Does Evolution Hurt Your Ego?

"Maybe YOU evolved from monkeys... but I certainly didn't!"

I'm sure that every Atheist has heard that before - and most Creationists have probably said it at one time or another.

First of all, let me say that it's a common misconception that humans are the direct descendants of apes. Rather, evolution suggests that at some point in our very distant past our species shared a common ancestor.

But back to the point... I never understood why people are often so offended at the thought of having evolved from a lesser form, whether it was a monkey, or some ugly, slimy thing crawling from the ooze. I'll explain why:

On one hand you have the Creationist's point of view: God stretches out his finger and, Poof! He creates man. Essentially, the human species is the same today as the day God first created him; sans la perfection. In fact, there is no potential for improvement to our species at all - other than the hope of reaching a perfect state in heaven.

But if you consider that we have evolved from something almost infinitely more primitive, there is the outlook that humankind will continue to evolve into something even more fantastic!

I think that people deny and turn their nose up at evolution because it offends their ego; whereas in reality, it shows what odds we have faced as a species; that we have persevered and advanced to become what we are today--and that is something which is magnificent in comparison to our humble beginnings.

In my opinion, there is tremendous gratification in knowing that our species has the ability to grow, advance and improve itself, whether we are directly responsible for it or not.

The thought that our children's - children's - children to the power of: [insert number here] will be even more advanced, able, and intelligent, is a much grander hope for me than that of my own personal deliverance into heaven.

Perhaps one day our descendants will look back and laugh saying "Well maybe YOU evolved from humans, but I certainly did NOT."

Transcript at:
http://exjw.wordpress.com/2008/06/09/does-evolution-hurt-your-ego/

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Evolution
• Creationism
• Ego
• Atheism

[ConnectingRod911]

Wow! What a staggering coup de grace! "Maybe you evolved from humans but I certainly didn't." Profound. 

[drewmayer13]

(2) Biochemistry was a young science born of the new electron microscope when Neo Darwinism was established in the 50's. What it has discovered in regard to mutations which must occur on biochemical level, science has ignored regarding evolution.Countless irreducibly complex processes all ignore the mathematical odds regarding evolution.A good book to start with is 'Darwin's Black Box' Michael Behe.Why I regard evolution as another religion is because it ignores facts.It doesn't hurt my ego.

[drewmayer13]

I have to agree with NOislamification about the math. I love science and have studied some biochemistry. To ignore the astronomical mathematical odds involved in countless slight things involved,speaks of religion to me. To say such math should be ignored 'because we are here' is a shallow and unscientific argument.I don't care if I evolved or not, I simply see evolution as ignoring the math,as religion ignores many facts.To ignore such facts myself I'd need greater faith than any fanatic.

[drewmayer13]

I'd have to agree with NOislamification about the math. It is not an argument to say because evolution has overcome great odds and it has already happened and there for true...That sounds more like religion to me. I've studied a little biochemistry and the odds grow astronomical quickly on the slightest things. Math is an important part of science, to ignore math and say evolution is true because we're smarter than religion is not a valid argument. I don't care if I evolved from a monkey?...

[PeacefulOlives]

@8698gil So how did birds evolve to become aerodynamic and to grow wings? So lets play the game, a bird evolved, so who did that bird have sex with to have it evolve and grow wings so that they could have babies that were also aerodynamic and had wings? Kinda Harry Potterish.

[8698gil]

As a child, I was highly suspicious of the creation story in genesis. Too many contradictions. Evolution, on the other hand, always made perfect sense to me, and while I was heavily indoctrinated as a child, I could never accept such an illogical explanation. I love evolution. And it is certainly a matter of the christian ego to have this desperate need to believe that they are created in a perfect image that never has and never will change.

[mmawilldesha]

@NOislamification (Part 2) The same goes for any other odds that try to predict the past, they don't matter because the events have already taken place.

[mmawilldesha]

@NOislamification Probability is used to predict things that will happen not things that have already happened, it is useless to predict the past because the past is the past. Example: Out of the billions of people in the world what are the odds of you're parents meeting in the time and place that they did and giving birth to you? The odds would be so great that you would probably question your own existence but those odds don't matter because you are here.

[NOislamification]

@mmawilldesha Do you have a decent enough understanding of maths. If so you should try working out the odds of every combined significant force thats led us to where we are right now.

[Neueregel]

well argued