Charles Darwin believed in a Creator?

[rabbitearbandicoot]

I have just finished reading Origin of The Species. As far as I can see there is nothing that Darwin says that denies a Creator - in fact his last sentence enforces Creation. I agree with his ideas on natural selection etc and that original creation did not involve the thousands of species that we now have.

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone circling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved. 

** NB depending on the definition of 'few'. 

[k0llectable5]

We've discussed evolution many times but never ever talked about whether Darwin himself believed in a creator which is what OP was asking. 

We have becuase it's an absolutely fascinating topic dont you agree?

When you say the bible were not literal days what exactly do you mean? Do you mean it's just a made up story?

It's a story given to man by God.

Toy with the idea that he exists outside of time and space as we know it, not as some bearded guy sitting up in a cloud looking down and smiting hellfire and brimstone upon innocent people but as an entity that can oversee his creation and all that dwell within.  So assuming he exists then so did all the people that are mentioned in the scriptures of all the monotheistic religions ie; Jesus, Moses, Muhammad, Judas, Abraham ect Most Christians would believe that Jesus sits at the right hand of God in the heavens (which is not the place in the sky that people ascend up the stairs to the pearly gates, once they have died)but in this "grey" zone that exists outside of human time and space that is so often referred to as the heavens.  

One animal can bare another is not evolution. Unless people actually understood it no wonder they don't believe it. 

Of course it's not but just by you saying "no wonder they dont believe it" It that implying that you do "believe" it? Or do you know, without a shadow of a doubt, like with 100% certainty (as in absolutely) know that men and apes descended from a common ancestor and that this ancestor was a product of some type of evolutionary process that slowly over millions of years adapted, mutated, and developed into the free thinking humans of today?  (Today being the last few thousdand years)

[this-one-time-at-bandcamp]

Or do you know, without a shadow of a doubt, like with 100% certainty (as in absolutely) know that men and apes descended from a common ancestor and that this ancestor was a product of some type of evolutionary process that slowly over millions of years adapted, mutated, and developed into the free thinking humans of today?  (Today being the last few thousdand years)

I have as much certaintly that took place as you do of some nebulous being who exists in limbo..........

[k0llectable5]

Exactly so that compels me to make this statement.  Evolution is just as much a "belief" as it is a scientific theory.  Neither God nor evolution can be proven without a shadow of a doubt.  

[rabbitearbandicoot]

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@this-one-time-at-bandcamp wrote:

You asked: How do you explain the virtually identical skeletal structures of birds and dinosaur species?
Why wouldn't there be similarities? After all, Same designer.

Then how do you explain the utter difference with hominids and marsupials?  Why wouldn't the same designer design them all the same?

No, not common knowledge more like common theory - see my response to your question re skeletal similarities.

It's much more than skeletal similarities.........organ placement, brains, and dna similarities give credence to the evolution of man, much more than some work of fiction that proposes all men are descended from a mated pair.

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You wrote: "Then how do you explain the utter difference with hominids and marsupials? Why wouldn't the same designer design them all the same?"

Variety? That designer started off with simplistic organisms and, over millions of years progressed to more and more complicated organisms - which is shown in the fossil records and laid out in the Creation record . It's pretty simple really.

You wrote about:" organ placement, brains" and much more of the intracies - so, you would rather believe that the multitude of complex, interacting and dependant nerves, blood vessels, skeletal system, etc and the most complex of all eyes and brain. Yes, the brain that controls every movement every emotion every one of the marvellous parts of a human body - ALL HAPPENED BY ACCIDENT??? OK, everyone to their own I suppose.

"descended from a mated pair." - using DNA it has been proven that the current population can be traced back to a common ancestor.

But, I am not here to dscuss all of that AGAIN!  I opened this thread to tell those with whom I have had discussions in the past, and who dared me to read about Darwin's Theory of Evolution - that I had indeed read it and it has changed NOTHING about my beliefs.

[this-one-time-at-bandcamp]

"descended from a mated pair." - using DNA it has been proven that the current population can be traced back to a common ancestor.

Who lived some 5000 years ago, and lived nowhere near the Middle East.....Now, when they can show through DNA, that all mankind is decended for a "mated pair"..........then I'll sit up and take notice...

[2106greencat]

Hi rabbit, good to see you on the boards again,

this Q not aimed at anyone, but, speaking of creation and evolution etc, anyone out there that can answer the age old question......

What came first, the chicken or the egg ?

just wonderin' 

[rabbitearbandicoot]

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@this-one-time-at-bandcamp wrote:

"descended from a mated pair." - using DNA it has been proven that the current population can be traced back to a common ancestor.

Who lived some 5000 years ago, and lived nowhere near the Middle East.....Now, when they can show through DNA, that all mankind is decended for a "mated pair"..........then I'll sit up and take notice...

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5,000 years ago? Make that 6,000 years ago  and I'll sit up and take notice. 

[rabbitearbandicoot]

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@2106greencat wrote:

Hi rabbit, good to see you on the boards again,

this Q not aimed at anyone, but, speaking of creation and evolution etc, anyone out there that can answer the age old question......

What came first, the chicken or the egg ?

just wonderin' 

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That's an easy one, the Chicken of course - well, actually the Chicken AND The Rooster.

Of course, it would probably/ definately NOT have been any of the breeds we know today. Using the in-terminology, the progenitors of modern day chicken. Yes, you read it here!  The domesticated chicken you see today has evolved from the original chicken who is now extinct. Evolved that is, not from a horse  and not from a dog, and not from a lizard but from something in the bird line.

[this-one-time-at-bandcamp]

Evolved that is, not from a horse  and not from a dog, and not from a lizard but from something in the bird line.

Which evolved from the saurian line.......

[the_great_she_elephant]

she-ele - Forgive me dear, but that's an old one and, if you don't mind me saying is irrelivant. There is no gender in the Spiritual realm. The fact that God is referred to as 'He' is a term of reference only unless, of course you use 'It' which would be a trifle disrespectful, don't you think.

Why would calling the creative force It be disrespectful? Does the God you believe in have human sensibilities which can be hurt or offended by the use of language?

In the bible God is not only referred to as He but also as Father and Lord. Not only that, I was taught in school that the one and only Godactually  consists of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit and all three of them are portrayed as male entities with human emotions  (including anger, jealousy and vengefulness.

 for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me (Exodus 20:5)

"Vengeance is mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

How does that relate in any way to a primal creative force existing outside time and space?