Evolution and Nursing

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 24, 2014

aspiringnurse1122 said:
I believe in both. Couldn't God have created evolution?

It is possible; and there's nothing wrong with that!

Goat_Boy · May 4, 2014

edmia said:
Your post reminded me of a Science Friday interview on NPR just last week. A scientist wrote a book about this very topic we are debating and his position is that science cannot prove that G-d is not real. He has some very interesting thoughts on the subject that will please both camps. He put in words my thoughts and it was great to listen to him speak.
I cannot say that I firmly believe in 1 G-d (despite my cultural/faith driven Judaism). I also cannot believe that all the amazing things that occurred in the universe to make our worlds what they are happened without some sort of greater consciousness or energy or whatever. No way! Some people choose to call this unexplainable amazingness G-d -- and that's fine.
Quote from the NPR story so you can look it up and listen to the interview: "In his new book Why Science Does Not Disprove God, science writer Amir Aczel chronicles the New Atheist movement, taking aim at scientists like Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss who attempt to use biology and physics to disprove the existence of God. Aczel argues that their scientific arguments are flawed, and those who say God and science cannot possibly coexist 'distort both the process of science and its value.'"

That's interesting but still you cannot prove the existence of God so what's the point of even believing. There may be there may not be. I'm agnostic so I'm on the fence but I'm likely to stay this way because I'm skeptical of pretty much everything. I like science because things can be proven and measured. You can't measure faith so logically it just doesn't appeal to me. Science can't prove if God exists but it also can't prove if god doesn't. Therefore everyone should be agnostic. And religion is just terrible.

HERE COMES THE SWARM OF RELIGIOUS FOLK

BrandonLPN, LPN · May 4, 2014

The creationist group tend to drastically misinterpret the scientific admission that the existence (or non-existence) of God is unverifiable either way. Just as they tend to misinterpret the word "theory".

One of the most vital and fundamental rules of the scientific thought process is that there is no such thing as "scientific proofs". Every aspect of science works from the principal that EVERY law or theory or whatever can one day be proven wrong depending on new evidence. Absolute certainty does not and cannot exist in scientific thought.

Creationists are absolutely correct when they say evolution is "just a theory" and "not proven". What they neglect to mention (or, more likely, fail to grasp) is that EVERYTHING in science is NEVER proven and never will be. This doesn't mean that scientists don't know what they're talking about. Or that gravity or thermodynamics or evolution are likely to be proven wrong anytime soon, or ever. It just means that nothing is final.

Atheism is actually remarkably unscientific. I cannot scientifically say that the Judeo-Christian God does not exist. I can also not scientifically say that there aren't a bunch of elves living in my closet who somehow disappear each time someone opens it. Exact same principal, and both are equally unprovable.

BigGoose62 · Jul 20, 2014

There is plenty of evidence for evolution, but none for creation. I'm always baffled at the lack of skepticism in the nursing community, especially considering the amount of scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills we are supposed to possess. Not that I'm trying to attack anyone. I'm just answering for myself.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2014

Good day:

Genesis explains it all for me in terms of creation. Every science class I've had to date just reaffirms my faith.

Thank you.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Dec 15, 2014

Interesting thread!

I'd have to echo some of the others here who are wondering what the connection would be between nursing and any religious belief (or non-belief) system. Knowing whether my colleagues believe in creationism, evolution, or Veggie Pizzas as probably the world's most PERFECT food is entirely irrelevant, IMHO. Except that Veggie Pizza really IS irrefutable proof that G-d loves me, LOL

Seriously, though, while this topic has no relevance to nursing, I can still offer an answer of sorts to the OP's question: I believe that the scientific evidence of evolution is clear, and I have no doubt it has occured---and, in fact, CONTINUES to occur.

I don't have any problems relating such scientific evidence to what I read in the Torah, as I do not take every single word as a literal translation but rather as metaphors applicable (or inapplicable) to society as IT evolves.

Never really have understood why there must be such a divide between the idea that G-d created life, and that life has changed since that time.

toomuchbaloney · Dec 15, 2014

My faith in God has almost nothing to do with my career/profession as a nurse, it does help me to be patient and forgiving and tolerant of people who would otherwise annoy the hair right off of my head.

My faith in God does not interfere with my understanding and accepting the concept of evolution. There is no modern calendar associated with the occurances outlined in Genesis. There are no images of what "ADAM" looked like, only that he was made in God's image. I understand that to be the spiritual image of God with freedom of choice, ability to discern, love, hate, forgive, etc.

I am prepared to accept evolution as the mechanism which got us from "The Beginning" to modern day earth. There is much that the Bible doesn't and has no need to explain, it is a book about faith and spiritual growth. I am looking forward to the time that a bit of evidence emerges which once and for all demonstrates macroevolution...an unequivocal "missing link" taking ape to man or dolphin to dog (or similar).

Similarly, I am prepared to accept the notions of advanced alien races living amongst the stars. I can live with the notion that my God might have tried His hand at this creation thing before he got around to this particular "design".

Bottom line, faith and science are not mutually exclusive unless the person cannot walk with humiliity in his/her faith or his/her knowledge of the sciences. More is unknown than is actually truly known about the origins of life, IMHO. I am not offended by others who find my faith silly or attempt to ridicule it, nor do I feel compelled to try to change their mind(s). We all have the ability to chose for ourselves. I choose a life of faith in a benevolent God with an immortal spirit residing within me. I guess any questions I have will be answered when I die.

Until then I will attempt to look at people and have compassion, to not be easily offended, to turn the other cheek, to pray for those who consider themselves my enemy, to seek justice and kindness, and to walk humbly in the spirit of the Christ. Why? Because that makes me a nicer and happier person.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 18, 2014

ixchel said:
The Smithsonian has a beautiful display up (well, as of last summer they did) discussing evolution. I always was curious to learn the explanation of how the first living cell came to be. I've always been on the side of evolution, even during that Christian phase I went through in high school (I don't say that to be rude - genuinely, I had a year when I was a complete Jesus freak and then I realized it just wasn't right for me). The one thing, though, was that I never did understand how that first cell came to be, and I craved that knowledge but didn't understand science quite enough to grasp the concept. Flash forward to last summer, 3 years in on my degree and after multiple science courses. I couldn't get enough of their evolution display at the Smithsonian.
I think it is so beautifully simple. As atoms joined to make molecules, our atmosphere and the sun pushed these molecules to eventually join each other to create chains. Eventually these chains became complex enough to be proteins and sugars. Then those proteins and sugars became nucleic acids. At that point, the sun and atmosphere didn't have to drive these molecules to be made. They made themselves, and gradually became even more complex. Evolution meant that the chains that survived the atmospheric changes started to replicate themselves and protect themselves with more complex structures, so that the first cells would be built.
So perfect. I'm dazzled by it. Absolutely in awe by the simplicity of the explanation, and yet for it to happen, it's not simple at all, is it? That took so incredibly long to happen. Now we have this perfect ecosystem in which we are interdependent. Oxygen, water, sugars, bacteria, proteins... Because it all developed together, it is all needed to survive, grow, and evolve further. The thing that bothers me is that because humans have evolved to the point that now we modify our environment to suit our comforts and needs, we have halted our own evolution. What does this mean for the long-term survivability of our species, as our planet continues to evolve and we don't? I don't know, but I hope we figure it out.
GrumpyRN, I've agreed with much of what you have posted. The only thing I disagree with is the ability to interpret the bible as one feels right. We've had centuries to socially evolve past slavery, genocide, and women being lesser than men. The book was written at a time when these things were acceptable, and because of that, some things need to be put into their historical context (and, frankly, left back in history where they belong). I think this is fairly important overall, because if the ideas of oppression that do exist in the bible don't get put aside, the oppression will continue.

And the burning question we all have...where did that first atom come from?

Alesium · Feb 19, 2015

It happened as it happened and there's nothing someone or some thing can say that will change that.

I never worry about it.

ixchel · Feb 20, 2015

This is in response to Lev (whose screen name has a character that makes it so he/she can't be quoted):

Doctor Who went back in time and sneezed while peeking out of the tardis.

CamillusRN, BSN · Feb 23, 2015

TheFowldogg said:
I just want to see how people feel about evolution on the nursing community. This is no way bashing thread. I just want to see if any people choose not to believe in evolution and be in nursing

Is it just me, or am I the only one who fails to see how the question of evolution vs creationism is relevant to one's choice of profession or standard of care? The debate between the two schools of thought will never be settled until time ceases to exist. Meanwhile, in the here-and-now, I will continue to Keep Calm and Nurse On. ?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

idbartel said:
Is it just me, or am I the only one who fails to see how the question of evolution vs creationism is relevant to one's choice of profession or standard of care? The debate between the two schools of thought will never be settled until time ceases to exist. Meanwhile, in the here-and-now, I will continue to Keep Calm and Nurse On. ?

No. Many here have voiced the same thing throughout this thread.