Culturally, as human species we have a long history of religious and spiritual beliefs to explain how we have come to be and the “meaning of life”. This stems from the early Paleolithic era where the human species did not have access to scientific methods, however they were evolving into a more sophisticated species and searching for answers to life and death. During this time period, the first belief in an afterlife began to formulate and basic religious rituals elevating animals and nature to the status of gods became an answer to unexplained phenomena in nature and life after death. These spiritual beliefs have continued to evolve and have branched into the major religions becoming a fundamental part of being human. If you look closely, all religious texts have some similarities... which one is the truth? Is Science the truth? People reject science because it is difficult to accept the newer theories which may contradict the fundamental spiritual beliefs and core values imbedded within our species.
Also, as Religious beliefs have evolved, many holy texts warn against the “false prophets” of science and other beliefs. These warnings cause many people to disregard scientific theory prior to understanding the process behind it. These arguments are often supported by the intelligent design concept, which essentially states that humans and other living beings are so intricate that there must be a mastermind behind the design. However, as evidenced in the essay by Kenneth Miller (see link below), this concept breaks down because the process of natural selection within evolution does indeed explain the intricacies of life. Although these arguments have a firm foundation, religion and spirituality are based upon faith, and when a person cannot explain their beliefs they resort to this notion, disregarding all other evidence that may prove otherwise.
The theory of evolution is a threat to religion. Spirituality and religion give a person meaning in this life; with modern scientific advances I believe people are afraid that their beliefs will be falsified, and when a person puts their entire faith into a God, they may lose their identity and have a tremendous sense of loss as their faith breaks down. From personal experience, I know this to be one factor in the opposition to evolution. Although the video “Why is evolution controversial anyway?” vaguely describes a convergence between evolution and religion, it does not explain how evolution fits into creationism. Many Christians do not adopt evolution into their belief system.
It is difficult for me to believe we come from creatures who are incapable of advanced logic and intellect, although one could argue it is the process of natural selection that has given our species such a high form of rational thought and behavior. But how does evolution explain the human soul, the very basis of our personalities and our moral code, especially regarding the uniqueness of human sexual behavior (see footnote)? From my studies I have found that it simply doesn’t.
Footnotes and Links:
Uniqueness of human sexual behavior: There are many distinct sexual factors that place humans in a completely separate category than all other animals. For example, humans have sexual intercourse at any time of the year, including humans who are infertile. Furthermore humans are generally monogamous and frequently co-parent (Diamond, 1997). As rational, intellectual creatures humans have the means to control fertility and stop pregnancy. And lastly, sex is a private act and is used for pleasure more frequently than it is used for the purpose of reproducing. The combination of these factors places humans above all other animals and does not follow the theory of natural selection in which survival of the fittest would dictate we have sex to reproduce only, and perhaps with multiple partners to increase reproductive success.
Essay: 'Life's Grand Design' (copy and paste into browser to view)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/change/grand/index.html
Video: 'Why is evolution controversial anyway?'
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/11/2/e_s_7.html
Video: 'Isn't evolution just a theory?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/11/2/e_s_1.html
SEXUALITY
I wrote this essay for a human sexuality class last semester. We had two significant guest speakers, one was a homosexual minister, another was a transgendered woman who had undergone a sex change operation (she was born as a male)
As the daughter of a minister, and a missionary minister nonetheless, I admit I was raised in a very biased environment. I was homeschooled and sent to private Christian schools for most of my education. It wasn’t until I was 15 years old that I finally attended a public school. My parents, my friends, and my entire social environment consisted of a very sheltered community where topics such as sexual orientation were forbidden. In the private institutions I attended, topics such as evolution, sex, and the “forbidden sins” (premarital sex, homosexuality) where either omitted from the curriculum, or completely chastised. Everything I learned about sexuality I learned in public high school. To this day most Christians are very prejudiced against the homosexual/bisexual/trans community. It is their belief that these individuals are poisonous to society and it is best to shun them. Being raised in the Christian community I also had a degree of prejudice and bias as a child. I still struggle with these issues. However, my biases towards the gay community have been replaced with a deep inner struggle with mychildhood faith. This is not a happy place for me, Religion has played such a role in my life, and now I find that I disagree with most of the doctrine. Hearing Rev. Kron speak initiated an outpouring of pent-up anxieties precipitated by the disconnection between my childhood faith and current beliefs. I find it extremely difficult to understand how a minister can also identify as homosexual when it is my understanding that the Bible has a firm stance on the “sins if homosexuality.” Furthermore I feel that many people chose to omit portions of the Bible or their faith which are inconvenient to their current lifestyle; I was dwelling on this throughout most of the lecture as presented by Rev. Kron.
Overall I will state that I struggle immensely with the subject of sexual orientation. However, I have found that hearing from transgendered individuals like Jennifer and forming relationships within the gay community, I have become increasingly comfortable with these individuals. I am entirely intrigued by their personas. I always believed they were just “sinners”; now I find they have hearts as immense and passionate as mine, if not more so. Jennifer spoke about being a young boy at the age of five knowing he was supposed to be a girl, feeling like a girl and wishing to be a girl. If there is a scientific basis to gender orientation perhaps this can help to unlock the mysteries and prejudices about sexual identity.
Once again, the readings and the lectures have neither reinforced nor discarded my beliefs. I believe this is because each issue we have touched upon; evolution, gender issues, equality, sexuality, etc. are very uncomfortable for me, and until I am forced to analyze them I generally repress my opinions towards these issues telling myself that …”I will figure it out someday”. For example, obviously as stated earlier I was raised in a strict home. According to my parents, evolution is absolutely a lie, gender is not to be tampered with, and God created heterosexuality for a reason. As I have become an adult I have struggled so much with my faith and these issues that I have just pushed them to the side. Thus, I will say that discussing these points has been extremely useful in helping me to break down my inner biases and begin formulating my own beliefs. I suppose as a 28 year old, I am behind the general population in discovering my feelings and beliefs towards these issues; however exploring them has certainly been an interesting experience
'what does science say about homosexuality?'
http://www.inqueery.com/html/science_and_homosexuality.html
Citation: Levay, S., Baldwin, J., Baldwin, J., (2009) Discovering Human Sexuality MA: Sinauer Associates
SUMMARY
These are only a few of the topics that have brought me to this point. I have addressed the following topics:
Evolution vs. Religion?
Religion vs. Homosexuality and Gender?
And now, to bring it all together, how does homosexuality fit into Evolution? It doesn't because it defies natural selection... interesting how these topics are all linked.
