Apes in all of us
Okay, this is really a post off-life topic. It’s more a ‘whats-going-on-in-my-head’ musing about things that are challenging me. So here goes.
Recently I had a huge argument with a friend about whether or not he believe in Evolution, which he didn’t and I do, but I couldn’t seem to come up with the witty, smart, and pointed comebacks that I was so hoping would change his mind, and sway him to the ‘right’ side (or my side). Maybe it’s because I’ve been out of school for so long (damn rotting brain!!), and I have never had to argue with someone who disagreed with it (because I’ve been around mostly evolutionary-believing folks since I can remember) but it was frustrating to admit that I was doing the ‘of course it exists….no we didn’t COME from apes…of course it rational!!’ Instead of coming up with the right arguments ( ie. apes share common ancestors as proven by our DNA similarity, facial structure), I felt I was just angrily standing my ground but not being able to really prove myself right. It was really frustrating. But, as my lazy self, I didn’t rush out and find the nearest bookstore and delve into Darwin’s Origin of the Species. I just let it go…as we do with these things.
Then, this morning, a link on Facebook asking me to join a group called ’ We can find 1,000,000 people who DO believe in Evolution before June’. That was it, I felt like if I’m going to argue for something that I myself am unclear about (not that I don’t believe it, but that I don’t have facts to prop myself up with), I need to do more research. At least start by reading wikipedia. Ah how I love wikipedia!!! Interestingly, the best arguments I found were not on the wiki page, but on the FB opposing page…’1 million…blah blah…who DON’T believe in Evolution ….’ which was incidentally setup by the same guy. I say kudos to him for starting a conversation.
Anyway, so you’re asking, what have I learned? Well I’ve learned I need to find a great book on evolution, and one of creationism (just to be fair), so I can come to my own conclusions about the argument, and then be able to articulate it in an intelligent manner (none of this ‘cause I said so’ BS). AND that the arguments over the religious and political nature of evolution can go on FOREVER. I sincerely believe you can have ‘faith’ but also believe in evolution… I mean… like a friend said once- what about God creating evolution…how amazing would that be, and how complex? And WAY more interesting. Instead of BANG, uh here’s the world in 7 days. Deal with it y’all.
And then I wonder, will my friend ever do this? Muse about these arguments? Probably not. Which makes me all the more curious if other creationists do the same, they believe what they hear, and refuse to learn more about it. Of course, it’s easier that way right? I mean who has the time to read, and you know learn, and you know, expand your mind…
(I DO I DO!!)
Oh and by the way… here’s the wiki site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species
