Thursday, Sept. 04, 2003

descent with modification

Sometimes it feels like a revolutionary act to be sitting in this class learning and discussing a topic which is banned in several states. And strategically avoided by many more.

And the more I learn the more I don't understand why?

It doesn't seem all that revolutionary to me. Its pretty obvious that whales have hip bones and bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and fossils, um, exist. Evolution really isn't that incompatible with religion. I suppose it is if you take the Bible literally, and maybe its insensitive to tell them to just open their minds . . . but seriously, if anything, studying evolution makes me more spiritual. It's like watching God's work unfold. Seeing how beautiful and complex and amazing the world is and how perfectly some organisms fit into their environment and how diverse and strange and wonderful the earth is at once completely baffles me and yet fills me with reverence and awe. And I think that is beautiful. To have a sensation like that. It's the most spiritual thing one (or at least I) can experience. It almost convinces this agnostic that perhaps there is someone, or something, behind all this beauty after all . . .