Socrates- The belief in a god creates the supposition that humans were created in the image of that god and thus are the summit of the destiny of this planet. It then becomes possible to excuse the greater and stupider excesses of humanity as being literally their god-given right to stuff up the world. Some even believe that god will rescue them on December the (I think) 21st 2012 by coming again and being nice to them because they said their prayers.
This handy way out is not available to people who give credence to evolution as a possible explanation for the existence of humanity. They do not BELIEVE in Evolution. It just so happens that at the moment evolution provides the starting point for an observable, and possibly in some areas, proveable theory for the reason for the starting point of life on this earth.
And just who said evolution only improves. Maybe we are evolving downwards----oh no! STOP! can't do that!---it's that pesky made in the image of god thing again!!!
Ah yes, belief does influence one's outlook.
Evolution does not have anything to do with a starting point for life. Surprised you would say it. Science has not proven abiogenesis yet, but it will have nothing to do with evolution.
And how is it that you think you can tell religious people what they believe without really understanding it?
Made in God's image is nothing about our physical bodies. It is about our moral sense, our desire to create, the ability to truly love and buck the requirements of our selfish genes. It is a biblical responsibility to use the earth's resources wisely cos we will be called to account for our actions. We are also expected to use our God given minds to understand the universe and improve things (that accounts for the amount of religious scientists).
What you say has no basis and is a logical extrapolation often made by atheists without really understanding the checks and balances in religion. To talk about anyone believing and a GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO STUFF UP THE WORLD is preposterous.
In fact if you believe solely in evolution then you know you will never be called to account for your actions. So although you have tried to twist it around the other way and blame the religious for wrecking the planet, the evidence doesn't stand up. Its funny that kicking the crap out of religion is the one area that rational, scientifically minded people feel they don't need to have any objective facts or evidence to draw their conclusions. Dawkins is a prime example.
As for 2012: we're told 'no man knows the day or the hour' and even so we have been told how we should conduct ourselves and it is not in conflict with the planet's interests.
When will people stop swallowing all of the rubbish that anti-theists propagate about religion and actually look at what the four billion religious people do (and not focus on the extremes of fundamentalism)?
