From: Howard J. Van Till <hvantill@novagate.com>
>Richard Wein commented:
>
>> I would say that any rational, well-informed person, whether atheist *or*
>> theist, has no choice but to believe in evolution.
>
>I think we agree here, but I would word it differently. I would say that
any
>rational and well-informed person, whether atheist or theist, should find
>the scientific concept of evolutionary development to be empirically
>warranted and a highly credible theme of the formational history of the
>universe.
>
>He also went on to assert:
>
>> Most atheists
>> become atheists as a result (in part) of accepting evolution; not
>> the other way around.
>
>I sincerely doubt this, but I'm willing to learn something. From what
>responsible survey does this claim come? Where and when were the results
>published?
The first part of my sentence was, I freely admit, an assumption based on my
own personal experience. I find it hard to imagine being an intellectually
fulfilled atheist without an explanation of the origin of complexity in
life, and I crave intellectual fulfillment. I may be mistaken in assuming a
similar craving among other atheists.
But I would be extremely surprised to discover that the last part of my
sentence was wrong. I sincerely doubt that most atheists accept evolution
*because* of their atheism. The fact that both theists and atheists accept
evolution suggests that the reasons for this acceptance are usually not
theological.
Richard Wein (Tich)
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