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From: walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.flame,net.origins
Subject: Re: Evolution AND Creationism
Message-ID: <683@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Nov-84 16:48:47 EST
Article-I.D.: noscvax.683
Posted: Mon Nov 12 16:48:47 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Nov-84 04:33:44 EST
Reply-To: walker@cod.UUCP (Janet M. &)
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center
Lines: 48
Xref: sdcsvax net.religion:4459 net.flame:6533 net.origins:511

I have  seen  a  great  deal  of  discussion  on  the  relative  merits  of
creationism  vs.  evolution.   It  seems  to  be that, in spite of what you
think, you're really not as diametrically opposed as you might suppose,  if
each side will consider what realm it is actually dealing with.

Science deals with definitions of the physical world, religion  with  those
of  the spiritual world.  If you believe at all in a God, as I do, then you
believe that He created this earth - which is defined as best  as  possible
at  any given moment  by science.   I also believe that He created religion
(all of the major ones for sure, for you can see when you look at the  pure
essence  of  each  that  they  really teach the same spiritual truths - but
that's another question) to help man understand his higher nature  and  the
spiritual realm (not just pie-in-the sky either, language is one example of
our 'spiritual' ability which distinguishes us from other life).  If He did
create both, then He will certainly not be in disagreement with Himself.

If you also believe that it is the soul which distinguishes man from  other
life,  that  the soul is eternal, and the body is only temporal, then there
really is no problem.  The body, which 'houses' the soul  in  the  physical
world,  is  not  MAN.  There  is much scientific evidence that the body did
indeed evolve, but that which makes us unique creatures of God,  the  soul,
was  given  us.  That  fish  or  ape,  or whatever form it was in,which was
destined to become man may  have  appeared,  outwardly,  to  resemble  that
animal, but was, because of its latent destiny, actually different from the
other creatures.  Therefore man has always been MAN, though the body passed
through stages of evolution.  The soul is MAN.

P.S
I believe that the soul evolves also, but consciously, as  we  are  charged
with our own education, both scientific and spiritual, when we become aware
of our own existence (something no animal can really do).  I  also  believe
that  mankind  as a whole evolves spiritually, and that answers given us by
science AND religion are progressive -  as  we  grow  in  the  capacity  to
understand  them.  This is, in my belief, why some religious 'answers' SEEM
incomplete to scientists.  Perhaps  we  have  reached  a  higher  stage  of
spiritual  evolution.  One which requires more answers than we formerly had
the capacity to comprehend.  This does NOT make former answers wrong.  It's
somewhat like going to 1st grade, then 2nd, etc.  It does mean that we need
to search to find them, for a if there IS  a  loving  God  He  will  surely
provide them.  We need to keep open (and loving) minds.  It also means that
we must recognize the basic harmony  of  science  and  religion.  If  there
appear  to  be  differences  then  they  are probably due to our incomplete
understanding of either science or religion, or both.  Think about it!

  Janet M. Walker                  MILNET/ARPANET: walker@nosc
  Naval  Ocean  Systems  Center    UUCP: [ihnp4,akgua,decvax,dcdwest,ucbvax]!
  San Diego, California   92152                        ||
  (619) 225-2316  (AV) 933-2316               sdcsvax!noscvax!walker