Question for atheists: Would you rethink your position if:?

Question

.....some personal or scientific discover caused you to doubt (atheistic) evolution as a possible origin of life? I was reviewing notes on Francis Crick and his changes in outlook on life (potentially) as a result of his work on the double helix (I do not want to debate the nature of his beliefs), I note he did not turn to a theistic/deistic outlook, but turned to paspermia (life from outer space). The question is if you were confronted with some irresolvable fact that the origin of man is not what you believed, would you pursue a spiritual answer, or seek out a new ideology, as it appears Mr. Crick did?

Answer 1

My position on evolution? There could conceivably be some scientific discovery that would raise questions about it, but that'd be a HUGE deal. I doubt that any personal "discovery" could do it.



Would questioning evolution make me question my atheism? Of course not. Why would evolution being false make me believe in a god?

Answer 2

No, I would pursue a scientific explanation for scientific questions and save spiritual explanations for spiritual questions. There truly is a place for both, and the two may overlap down the road in our own evolution, but I don't believe we are there, and I do believe that today's "spiritual" question may someday be answered by science. I base this view on history, noting all the historically "unanswerable " spiritual questions, which have been solved by scientists.



Interesting question. I am guessing you asked it with the idea in mind that atheists would reject the notion of re-thinking their positions. For the record, I must note that I am an agnostic, but I do adhere to many of the "gods" of atheism, including a deep respect for science. I do leave a bit of room for the mystery!



Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 3

The questions of whether God exists and of the origins of the diversity of life are two separate questions, one theological and one biological. Evolution is not "atheistic". It simply doesn't deal with the question of whether God exists or not.



The theory of evolution doesn't deal with how life first originated. That's abiogenesis, and is still an open question. The ToE deals with how life became diversified once it did arise.



If new evidence suggested the theory of evolution doesn't work, then the theory would be modified or abandoned. That's how science works. However, seeking supernatural answers to unresolved scientifc questions is NOT how science works.

Answer 4

Certainly.



All it would take, to borrow from someone much wiser than myself is "fossil rabbits in the Pre-Cambrian" -- just ONE example of life not following the gradual progression of simplere life forms to more complex, or genuinely irreducible complexity, or any of a thousand blatant contradictions we can imagine to the current theory of evolution.



Except that's not what we see. From the dimensions of the universe, to mineral and fossil distributions on continents now separated by eons of continental drift, to comparative anatomy, to genetic similarities, to any one of a hundred different scientific disciplines, in every single case each buttresses the other in supporting the overarching principle of evolution through mutation and natural selection in a universe that is billions, not thousands, of years old.

Answer 5

The fact that science cannot answer a particular question does not make "god" any less fictitious.

I "believe" that evolution took place because that's where the vast majority of the evidence points.

How it took place is still a mystery,... that it took place is a fact.

Answer 6

Most atheist are always looking for answers and if something came up that contradicted what I believe I would incorporate it if it's factual. Atheist don't claim to know everything there is to know. Adaptability on new FACTUAL information is an inherit trait in most knowledge hungry atheists.

Answer 7

A. There is no "atheistic" evolution. There's just evolution. It happened, the end. Most non-Christians support it.



B. No, because evolution isn't the sole reason for me not believing in God. I have many reasons, all of them equal support.



C. Perhaps I'd change my opinion on the evolution of man, but I would never amount it to a supernatural creator.

Answer 8

No, I would not. The foundations of my disbelief in an all powerful being does not stand on the evolutionary theory. In my opinion it stamps out creationism but not the existence of a God.

The foundations of my disbelief in a super powerful critter in the sky, rests primarily on what it means to exist. A person cannot say that I exist and God exist and claim these two statements are equal. Because God fails to meet a property of existence. But that is another topic.

Answer 9

Yes, I would look for new answers to the question of how life originated here. I would not leap to some kind of theism though, unless there was reason to believe it.

Answer 10

In the unlikely event that something would cause me to change my mind about the existence of God, it would still have no effect on my desire to worship such a being.



If God did exist, the evidence is clear that he is either evil or apathetic - either way, it would seem rather pointless to worship such a being

Answer 11

Sure, I would reconsider atheism if I made a strong discovery of contrary evidence, but I've made no such discovery yet.

Answer 12

Since evolution doesn't have to do with the origin of life. I'd say I would stick with evolution.

Answer 13

Beliefs based in science are always ready to change in light of new evidence, religion is the one that will not change in light of scientific evidence, old or new...

Answer 14

This is the kind of roundabout question I have come to expect when trying to be 'converted'.

Answer 15

I don't see a possibility of that happening . The evidence is overwhelming now .

Answer 16

Definitely not a spiritual answer

Answer 17

No.



There would still be no proof for any deity.