Can someone enlighten me??

[AsahinaKimi]

I just posted a news article under the Science section, about how a new species of Sauropod (Dinosaur) had been found by a team of paleontologists in Utah. The paleontologists come from
BYU in Utah, which I believe is a University run by the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.



They mentioned how the teeth showed that this particular species had EVOLVED from an earlier type of Sauropod.

Now.. I am not sure of the Mormon faith, but considering how some people in Religious circles believed Dinosaurs walked with man, 6000 years ago.. (Which may or may not be what the Mormons believe), still.. They talked about .. EVOLUTION.

Don't they believe in Creationism or Intelligent Design? I thought EVOLUTION was a bad word..to the
"true believers". How do they include Evolution into their paleontology studies at BYU?


Here is the story link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100223/ap_on_re_us/us_dino...

[Arctic Dave]

1. Not sure how they view evolution. Good catch though. n/t

[SmileyRose]

2. The Mormon church has no stand either way.

But the basic belief of most people I know in that Church is that God created our spirits and set up the basic laws of the physical world. To a Latter Day Saint, it is very easy for science and faith to walk hand in hand.

[AsahinaKimi]

3. Wow thats refeshing

Its too bad that some other faiths are not so inclusive.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Oh, they try to have it both ways.

Smith and Brigham-Young were Creationists. Many of the current leaders are Creationists. The official doctrine is that man was created in Gods image.

But they're trying to run BYU as a real, accredited, even world class institution. So they've got real science going on there.

[GoCubsGo]

5. I know several Mormons who are biologists.

A couple of them are faculty at BYU. They all consider Evolution to be a real biological process.

Thanks for the link to the story, BTW. Cool stuff!

[Rhiannon12866]

6. Here's the story from the BYU website...

The skulls are on display at BYU's Museum of Paleontology :shrug:

New dinosaur discovered head-first, for a change
http://news.byu.edu/archive10-feb-abydosaurus.aspx

[Kitty Herder]

7. Belief in evolution differs from Mormon to Mormon.

BYU teaches evolution in its Biology classes. Most educated Mormons of my acquaintance accept the theory of evolution.

That said, I've run into die hard creationist Mormons. I've even argued with a bishop about the subject.

[AsahinaKimi]

8. and yet surely

They must have Proof of Evolution, and some of these Creationists refuse to believe it..thats whats so astounding to me.. Their own studies show it.

Reminds me of the story about the farmer who goes to the Zoo for the first time and sees a Giraffe and says "Nope, that can't be real."

[Kitty Herder]

10. I think it all depends on how they resolve their cognitive dissonance.

When faced with a contradiction between science and scripture, some choose to cease believing the scripture to be literally true, and some choose not to believe in science. I find that it is the least educated ones who choose not to believe in science. I'm sure it's easier to reject it when you don't understand it.

[AsahinaKimi]

11. Thanks

It gives me hope that not all people are totally influenced by religious dogma to just ignore what comes from scientific methodology. I am sure there are some out there, wanting to find ways to prove that evolution is just wrong.. and ignore the facts. Thats sad.

Also, I have always been a huge "fan" of Dinosaurs.. I bet being a Paleontologist must be incredible. I probably could have gone that way, in my Education but chose Asian studies instead.

[Cleita]

9. I always thought that BYU was held in good standing with educators from other universities.

I went to Catholic college and our theology and philosophy classes were quite separate from our science classes. I had two semesters of zoology and was definitely taught Darwinism and evolution. In Old Testament class we got the Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden story. There was never a conflict and I remember one nun saying that since the Bible was so old and written so long ago that many of the pieces are missing so we should accept the latest scientific evidence on evolution and man descending from apes as the best evidence until new evidence comes up to change that. We also used scientific method in all our science classes. I guess past snafus by the Church, like the Gallileo incident made them step out of scientific speculation altogether, except when it comes to abortion and women's rights, although my zoology teacher, a nun knew the difference between a clump of cells and a baby and she said so.

[Mind_your_head]

12. I think we had the same 'nun' as a teacher ("sister" is the correct term, though) n/t

[Cleita]

13. Sister is the correct term as in Sister Teresa when you address them, however

I believe it is correct to refer to a religious person as nun, monk or priest when you are referring to them in the third person.

[Mind_your_head]

14. I was always taught (Catholic school for 16 years) ...and 'then some'

"Nun" refers to a woman who has dedicated her life to the church who lives in a cloister.

"Sister" refers to a woman who has dedicated her life to the church who is more involved in outreach...teaching, nursing, administrative duties, etc.

[Cleita]

15. Hmm. I was taught that cloistered nuns were that, teaching nuns were that and

nursing nuns were that. Maybe it differs in different orders. Or maybe this was the new version after they threw off the habits. Before that all the religious women were semi-cloistered and wore the robes and veils that covered everything but their faces. They didn't go out at all unless accompanied by another sister and they always lived in a convent. Since I left the church before all the changes I do understand that they started living in apartments and even holding down jobs. I made the mistake of swearing in front of a couple of plainly dressed women in a waiting room when I banged my toe. One of them said she would pray for me and I thought, Oh shit, I cursed in front of a nun so I asked if they were and sure enough they were nuns or maybe sisters now that they were emancipated, so I guess we are both right. I do have a problem with the new church. A friend of mine dragged me to mass once after I hadn't been there for thirty years and I was surprised by all the Kumbaya hugging at one point.

[Mind_your_head]

16. Hmmm.....I don't even know where to begin with all of the issues that you present

in your post.

I guess it's best to go back to purity of thought and purity of intention.....purity of definition.

Peace and 'truth-of-thought' are my genuine best wishes to all genuine DU'ers.

M_Y_H