Re: Evolutionary compassion

On Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:06:26 -0400 (EDT), Brian VanPelt
<brvanpelt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I will just state right now that I am a Christian, but I don't believe
the Christianity and Evolution are mutually exclusive, or that a
belief in Christianity is necessarily anti-evolutionary, or that a
belief in Evolution is anti-Christian.

Why do I make this statement?

Well, because there are some questions that are considered in the
Christian domain that could be addressed by the theory of Evolution.

For example...

Is it possible that compassion. or love, is something that has evolved
over time? If Darwin was correct, and if it is possible that
compassion/love were to have evolved, then why would it be in our best
interest to have compassion/love? What I mean is that evolution is
all about discarding those things that are not good for us, and
adopting those that are good. It seems to me that it is a burden to
love someone when that love might not be in my best interest from an
evolutionary standpoint.

Also, is it possible that the magnitude of compassion in someone/thing
can be measured in a meaningful way? Can you ascribe a numerical
value to such a thing? Is so, is this value increasing/decreasing,
constant or erratic over time?

I have no intention to make anyone believe that I am any kind of
biology official. I am just a Christian mathematician looking for
answers.

Thanks,

Brian

Josh Hayes has set me straight. Delete any reference to Christian in
my original post - while Christianity provided my initial motivation,
it does not have to appear in any subsequent discussion.

With this in mind, I look forward to many discussions on this topic
assuming, of course, it has merit.

Thanks,

Brian


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Dinesh DSouza: Atheism Masquerading as Science
    ... at all about evolution or its compatibility with Christianity. ... Atheists and non-atheists accept him as a scientist. ... Except that atheism is not anti-religion, ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Wolves in sheeps clothing
    ... Atheists are outraged at Christianity and the Bible, ... seems like creationists are outraged at science. ... who cannot be distinguished from lunatic Atheists like a John Harshman ... the objective claims of evolution support the Atheism worldview ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Antony Flew anyone?
    ... >> essentially prove evolution and demolish ID but no one person seems to ... I'm sure that most of them are genuine in their beliefs in God (as are ... > intelligent design, but I couldn't see how my notion of intelligent ... I know some of you have tried, but the form of Christianity ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Sands of Time Do Not Lie: faith based on facts
    ... that he is an Atheist attempting to make Christianity ... Christianity beneath evolution? ... Dana thinks evolution is supported by evidence and Christianity is not ... What about 'we have faith in that which we do not see' is confusing you? ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: The Sands of Time Do Not Lie...
    ... that he is an Atheist attempting to make Christianity ... Christianity beneath evolution? ... accepts Atheist ideology to explain scientific evidence. ... for the appearance of design seen in reality, ...
    (talk.origins)