Originally posted by robbie carrobie
abiogenesis is NOT evolution
it amounts to the same thing though in spiritual terms, a purely materialistic view of the emergence and diversification of life.
"it amounts to the same thing though in spiritual terms"
This little phrase says it all. If they redefine things in order to be right, and get a point in heaven, they can very well do so. But (1) it isn't honest, and (2) it doesn't make it truer.
I have introduced the concept of "religious truths", meaning that what is correct in science doesn't need to be correct in spiritual terms. If they want to think that evolution, big bang, abiogenesis, and whatever, is the same thing, they are religiously correct. As long as they acknowledge this themselves. If not, they are simply wrong.
This thinking, that something can be true even if it is not scientific true, is called "double truth" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_truth), and resembles my concept of "religiously true".
See especially this passage about "Views in other Christian sects":
"Other Christian sects, especially Fundamentalists, go to the other extreme, and urge their followers to reject any science that conflicts with the literal interpretation of scripture. In their view, real scientific evidence always supports the Bible, and scientists only hold beliefs contrary to the Bible because of evidence, and because scientists desire to find a reason instead of God, in order to continue their sinful life styles."
Robbie, if you want to be scientifically correct, then you have to differ evolution and abiogenesis from eachother. Spiritually, you can invent whatever you like, but in real life, there is a difference.