Evolution of the Mind
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I recently watched the show Curiosity: Did God Create the Universe on TLC. For me, it was fascinating and I found myself questioning humans even more than I ever have in regards to the evolution of the mind. It made me think about how incredibly important it is for humans to continue to question everything around them.
For those of you who don't believe in evolution, would you at least believe that humans have evolved intellectually throughout time? Would you at least believe that as time moves forward, people become more intelligent as they become more technologically advanced? If you don't believe that, please stop reading now.
Throughout History
Around 300 BC Greek Astronomer Aristarchus theorized that the earth was not the center of the universe as everyone during his time had believed and that the earth orbits the sun. He suggested that stars were other suns like ours, just very far away. Many, many years later, Galileo expanded this theory that the earth orbited the sun and became known as "the father of science."
Vikings used to think that solar eclipses were caused by a god named Skoll. When the eclipses occurred, the vikings would yell into the sky to scare the eclipse away. They believed that their yelling actually made the Sun reappear. Now, obviously, we know today through scientific evolution that this was not the case.
People used to think the earth was flat. Well, I think it's safe to say that we could all agree that the earth is not flat and if we were to sail to the edges of the ocean, we wouldn't fall off and die.
These are just a few examples of how humans have evolved intellectually through time. Would you agree? Does that seem like a fair statement?
Religion
When it comes to religion, (mainly Christianity) why is it that intellectual evolution seems non-existent? Why is everything "etched" in stone and unquestionable? To me, this defeats the very purpose of humans becoming intellectually more advanced as time moves forward. Why doesn't religion encourage an intellectual thought process? This is a concept that has always troubled me.
I am not necessarily suggesting that religion doesn't allow people to question. I am suggesting that when someone does question a religious belief or doctrine, that person is encouraged to only look within the context of the Bible to find the answer. Essentially, the Bible overrides any other outside explanations, especially science. That is very troubling to me. How can anyone advance intellectually within the context of a book written during ancient times?
Why Are We Correct?
Isn't it a bit egotistical for anyone living today to think that their particular belief system is correct? Today, most of us laugh at what ancient people believed to be true. Today, most of us think that we are the intelligent ones. Whether you believe in God, whether you believe in Buddha, whether you believe in nothing at all, don't you realize that one day we will be the ancient ones who are being laughed at?
This is why it is imperative that humans never stop questioning and never stop trying to learn about the universe we live in. We must never engage ourselves with organizations that encourage us not to question or not to think. We must continue to evolve intellectually or we will be doing a disservice to ourselves and to future generations.
I am not asking you to believe what I believe in. I am only asking you to look at yourself in the context of our gigantic universe. We are only one small speck on a landscape of enormous proportions. I am asking you to think beyond what you have already been taught.
I am asking you to set aside your ego for a moment and tell yourself that you may not be right. It's ok. I really would like a productive discussion based on what I wrote above from people who hold varying beliefs.
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I believe in Evolution and in the fact that human intelligence has been growing upon itself exponentially. I do not believe in any one religion or God but I do have the feeling that there is some force out there unknown to us that had something to do with getting this whole Universe rolling and growing. It is entirely on us to grow it and make it better. Unfortunately we also do a lot to destroy it. Great Hub CoolDad.
Some very good points, all around. I look forward to seeing what discussion comes from this.
"This is why it is imperative that humans never stop questioning and never stop trying to learn about the universe we live in. We must never engage ourselves with organizations that encourage us not to question or not to think."
I believe this whole-heartedly. I've even expressed this to you on another post, I forget where. The moment you stop questioning is the moment you stop growing. Intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, everything. While, yes, I do believe in the God of the Bible, I do so because everything thus far in my life from my collected knowledge to my personal observations and experiences has led me to accept this belief as the most intellectually satisfying, reasonable, and correct choice. I was taught faith growing up, but I went through hell in my time of doubt only to come out the other side believing it all the stronger.
So, while we do still differ on our fundamental beliefs, I agree with the main theme of this hub. Be able to defend your beliefs. And never stop testing them.
@joek: that's an interesting comment, what exactly do you mean?
@hschneider: i also believe in evolution and i believe in the big bang, I appreciate your comments, thanks
@emichael: thanks as always for commenting respectfully, I do appreciate it. I always respect your opinions. There are too many people in our world who stopped questioning life and the universe we live in. I think maybe that's why Keeping Up With the Kardashians is a hit.
Hah...I think you're exactly right. I used to think I didn't have cable because I was trying to be smart with my money. But I think really it is my mind subconsciously trying to protect itself. Self-preservation kind of situation.
Maybe this is off subject, but why do you think so many people are so content to go through life never working through these fundamental questions? Surely we can't blame it ALL on the Kardashians. Or maybe we can...
I didn't notice that show advertised or I would have watched it. I believe in evolution. What I find ironic is that God is supposed to be omnipresent and capable of everything. Yet some creationists are threatened by the thought of evolution. I chave even seen a book advertisted on television that is a children's book explaining how dinasaurs fit into this creationism. If God is all knowing and capable of everything, isn't God capable of setting up the process of evolution to advance?
I think there is no reason why both beliefs cannot be true, just misunderstood on how they interact.
Some people I know are just as confused about their religious beliefs as I am. Others are sure they are correct. The latter group tend to be adament when anyone asks them questions they cannot answer. Yet they tend to be comparitively more able to deal with tragedy than someone like me. A friend of mine whose son died in a tractor accident is sure that he is with Jesus in Paradise and that God wanted him with Jesus. She is still devestated, but her faith is strong. Everythin gthat happens is God's will. And who am I to suggest she is wrong?
My Great aunt Ruby had a wonderful saying:
"I believe in the truth-whatever that is."
@emichael: I think it has a lot to do with evolution in general. Most humans, especially Americans, have evolved to a point where basic survival isn't troublesome anymore. Making fire and cooking food aren't obstacles like they used to be. We have more time to entertain ourselves with less important, but potentially addictive things, like watching reality television. We have become lazy. It's easy to sit on the couch and drool over someone you will never be. Our drive for "wants" has taken over our drive for "needs." Who cares about thinking and asking important questions when you can go home and watch the Bachelor? More than ever, most people live in the present and can't understand that their individual lives aren't as important as they think in the global landscape.
@Flora: thanks for your comment, I appreciate it. You make a good point. I would think it would be easy for those who believe in God to just say, "God created evolution." But, i think they are held back because the Bible doesn't mention anything about evolution (at least I don't think so).
Intellect: the ability to reason, or understand, or to perceive relationships, differences. etc.
Through science, we've gained greater ability to master more tools which provides us with knowledge based in trial and error. For example, we understand our location in the solor system better, but do we understand our place in it. To understand our place we must understand our relationship(connection) to all that is. So your first question, (. . . would you at least believe that humans have evolved intellectually throughout time?)may not be such an obvious answer.
Are we less superstitious than our ancestors, or are we only fearfull of different things? Pure intellect is without fear because it operates on reason. Fear is based in emotion. Only when we overcome our fears of that which we percieve as "different" from that which we percieve as "us," will we truly have evolved on an intellectual level.
Setting all that aside, I do agree we are a more capable species than ever. For better or worse.
At the heart of your other questions of course is the debate between science,(which requires no faith to substantiate its exsistance) and faith(which requires no science to substantiate its exsistance.)
The advantage pure science has, is that it's based in questioning whatever belief is considered truth.
Pure faith, as I understand it, is based in not questioning whatever belief is considered truth.
I feel, what's most important, is to understand what both these forces require of us and what we are capable of creating when either are applied with indifference to our humanity as a whole.
One of the things humans have is a huge fear of CHANGE. I don't get it, but it's true.
Neal Patterson of Cerner Corporation is a leader devoted to change. Every quarter, he totally changes his corporate structure whether it needs it or not. This creates a great deal of turmoil as you can imagine. But it does force people to deal with change in their lives. It eliminates the fear of change for a lot of people. I loved working there, but many people don't.
I still see this fear of change in my current job. People are "set in their ways", "that's the way we've always done it", or my personal favorite - "we always used to do it this way at my other job".
Imagine people having to learn a new religion every quarter! Imagine people having to change their opinions in light of new discoveries! Imagine people having to learn to use a computer! Imagine people coping with constant change! Oh, it's just too much for our puny brains.
Sometimes it's as if science has become the object of worship. Why can't people just objectively view and ponder?Why do some have to worship certain things? Good hub.
I believe in both creation and evolution.Life cannot evolve if that life doesn't exist first.
We likely don't have the cpmplete story of creation in the bible due to human interference through re-writing of the bible by various individuals or groups in history.
Bsfore the printing press was wide spread no one but religous leaders had actual copies of the bible and it was written in latin and could not be read by most people anyway.In fact the churches were outraged at the thought that anyone would be able to read the bible on their own.I remmember growing up in the 1950's when I went to Catholic church.The mass was done in latin instead of English.We had the gospels in book form but we were not encouraged to read the bible much less the new testament.Both of which were readily available if anyone wanted to buy one.But as a child I never saw a bible.In fact I didn't read the old testament until I found out that we had a family bible.The old testament.I remember it being full of semi comprehensable text that usually was about war.I do remember the words - "In the beginning their was God and the void." God created the firmiment -(universe) It,was devoid of life.Suns had yet to come into existance until God said - "Let there be light"
I also recall the words - " and the word was God"
We may never know the whole truth about existance or God - for that matter.
We all know there is life on Earth at least.
It's my belief that life exists almost everywhere.in the universe.
How life came about in the beginning is likely to remain a mystery to some degree for all of us.
Simplistic answers such as "Spontanious creation" is still a mysterious speculation by us.
The Idea that certain conditions must exist for life to exist is true.However ,as I understand it ,life can exist under multiple environments.Differing tempertures,air and water pressures as well as Carbon and Silicone based life forms.
I've heard that God created the universe with musical notes in mind..
Our knowledge level is said to be based on the musical scale also.
There are supposed to be Eight levels of knowledge coinciding with the where the amount of knowledge on each level is a square of the previous level of knowledge.
The more we know the more understanding we obtain on a non linear scale.This is a well known mathimatical construct.In fact it's like the growth process in all living things.
Interesting read. To paraphrase the thoughts of Dr Wilder-Smith, a triple doctorate former evolutionist who debated various leading scientists on the subject throughout the world (including Richard Dawkins at Oxford); in his opinion, "the evolution model did not fit as well with the established facts of science as did the Creation model of intelligent design."
But with that said, I believe if you transported a child from 10,000 years ago to our modern world, you would find no difference in their ability to learn, reason, or retain knowledge (they may even be more able). How is IQ measured? What someone knows, or what they have the potential to know? We live in an age of technological marvels, yet very, very few understand how they work. Of those that do, "IQ" has less to do with it then the fact that knowledge has been accumlated over the centuries; especially over the past two. If anything we have a cumulative IQ, or to quote Sir Isaac Newtown, "If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants."
@parrster: Do you believe that there is more evidence to support the "creation model of intelligent design" than there is for evolution? I haven't read anything by Dr Wilder-Smith, but I would be curious as to who he/she is paid by?
I never questioned a humans ability to learn. I wrote about the evolution of what we have learned throughout the ages. Obviously, we are a more informed society today than we were 10,000 years ago.
@someone who knows: thanks for commenting, I've never heard of God creating with musical notes in mind. Where does that come from? I'm curious.
@austinstar: thanks for commenting. You are correct, CHANGE is a huge problem with society. People rarely like to be informed that what they believe in may be flawed.
@bobbirant: because most people are incapable of formulating a coherent thought process, thanks for commenting
@TK: great comment. To me, Faith is an absolute joke and crutch by which people attempt to hold on to a shallow belief system
Do Absolute
Si All Galaxies
La All Suns
Sol Sun
Fa Planets
Mi Earth
Re Moon
I agree with many of your views cooldad, but I am a little curious as to why you feel so strongly against faith. I do feel it has it place and am pretty sure our society wouldn't have made it this far without it's application in times of extreme duress.
I see faith is not the real issue. If I'm going to jump out of an airplane, I can't do it without having faith that the chute will open when I pull the cord. It would be impossible for me to take the next step when I was at the door looking at the groud so far below. And I would probably poop my pants as well.
Yet, my faith in parachute packing, even though I didn't see it happen has to be strong.
I surmise,from this article, the friction you feel has more to do with the unwillingness of some to look at any other possibility. That's not a question of faith, that's purely a question of narrow-minded stupidity that hides behind faith. A wolf in sheeps clothing, as it were.
As a side-note, watch how those people are going to try and grab power over the United States two years from now.
If I vote for you, can I get a Cabinet post? Maybe Ambasador to Bali?
@TK: well, faith in a parachute opening is quite different than faith of there being a supreme being floating around the clouds. A parachute is tangible, you test it, you put it on your back and it's real. I become very bothered when faith is used in an attempt to explain what can't be proven. It kills me when talking with someone about the existence of god and all they can do is smile and say they have faith. That makes no sense to me. It disgusts me when people stop questioning and stop thinking logically, but sadly, that's how Christianity influences its followers to behave.
I already see it happening, I recently saw some politician orchestrate a gigantic "pray for America" rally. Nice.
Bali it is, you got it.
Praying for America might work if you have enough "faith". But having "faith" is never going to work or it would have already.
Hard work and skill are what makes the parachute open, not faith.
Haven't you heard "faith is - "be"-"living" in something when "COM-ON" sense tells you not to.
What is it that pushes people to try to do something that their "com-on" sense tells them is Impossible?
F-inding
A-n
I- nternal
T-ruth
H-unch
@Austinstar: praying for anything is a joke, unless of course someone is trying to "pray the gay" away, then it works (sarcasm)
@someonewhoknows: i haven't heard that, very funny, very clever. thanks for the link, i will check it out when have more time
Austinstar, In my parachute analogy, where the faith comes in, isn't with the chute, but with my fellow man that was the one that packed and inspected it. knowledge tells me, it dosen't always work. Yet, I still take the leap.
someonewhoknows, Nice way to break down F_A_I_T_H. I checked out the link as well although I din't have time to read through it all. Having studied some of Bailiey and Blavatsky,I found parts of it familiar.
cooldad, I understand the frustration, attempting to have a conversation with someone that only has faith. At that point, I just have to walk awy,knowing they will believe until their last breath, they're right, and that 72 virgins await them in the land of milk and honey. . . Oops, I just got confused as to which fundementalist group I was talking about. Strange the way they look so similar, huh.
And they don't ever see the fallacy of Faith. Faith is an OPINION! Faith can be an opinion based on skill and hard work and facts - OR - it can be opinion based on a group of ancient books that have deluded the masses for 2,000+ years.
Faith is a concept and an opinion. It has nothing to do with actual common sense. Being able to rationalize whether a parachute will open or not is based on observation (not faith).
Believing in an invisible deity is based on heresay and legends and superstitions, not faith.
Once again, just to make myself clear - Faith is an OPINION. You are, of course, entitled to it. But don't shove YOUR opinion in my face and pretend it is a valid opinion.
I get the Impression from some scientists that remind me of a blind person who will never"see".It's Impossible to try to explain to them something that they cannot see with their own eyes such as color.They can feel with their sense of touch,but Like three blind men who each are touching different parts of an Elephant each gives a different explaination of what they feel.The old saying - "seeing is believing" Or "I'm from wisconsin - the show me state".
I'm sure they ment - state of mind.
@someonewhodoesn'tknow - Scientists can "see" color very well. We can even measure it and quantitate it. How do you think specific colors can be mixed in a can of paint?
You are incorrect to compare scientists to the 3 blind men and the elephant. Scientists use many, many ways to "see" all parts of the elephant. Then they develop new ways to see the elephant again and again for reproducibility. They use physical attributes like height, weight, behavior, DNA analysis, blood tests, you name it.
It is the religionists who do not "see". They just ASSUME the bible is all they need and that there are "gods" to take care of things they do not see or understand. How many Christians have actually studied the bible? the Quran? the Popul Vu? or any of hundreds of other religious books?
Scientists have more or less disproved over and over again every "fact" in the bible, yet the religionists still insist on perpetuating those myths to their children, subverting even more minds.
Please stop repeating cliches and learn to think for yourself. It will be the most liberating thing you can ever do for yourself and others.
It,should be obvious that I'm not refering to all scientists.
In fact there are scientists who believe in a higher power.Of course they are not in the majority.
I was comparing a particular group of scientists who are paid to debunk anything that rocks the boat in mainstream science.Even when there is evidence that something is going on that should be investigated.
They do this because they get grant money for their research.Anything that threatens that is attacked for monitary reasons only.
Tesla was one such scientist who had Invented our present power generating system and yet he was marginalised by J.P. Morgan because he proposed a electrical generation system that could not be metered.One that would allow electricity to be transmitted through the air to recieving stations around the world.He even built an electric car that could run on electricity that was transmitted through an anntenna.
There are many such examples if anyone cares to look
Austinstar, Perhaps we're reading two different hub's, but I wasn't aware anyone was shoveing their opinion in your face. I was under the impression we were haveing a conversation. From your comments, I don't feel you get what I'm saying about the parachute. It sounds like you just play the odds, based only in science? I don't know, but if it was just for sport, the one percent chance of it not opening, might keep me from doing it. If all you had to go on was observation wouldn't survival instinct tip the scales towards not jumping?
Or do you not believe in instinct? How about intuition, gut feelings, a sixth sense? I can see instinct being scientifically acceptable as it's based in the past, not in the present. But, you've never made a decision that couln't be rationalized only by exsisting science? Interesting.
Please understand, I'm not an advocate of any set religion, though I do believe in some things that can't(as of yet) be seen by science. I'm just a little surprised your statements sound as fixed as those you oppose. I think, the inability to consider any other possibility is far more dangerous than any belief is in and of itself.
The way this thread is going is one of the biggest reasons why I admire people like you Cooldad-to post an articlethat is going to get even just one person making angry comments is just something I couldn't handle. As such, you won't see me posting hubs about political issues or religion much-actually try, not at all in terms of hubs though I might comment in the comments section.
Sorry, I was in a bad mood that day. Well, I am grumpy most days, actually. It's the damn relentless HEAT! 106 today and still no rain.
To live in Texas is to have faith that someday the rain will return and I can complain about floods again.
TK you are so right. Survival instincts dictate not being in a position to have to use a parachute at all! That's why I don't understand people jumping out of perfectly good, scientific based, well maintained airplanes. Which, if you think about it, why would anyone get on an airplane in the first place?
It's mostly people talking about faith based religion that pushes my buttons. Sorry about the digression. Shove some rain down this way and make an old lady happy.
@florabreenrobison: thanks for stopping by and commenting, I appreciate it. I enjoy lively debate and I enjoy observing how others debate in a public forum. There are times when I get frustrated with certain comments, but I've learned that it's pointless to get angry. I've come to the realization that there are many people who will always be closed minded regardless of the topic at hand.
I'm into the subject of - "Reverse speech" .Especially of political figures like Obama. I'm sending you a link to one comment Obama made concerning the truth The part where he says "all have.something to hide" has been amplified because he was speaking those particular words in a very low volume that was barely audible. The completed reverse of his comment as far as I can determine sounds like - "I've met muscle with beef that look for the people we do not want to be dead" I'm curious to know your reaction to this Reverse speech.
REVERSE SPEECH - OBAMA ON THE TRUTH.avi
@someonewhoknows: i checked out the link, is this serious? wasn't there a Beatles song that when played backwards said something about worshiping Satan?
Yes there is a beetles song that does say something to that effect.
In fact there are other beetles songs that do say much the same in reverse.If,you care to check them out on youtube.
This is real. I've recorded radio commercials and news reports where people are saying things in reverse .Some of it is not very clear.Sometimes they are talking too fast for the reverse to be understandable and sometimes their speech in is not understandable forward or reverse.
Austinstar, No harm, no foul, as far as I'm concerned. We all get grumpy sometimes and extreme climate conditions brings that out in me as well. I'd send some rain your way, but I've only just recently gotten some myself and still haveing trouble making a puddle. Even though I'm in the mid 80's, only a month to go before the word, 'snow' might be mentioned in our forecast.
I agree, when anyone stands behind a religious text and tells me that if something bad happens to me it's because I didn't have enough faith, it seems pretty shallow. Meanwhile they use the same text to justify making someone else suffer.
Have a good day
@someonewhoknows, regarding the reverse speech and the comment Obama made, what possible meaning could be gathered from that set of words?
-TK'S VIEW
That depends on the punctuation and there is none as you can plainly see.It could only be one of two possible meanings though.Your guess is as good as mine.
Well it's obviously some sort of conspiracy involving the POTUS and quite possibly a Hawaiian "beef" with someone O wants or does not want to be dead.
I know! It's that thing on Donald Trump's head that consumes beef at night and will not die. Or Governor Perry has too much muscle from eating beef and he wants to meet like minded politicians to kill Obama because it's so obviously Obama speaking in reverse.
Darn that right wing conspiracy that Hillary Clinton invented!
I really like your point that one day we'll be the ancient ones, and future generations will laugh at our beliefs. Its so sad today that so many countries still have religious beliefs that persecute others who do not follow their beliefs. The perfect blend is science mixed with faith of some kind. In the end, all that matters is whether you are a kind and giving person. It makes no difference what faith you believe in. Thanks for sharing this great hub!
Hey, carcro. Yes, all that matters is if you are a kind and giving person. Too bad not everyone shares your opinion. We might all get along better.
@carcro: thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate it. It sure seems like the world would be such a better place if everyone could just be kind to one another.
I'm currently reading the Usborne Book of World History to my 6 year old. She thinks a lot of what the ancients believed is crazy. I have to keep explaining to her that they didn't know any better because they didn't understand science and much of what we know now. After reading this hub, it occurred to me that there are still many people now who don't know better.
@learn things web: i will have to check that book out, it's funny that a 6 year-old child can grasp and understand this concept, yet so many "educated" people fail to get it. thanks for commenting
As I've thought more about this, it has occurred to me that there is a big difference between actual ignorance and willful ignorance, which is the problem in modern times.
I think all of the happenings, whether you want to look in one of the many bibles or in our past, all occurred through true ingenuity. The magic of religion seemed more present before it was documented and distributed - they didn't have a book to look through, rather only what they could draw from themselves or from God during the times of the stories we read.
Just a thought - cool post cooldad, I recently had a son and hope that I can be a cooldad as well, or a papa kine guy
I think everyone should read "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine. It frightens me that so many scientific discoveries are questioned by those who subscribe to scripture written thousands of years ago that has been translated, retranslated, and reinterpreted countless times. Does anyone wonder why this great Christian nation has such a horrendously low percentage of science majors in its colleges? A huge portion of these degrees are given out to foreign exchange students. The U.S. is also falling grossly behind in the pursuit of space discoveries and theoretical physics. Are we giving up on logic and reason in favor of more comfortable fairy tales?
Sadly, there actually still remains a group of "flat-earther" theorists who believe that we have been lied to and that the world is, in fact, flat. I swear I am not making this up. They think that the world is flat and moves down in a spiral pattern in space. Thereby, the water that flows off of the edges then lands on the planet in the form of rain. It pains me to hear that argument.
@LearnThings: very good point, thanks for commenting
@PaulPD: thanks for commenting, I appreciate it. The magic of religion is just that, magic and not real. You can easily be a cool dad, just make sure to always teach your kids to use their minds and question life.
@Jonesy: good points as always. Incredible, I would love to talk with a "flat-earther".
Maybe dogs or birds or cats or lemons communicate with some higher power. Maybe not. Even probably not wouldn't mean it wasn't true. We really don't know the perspective of any other living thing, so we can only talk about ourselves. Take a look at Charles Manson - although pretty strange it's still just another perspective nobody has any idea about.
I think, for a lot of people, even non-religion has become some sort of religion. The word has to be spread, your beliefs continue to evolve and grow stronger, you even write some of it out in your own scriptures or texts.
I personally don't really follow religion, and am pretty quick to start up a debate on the opposite end of religion, but I do think there is such a thing as being at peace with yourself or with your beliefs or faith or whatever you want to call it, and that's what we should all be trying to achieve.
It's impossible to make only calculated science decisions when it comes to life. Some people say faith guides them, others say they had a good feeling about it. I don't think anyone can honestly say they have only ever made decisions or done things based on calculations, there is always that one time you just go with something, and sometimes it works or opens a new path you were not aware of before.
Close enough to magic for me :)
@PaulPd0: I agree that everyone needs to try and find peace within themselves and their beliefs, that is important in life. I just hope that during that process, people will remain open minded and continue to question what happens around them.
joekreydt 9 months ago
i don't believe technological advancement is always a good thing whether it makes us smarter or not