Someone recently asked me, "Why is it so IMPORTANT to you that people believe in evolution?"

I had to think about it a bit, because it's not really a matter of belief. But, I do have an answer for him.
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There's a difference between believing something that there is no evidence for, and refusing to accept facts there are plenty of evidence for.

Faith is not the same as deliberate ignorance. The fact of evolution does not preclude a belief in God.

As an example, suppose you believe that the arrangement of the metal rails of a train track are just right to provide positive chi vibrations. So, you might believe that standing between the rails will fill you with these vibrations.

Ok, there's no evidence of that, but there's nothing to contradict it, so I won't argue with you. I will, however caution you to watch for trains while you get your vibes.

If you then respond that you "don't believe in trains" because you believe the rails were placed there by Aliens, I'll have to argue with you.

I will point out that there is plenty of evidence that the rails were laid by Humans. I will tell you about trains that carry freight across the country. I will warn you that there is a train that runs every Tuesday at 10 am. You might come up with complicated arguments about cover ups or conspiracies, but the rather solid evidence of a train will come and smash you flat on Tuesday morning, no matter how much you "don't believe" in it.

This is how you look to me when you tell me you "don't believe" in evolution.

In order to not accept the fact of evolution, you have to ignore biology, physics, chemistry, and many other sciences. It's not just fossils. All the complicated arguments you tell me confirm your disbelief are not only unsupported by evidence, they are contradicted by it.

The complex set of deductions and observations that are known collectively as "evolution" are facts. Not because some authority or ancient text said so, but because they pass the tests Science demands. They are reproducible, predictable and testable.

Maybe you won't get hit by a train for rejecting all this data. But, the habit of not accepting reality can only lead to eventual disaster.

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To a Creationist, or Bible Literalist

I am not an Atheist.  I just think God is a helluva lot bigger than you do.

I believe that something that might be called "God" is the author of a universe potentially infinite, and billions of years old.

A universe so amazingly beyond our ability to completely understand that we are still learning new things about our little corner of it.

You think one Book describes Everything?  I think that thousands of books just barely start to describe Everything.

I also believe this Godness doesn't care one way or another about Faith or the lack thereof. We are not in a position to harm it in any way.

All that can happen if we retreat into your cramped cave of small faith is that we will make ourselves miserable, and miss out on being part of the grandeur.


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