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− | The '''origins debate''' is the age-old conflict of ideas about how the [[Earth]] was formed and [[life]] came into being.
| + | #redirect[[Evolution and creation#Origins debate]] |
− | It also concerns the timing and process whereby the various kinds of [[animals]] and [[plants]] came into being, and
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− | how human beings appeared on the [[Earth]].
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− | ==Major views==
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− | Most people throughout [[history]] have ascribed origins to a [[first cause]] - [[God]] or various [[gods]]. Materialist views, i.e. that our creation happened due to natural circumstances, have also been put forth in this debate, some as early as [[ancient Greece]].
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− | [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]] posit that "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." ([[Genesis]] 1:1) Then He created plants ([[Genesis]] 1:11-13), animals ([[Genesis]] 1:20-23), and finally people (Genesis 1:26-27). Other major religions have similar creation stories.
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− | [[Materialism|Materialistic]] views are many and various.
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− | The prevailing contemporary view in the natural [[science|sciences]] (i.e., [[astronomy]], [[geology]] and [[biology]]) among those who hold to a materialist [[worldview]] is that the [[Big Bang]] theory explains cosmic origins and the [[Theory of Evolution]] (in this case necessarily including [[abiogenesis]]) explains the emergence of plants, animals and people.
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− | [[Teleology|Teleological]] views of origins recognize purpose and therefore design in nature and are not in general in conflict with [[science]]; rather they are in conflict with any [[worldview]] that posits that no references to a creator, purpose, or design is necessary.
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− | There is considerable debate over whether there is any viable middle ground between the materialist views and the [[creationism|creatio hold to a onist]] views. Some would hold, though, that a viable middle position could be found if both sides recognized how miraculous any theory of creation is, whether it is perfect conditions for development or a Prime Mover such as God.
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− | A 2001 Gallup poll showed that 37% of Americans believed that human beings "evolved" in a process guided by God, 45% believed God created human beings in roughly their present form, and 12% believed a process of natural selection over millions of years developed humans completely independent of God. <ref>[http://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/current/creation/evol-poll.htm] </ref>
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− | <!-- If anyone can find a more recent poll, that would be good. This data is 7 years old. -->
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− | ==Notes==
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− | <references/>
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− | [[Category:Origins Debate]]
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