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Atheism

Today is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, the naturalist scientist known for his theories of evolution and natural selection.

 

Who was Darwin?

Darwin was born in England in 1809. After attending the University of Edinburgh, he moved to Cambridge to become a clergyman. But his training was interrupted when he decided to join a British science expedition. For five years he sailed around the world collecting fossils, studying animals, and examining plants.

 

When he returned, he devised a theory: All species have evolved from one ancestor. He also concluded that the evolutionary process was gradual and included “natural selection” (individuals with the strongest traits survive, so weaker traits disappear over time). He is perhaps best known for publishing these revolutionary findings in book called On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life (1859). He died in 1882.

 

After his death, his ideas became immensely controversial. Christians and others who believed that God had created the universe and everything in it were disturbed by the idea that creatures had simply evolved on their own.

 

But according to New York Times writer Carl Safina, Darwin didn’t invent a whole belief system about evolution — nor did he really intend to spark the debate with Christians and Creationists. But he did have an idea that packed power. And that idea was furthered by scientists who discovered genes and DNA, leading to the completion of the theory of evolution and so-called “Darwinism.”

 

What’s next for the Vatican?

The aforementioned Vatican archbishop has also said that the Vatican never formally condemned the theory. In fact, Pope John Paul II and his predecessor Pius XII both suggested evolution may be valid. Furthermore, esteemed theologians St. Augustine (of the 4th century) and Thomas Aquinas (from the Middle Ages) understood that life transforms over time, even if they had not yet heard of evolution. See what else the Vatican has to say by watching this video on their YouTube site.

 

Backed by the pope, an organization will hold a conference in March to celebrate the 150th anniversary of On the Origin of Species.

 

Creationism hasn’t gone away. Proponents of the Creationist theory contend that God created the universe. And they seek to continue this debate in schools, political arenas, etc. So what do you think? Will the pope’s announcement change the debate? Are you surprised by the Vatican’s endorsement? What does this mean for Creationism? Who do you believe?

 

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends.

 

Research from psychologists and anthropologists at Yale, Oxford, Northwestern, and other universities suggests that humans are naturally inclined to believe in gods and develop religions.

 

According to an article in New Scientist, humans have a tendency to develop ideas of gods – just as children have a natural capacity to think up imaginary friends, or just as adults intuitively imagine conversations with the supernatural or with others who aren’t physically present. The idea is, when you’re a baby, you notice that things like trees can’t decide when and how to behave. Yet people can make their own choices and move about as they so choose. Therefore, some objects have minds and some objects don’t. If this is true, then where does this mind come from? And can it interact with possible unseen objects like ghosts, spirits, and gods?

 

Left on their own, researchers told New Scientist that children would raise these questions and would conclude there is an existence of supernatural minds, thereby forming their own religious beliefs naturally.

 

Adults take the extra step of forming a religion around the belief in a god or gods. The basis, according to researchers, is cause and effect. If the leaves blow, there must be wind. If my heart is moved, it must be God.

 

The need to keep this belief is greater when times are hard. When we feel out of control, we get superstitious or wonder what outside force could be causing – or helping – our case.

 

It’s important to note that just because we form our ideas about God doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist. It just means it’s easiest for our brains to think about the existence of a god or gods than to work to disprove it.

 

Learn the psychology behind the idea on the New Scientist Web site.

 

Copyright 2009, Religion Transcends. 

 

Recently, an atheist from California attempted to have all references to God removed from Obama’s swearing-in ceremony (to be held tomorrow).

Then last Thursday, a judge denied the request.

The judge, Reggie B. Walton, denied Michael Newdow’s request saying that the speech was no different from prayers held in the Supreme Court. This was Newdow’s third attempt at having religious references removed from presidential inaugurations, according to Religion News Service.

One of Newdow’s lawyers said, “This case is not about atheists merely feeling offended. There is real harm…violating the principle of separation of church and state, which is the basis for our religious liberty.

 

 

Copyright 2009 Religion Transcends.

How do you define atheism?

For some religious folk, atheists are anything from immoral hedonists to simple unbelievers. And while some atheists use the same extremist rhetoric they hate to hear from the religious, others seek to give it a new definition.

According to USA Today, that definition is this: “Care for one’s community and fellow human beings, love of country and cherished American principles, the pursuit and expansion of knowledge…’positive atheism.’”

Atheist Margaret Downey (founder of the Anti-Discrimination Support Network) has fought prayer in school in the past. Today, she’s fighting the negative image of atheism. She wants to call a unity-building meeting in 2011 for non-believers, to emphasize the positive parts of atheism.

Read USA Today’s full article. What do you think? Is atheism healthy? Hideous? Will it end up with the same good and bad attributes of religion, thereby taking on the face of its opposite? Leave us your comments.