Posted by Rune on May 21, 1999 at 11:28:00:
In Reply to: question for those interested in evolution posted by Trixie on May 20, 1999 at 21:36:00:
I have wondered about this as well, and like you I'm no expert. I sometimes wonder if "awe" say at looking at the beauty of nature or the "miracle" of a new born (I'm at a loss for a good example) is a result of cultural consciousness (for lack of a better explanation). For example, when the early Spanish explorers traveled about the new world they only saw the expanse, mountains, prairies, etc. only in economic terms, such as good pastures, enough water, timber for structures etc. Can you imagine (as a modern person) looking at a completely undisturbed American landscape? We would be in "awe" for aesthetic reasons, not economic. I wonder how much awe we put into our children's heads when we say, "look at that fantstic sunset!" I realize someone had to think of these things first, and undoubtedly many people appreciated beauty around them, but real appreciation for nature, at least, came when places became over populated, and animals, and resources began to disappear. Likewise, the Spanish explorers didn't appreciate or find "awe" in the religious cycles of the Native Americans. This appreciation began only in the early 1900's. My comments are really questions because I don't know. How much of our humaness is due to evolution, take sorrow for example. How did sorrow help us to survive as a species? Or are these emotions "riders" connected to other essential elements? What parts are cultural? I don't know. Good question. Maybe its time to learn about our brains!
: I have been reading articles on talksorigin.org and haven't found anything that addresses this one issue that has been bothering me lately. I haven't seen this particular topic on the archives here, either, but if I missed it and y'all don't want to hash it out again, point me there.
: I have debated (using the term loosely, I am certainly not well versed enough in science, despite my laymen's interest in it, to debate expertly) whether or not there is anything in this world that can only be explained by a supernatural being on my divorce group bulletin board. (well, the supernatural being is not on my divorce group BB, the debate is - it's too late for clear sentence structure, forgive me) It's been a wonderful conversation because we have all been very respectful, for the most part, of one another's beliefs. There is a genuine desire for understanding on our parts. I hope to be able to achieve some of that respect, here, too, because I am sincerely stumped by this one issue, and want to TALK instead of BASH.
: I have always believed in evolution, even as a mormon. However, as a mormon, I believed that god instilled a "spirit" from the pre-existence into the beings that were evolving when they were "ready" to be adam and eve. (mental gymnastics at its finest, I was always good at that, yet, honestly, I can see how believers could be comfortable with evolution, nonetheless) However, since leaving the church I have been generally agnostic, (or atheist, depending on the definition), and have viewed evolution as a natural event without any sort of supernatural orchestration.
: However, a catholic friend in my divorce group finally asked a question I couldn't answer, and still can't. I took his original question, pondered it at length, read some more, thought some more, and here is the core question it has boiled down to, for me.
: The way I view evolution is that all our characteristics and behaviors have some sort of explanation in the fact that we evolved in order to perpetuate the species, like other animals.
: What purpose could there be, in the perpetuation of the species, for man to feel awe? Or to love deeply - not in the sexual way in which we mate, which has an obvious purpose, evolutionarily speaking - but in a more altruistic sense?
: I may not be explaining this clearly, because it's late and I'm tired, but I hope you get the general gist of my question. How does what we term the "spiritual" side of humanity fit into evolution? I'm not talking about using religion to explain natural phenomenon confusing to early man, I'm talking about something within us that seems to "reach out" in some way.
: I hope you all, on both sides of this debate, understand my sincerity. I am not here to display my great knowledge about science, or god, or anything like that, cuz I don't particularly have any. I have no agenda that I am emotionally or intellectually tied to justifying. I just want to understand. I want to hear you. Share with me.