and ministers have for decades defined as the only truth!
There is a fundamental problem with this limited thought process! And it is one that warrants further analysis.
First of all, there is absolutely nothing in the biological process of Evolution that states that God does not exist, there is nothing about evolution that would prove that Jesus did not live some 2000 years, ago!
On the other hand there is nothing in evolution that proves that God does exist or that Jesus did indeed fulfill all the miracles the bible states.
And that's precisely the point!
Evolution, as fact of nature and life, has nothing to do with religion! It is just that: a biological mechanism that feeds the development of life forms.
So, are conservative Christians warranted to fear evolution as a concept?
I think not!
They have no reason to fear this topic. They have no reason to deny it! It is a fact of life, much alike what some fashion to describe as the activities of the "Birds and Bees" as a fact of life.
Conservative Christians don't fear the idea of the "lovemaking" of birds and bees, do they?
Then, why should they fear evolution?
Especially, since it was evolution that brought about all "lovemaking" in nature. For those who are not aware of it, let the following synthesis suffice: Nature learned through evolution that the survivability of any species is enhanced, if two counterparts carrying the genetic material conjugated to reproduce. It simply increased the chances of the lifeform's perpetuation, as long as there was a male and a female performing the reproduction.
Now, how would that contradict with what Christians are meant to belief? Does that state that God does not exist?
No!
Who is to say that God is not behind evolution?
With evolution being such a formidable natural process of such profound brilliance, I, personally, would be surprised if there wasn't a higher power behind evolution!
And all of us are beneficiaries of this process.
I, for one, am thankful for the high quality genes that are found in my blood: It has helped me to shape into a man with high intelligence, good looks, and no genetical diseases, who is looking forward of sharing these good genes with a female of equally good genetics.
Is there anything "unchristian" or "unholy" about that.
No, it is just Evolution depicted at the micro level. My ancestors did a "really good job" at reproducing! And I am the result!
Will I continue their legacy? - Yes, I intend to!
And precisely that is what evolution has guaranteed us: The conjugation and passing on of favorable genes and characteristics!
So, if a larger than average IQ will help my offspring, it is because evolution has given the means for my ancestors to successfully pass it on to me!
So, do I have a reason to fear evolution as a concept?
No!
I have benefitted from it!
We have all benefitted from it! Through evolution, the net amount of functional brain tissue and the interconnectivity of neurological pathways has increased! Due to this, over a process of thousands of years, we have furthered our mental capabilities. What was inconceivable only a hundred years ago, is now common knowledge - this effect has been called the "evolution of the mind"!
This means that sometime in the future, the average IQ of 100 will not the be the average anymore. At some point my current IQ of 128 will be the average measure!
My point is, there is no reason to fear the notion of evolution, there is no reason to deny it as a fact of life and nature.
Rather, we should all be thankful for it!
It is the most remarkable natural process in the universe!