Cafeteria Christians v. fundies
There are "cafeteria Christians" who interpret the gospel story literally but do not interpret the bible's creation story literally, and then there are fundies who interpret both literally. The signers of the Christian Clergy Letter typify this type of cafeteria Christian. These cafeteria Christians often look down upon the fundies as irrational and superstitious. Actually, though, these cafeteria Christians have it backwards: If god is assumed to be all-powerful, then the creation story makes sense while the gospel story does not. The god of the creation story is all-powerful whereas the god of the gospel story is weak and limited -- the god of the gospel story must battle Satan for control of the world and it is Satan who sets the rules of battle.
Also, there should be a separate Clergy Letter for clergy who see no conflict between evolution and religion but who are skeptical of evolution.
Also, there should be a separate Clergy Letter for clergy who see no conflict between evolution and religion but who are skeptical of evolution.
posted by Larry Fafarman | 4/03/2009 03:38:00 PM
4 Comments:
Larry, it is an interesting point about the clergy who are skeptical of evolution but don't have a religious objection to evolution. Honestly though, how big a group do you think that is? Almost everyone who objects to evolution on claimed scientific grounds has religious objection to it also. (There may be an element of belief overkill here)
>>>>>> Larry, it is an interesting point about the clergy who are skeptical of evolution but don't have a religious objection to evolution. Honestly though, how big a group do you think that is? <<<<<<<
I have no idea how big this group is. It would be nice to have an opinion poll. But your next statement suggests that this group is very small: "Almost everyone who objects to evolution on claimed scientific grounds has religious objection to it also." I don't think that's true. Again, it would be nice to have an opinion poll.
Yes, it would be. But at least anecdotally among the clergy I've talked to I've never met a clergymember who had doubts about evolution who didn't have some degree of theological problems with it. My sample is obviously not a representative sample (it includes far too many Rabbis). However, it is also noteworthy that in the GSS one of the the strongest correlating variables for acceptance of evolution is how literal people find the Bible. Thus, even if not the case among some clergy, it is clear that among the general populace the main cause of doubting evolution is religious in nature.
Joshua said,
>>>>>> But at least anecdotally among the clergy I've talked to I've never met a clergymember who had doubts about evolution who didn't have some degree of theological problems with it. <<<<<<
Do you find that surprising, that a clergymember who has scientific doubts about evolution also has theological problems with it? It is hard enough for clergymembers to accept evolution theologically even when they don't have scientific doubts about it.
>>>>>>> However, it is also noteworthy that in the GSS one of the the strongest correlating variables for acceptance of evolution is how literal people find the Bible. <<<<<<
What is your source?
>>>>>> Thus, even if not the case among some clergy, it is clear that among the general populace the main cause of doubting evolution is religious in nature. <<<<<<
I doubt that.
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