Do you believe in human evolution?

I don't believe in Evolution, because to say that you "believe in" something makes it sound quasi-religious, and Evolution is just a scientific theory that is no different from any other. I do think that it is a theory that has some considerable credibility, but I also recognise that it is far from being perfect. If the human race should ever reach a better understanding of how humans and the various other species came to be, it could be different in some significant regards from the current understanding of Evolution.

It's important to recognise that our current understanding does not, and is not intended to explain everything about the origins of life on this planet. Some aspects of Evolutionary theory have been proved by observation, other aspects may remain a perpetual mystery. Speciation and natural selection are phenomena which have been observed in the wild, to a certain extent, but we may only infer those developments which have not been demonstrated by the fossil record.

I choose to regard the creation story, as told in the book of Genesis as an allegory. If there is an almighty God, who created the universe, and created everything on Earth, then why should this notion be incompatible with any scientific theories about the natural world?

The world exists as we have observed it to exist. If it was created by God, then this is how He created it. It's really very simple, and very elegant. Even if you believe the Holy Bible to be the flawless word of God, that does not imply that it must be a literal account of events, simply that it represents that which God wished it to represent.

Perhaps God assumes that his followers will be smart enough to comprehend metaphor and allegory.

To all of those who insist that "Intelligent Design" is a more appropriate idea about the creation of life on Earth, I have a question. Is the world as envisioned by science not a genuinely "Intelligent Design", in your opinion? If the Chrisitians are right, and God did create all living things, then the natural world as described by scientific theory is how He created it.

What exactly is incompatible with Christianity now?

I have but one final point to make. There is not (or should not be) any such thing as a "Darwinist" or "Darwinism". Science is not formed around a cult of personality, and it should not be a belief system. What can sometimes be perceived as such is people such as Richard Dawkins who are attempting to use science to push their own personal agenda. They are misguided in the extreme, for it is each man's choice to place his faith in such things as he wishes.

Those such as Richard Dawkins ignore a crucial point. Religion is not meant to be proved. It is a matter of faith, and not of fact. It is pointless to attempt to prove a religion false, since the most important parts of it are intangible in any case.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by JackyBoy

Faith by its very definition is belief in spite of evidence. There is nothing you can say to change my mind. This is the thinking which dominates religions.

No.

Belief in the absence of evidence.

It's not the same thing.

There's nowhere I can't reach.