Claim CA612:
Because evolution has never been observed, the theory of evolution
requires as much faith as creationism does.
Source:
Morris, Henry M. 1985. Scientific Creationism. Green Forest, AR: Master
Books, p. 4.
Response:
- The theory of evolution is based on evidence that has been observed.
There is a great amount of this evidence.
When evidence is
found to contradict previous conclusions, those conclusions are
abandoned, and new beliefs based on the new evidence take their place.
This "seeing is believing" basis for the theory is exactly the opposite
of the sort of faith implied by the claim.
- The claim implicitly equates faith with believing things without any
basis for the belief. Such faith is better known as gullibility.
Equating this sort of belief with faith places faith in God on exactly
the same level as belief in UFOs, Bigfoot, and modern Elvis sightings.
A truly meaningful faith is not simply about belief. Belief alone
does not mean anything. A true faith implies acceptance and trust; it
is the feeling that whatever happens, things will somehow be okay.
Such faith is not compatible with most creationism. Creationism
usually demands that God acts according to peoples' set beliefs, and
anything else is simply wrong (e.g., ICR 2000). It cannot accept
that whatever God has done is okay.
References:
created 2001-2-18
