I once had a rather illuminating conversation with a creationist about evolution. Personally, I tend to think that both views, creation and evolution, have a role to play. Their view points, after all, have survived generations of intelligent, rational people. But this creationist's view was steadfast, and hinged on a rather comic pivot. This is what he told me:
"I don't believe in evolution. You know why? Because I have never seen a monkey turn into a human being! The whole idea is absurd!"
For a moment, I was speechless. But later, thinking about it, several questions arose: Just how much do our presumptions hinder our perseptions? Scientists insist that paranormal occurences are just but evidence of incomplete knowledge by the humans. They insist that given time, every last mystery in existence will end. And when that happens, religion will become meaningless. Whether this will happen remains to be seen. But in the mean time, inexplicable phenomena abound: telekinesis, forebodings, telepathy, seances, levitations... to name a few. Yet, strangely enough, few of these events ever tilt the balance between creationists and evolutionists.
Is it that we choose to ignore that which contradicts our paradigms at such a basal level? And if so, are our paradigms working for us, or against us? Are they helping maintain our sanity, or are they hindering knowledge acquisition?
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