Charles Darwin is, for some reason, a controversial character among evangelical protestants. His theories of Natural Selection essentially stated that species change over time. While that theory may arguably have been followed too far with the proposal of a Last Universal Common Ancestor, it's not all that controversial (or at least it shouldn't be) to say that things change.
Exhibit A in Darwin's time was a species of finch which he studied during his visit to the various islands of the Pacific where he made his analytic observations. The finches, he theorized, must have developed their unique beak shapes over the course of several centuries of breeding which favored birds with the ability to adequately feed on the various plants and insects which were on each island. While the animals that couldn't feed weren't necessarily doomed, the ones that could feed more effectively would inevitably become stronger, and a stronger mate is always more appealing than a weaker one.
Here's a drawing of the same species of finch as observed by Darwin on different islands:
Exhibit A in Darwin's time was a species of finch which he studied during his visit to the various islands of the Pacific where he made his analytic observations. The finches, he theorized, must have developed their unique beak shapes over the course of several centuries of breeding which favored birds with the ability to adequately feed on the various plants and insects which were on each island. While the animals that couldn't feed weren't necessarily doomed, the ones that could feed more effectively would inevitably become stronger, and a stronger mate is always more appealing than a weaker one.
Here's a drawing of the same species of finch as observed by Darwin on different islands:
While this may not be a smoking gun for the idea that we're all monkeys, it certainly lends credence to the idea that all species change. Even human height has gotten progressively taller over the centuries. The reason why most Christians fight this idea tooth and nail, frankly, is because they simply don't understand it (or they choose not to). At the very least, we need to be willing to entertain the idea that God, in his infinite wisdom, made his creatures adaptable.
I recently read an outstanding article by Relevant Magazine which essentially tries to highlight the needlessly-confrontational nature of many of our important discussions, especially when it comes to the world of politics.
Our country is in trouble. We're spiraling towards the drain economically and politically, and the previous generation is so deeply entrenched in the old ideas of left vs. right that they will probably almost literally cut off their own nose to spite their proverbial faces. The rancorous atmosphere in the political arena has gotten so toxic that several prominent researchers have warned us we can't keep going on our present course and still remain functional.
I've always considered myself to be a generally conservative person. While I hate the Republican party, I think their ideals are more in line with what our country needs, specifically in the department of individual responsibility. That being said, my ultra-Republican family members of the previous generation have tried more often and more strenuously than anyone I've ever met to tell me just how wrong I am for even mildly hinting that the people on the other end of the political spectrum might be right about some things. I guess nobody frustrates us as much as the ones we love.
Darwin's greatest gift to the world was the idea that death represents progress. While I'm not actively hoping that anyone will die (especially not the people I love), I do believe that only through death can new life spring forth. If that means that the old ways of doing politics need to be burned to the ground, then so be it. Political parties were never meant to be a part of our process of government, and Washington warned against them in his farewell speech after stepping down from the Presidency. Alexander Hamilton also wrote about their dangers in the Federalist Papers, and although he surmised they might eventually spring up, he was always hopeful that our Democratic system of government would prevent them from tyrannizing the wider population. After 239 years, I find it difficult to share his optimism.
I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when I joined the military. While it behooves me to support and maintain a government which pays me pretty handsomely for a young single guy, I am also something of an idealist. Just to be clear, I do not now, nor could I ever, advocate for the violent overthrow of the United States government. I do think though that the poisonous effect of partisanship and political division would be tremendously improved if we simply burned down any Republican or Democratic party office, and made our best attempt as a population to ban such parties from government.
The older generation is hopelessly dependent on the maintenance of what I believe is a dying political process. If we as a Nation are going to someday collapse, then I certainly don't want any part of it; which is why I believe that the people who are currently responsible for this chaotic mess of a system need to be ousted before they crash our government and economy into the ground (again). We can start next week by voting for people who are more concerned with cooperation than they are with toeing a party line.
We should also remember that our primary function as Christians is not to legislate our Christian ethics into everyone's lives. The only theocracy that was ever intended to exist is the one that will be founded by God when Jesus comes back to this earth. Our goal should never have been to Christianize our society through the ballot box, but rather to have open and honest conversations with people about their need for Jesus Christ.
I recently read an outstanding article by Relevant Magazine which essentially tries to highlight the needlessly-confrontational nature of many of our important discussions, especially when it comes to the world of politics.
Our country is in trouble. We're spiraling towards the drain economically and politically, and the previous generation is so deeply entrenched in the old ideas of left vs. right that they will probably almost literally cut off their own nose to spite their proverbial faces. The rancorous atmosphere in the political arena has gotten so toxic that several prominent researchers have warned us we can't keep going on our present course and still remain functional.
I've always considered myself to be a generally conservative person. While I hate the Republican party, I think their ideals are more in line with what our country needs, specifically in the department of individual responsibility. That being said, my ultra-Republican family members of the previous generation have tried more often and more strenuously than anyone I've ever met to tell me just how wrong I am for even mildly hinting that the people on the other end of the political spectrum might be right about some things. I guess nobody frustrates us as much as the ones we love.
Darwin's greatest gift to the world was the idea that death represents progress. While I'm not actively hoping that anyone will die (especially not the people I love), I do believe that only through death can new life spring forth. If that means that the old ways of doing politics need to be burned to the ground, then so be it. Political parties were never meant to be a part of our process of government, and Washington warned against them in his farewell speech after stepping down from the Presidency. Alexander Hamilton also wrote about their dangers in the Federalist Papers, and although he surmised they might eventually spring up, he was always hopeful that our Democratic system of government would prevent them from tyrannizing the wider population. After 239 years, I find it difficult to share his optimism.
I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when I joined the military. While it behooves me to support and maintain a government which pays me pretty handsomely for a young single guy, I am also something of an idealist. Just to be clear, I do not now, nor could I ever, advocate for the violent overthrow of the United States government. I do think though that the poisonous effect of partisanship and political division would be tremendously improved if we simply burned down any Republican or Democratic party office, and made our best attempt as a population to ban such parties from government.
The older generation is hopelessly dependent on the maintenance of what I believe is a dying political process. If we as a Nation are going to someday collapse, then I certainly don't want any part of it; which is why I believe that the people who are currently responsible for this chaotic mess of a system need to be ousted before they crash our government and economy into the ground (again). We can start next week by voting for people who are more concerned with cooperation than they are with toeing a party line.
We should also remember that our primary function as Christians is not to legislate our Christian ethics into everyone's lives. The only theocracy that was ever intended to exist is the one that will be founded by God when Jesus comes back to this earth. Our goal should never have been to Christianize our society through the ballot box, but rather to have open and honest conversations with people about their need for Jesus Christ.
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