Slight Dilemma

My Mum accepts that "scientists" believe that evolution is the way it worked and understands the basics of evolution in that organisms appear to "adapt" to their environments.
But then a few weeks back (over a few beers), I got the killer question - "If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?", which illustrated to me that she doesn't actually understand the theory as much as she understands that it's scientific fact.

I imagine this is the primary reason why you'll find opposition to evolutionary theory. Exactly like Lisbon, people don't understand it, never read it, therefore don't accept it.

I did leaving cert biology and I have to admit that I didn't properly understand the concept up to a couple of years ago. Evolution make biology easier because it provides a tie through which you can compare and understand the biologies of different creatures. Yet most books are page or two covering the history of evolution and the familiar diagram of a cell changing into a fish, to a monkey and then a man.

I can imagine that anyone who finished school before 1990 probably had nothing but the briefest introduction to the concept (if they were taught at all).

I'd really only offer her more information if she asked for it.

I would personally leave her alone on it if it was my mother.

Do not get me wrong, I do not subscribe to the “She is old, leave her with her comfortable fantasy” line of argument you might get from some people. I have more respect for older people than to wrap them in cotton wool and tip toe around them in case I hurt their feelings. They have seen and done more than I ever have, they are not delicate bits of china, they can handle the truth. They can probably handle what life throws at them better than I myself can given the experience and wisdom they have to draw on.

However, the line of argument I would use is that it simply does not matter. Personal faith kept personal is A-OK with me and I have never been out to convert people just for the sake of making them think like me. People can believe what they want I simply do not care.

Religion for me is fine until it is used as part of a discourse on another topic. Telling science what it can or can not research, attempting to influence what we teach our children in schools, commenting on the morality of certain sexual alignments, dictating morality and ethics, setting government policy… whatever it may be if “god” is used to influence these things then by all means question and combat the person saying it and point out that if they want to use “god” in their arguments then the onus is on them to establish this entity actually exists.

But a person of personal faith… why bother unless they personally express interest in your input... or their faith, or in this case scientific ignorance, is somehow negatively impacting on their lives?

Her ignorance of evolutionary concepts impacts or affects no one. It simply does not matter. Meanwhile there are people like our very own Minister of Science who go around attempting to launch anti-evolution books and what a Science minister thinks about science actually DOES have impact on people.

Beruthiel wrote: »

So, went to visit my parents at the weekend.
I'm sitting in the kitchen with my mother and daughter and we brushed on life after death (I tend to try and not discuss religion or life after death with her, don't want to burst her bubble at her age, 72) anyway this time she asked me straight out so I answered honestly that there isn't one and moved swiftly on to asking her if she believed in Evolution and Darwinism.
Apparently she doesn't. She doesn't believe we came from monkeys.
My daughter tells me the look of shock on my face was hilarious. She was further amused by the fact I was speechless.

So here's my dilemma, do I give her some books on evolution? Is it even my place to do so?
My daughter thinks it would be the same as her giving me a book on religion.
But this is an accepted, scientific theory, not a made up story, so I'm not sure I agree.
So, do I leave the woman in her comfortable cocoon, or give her a book that explains evolution simply?
I'm not sure she would read something as detailed as The Selfish Gene for instance, are there simpler ones?

Am between two minds on this one.

I dont see the problem. Giving her a book is not the same as forcing her to read it, and its not as if evolution being true would in of itself contradict the idea of an afterlife.
I'm not sure what book though, I haven't read any (all I know about evoluiton has been garnered here on boards or from sites like wikipedia or youtube). I cant remember if "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by deals a lot with evolution, its a great scientific book, though, and real easy to read.

If Attenborough is her cup of tea then the short series 'Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life' would probably be ideal. It was on last year around Darwin's anniversary - not on the BBC player anymore but no doubt it's obtainable somewhere. Other than that I'd keep stressing that evolution is not incompatible with catholicism and leave her to it!

seamus wrote: »

I got the killer question - "If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?"

That is, it makes you want to kill yourself.

strobe wrote: »

Can only speak for myself but I'd just leave it. I'm sure she knows where the library is if she wants to read up on evolution, it might seem a bit preachy if were to actually buy her a book and tell her to read it, ye know.

Common Sense!! I've just fell off my chair.

redfacedbear wrote: »

If Attenborough is her cup of tea then the short series 'Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life' would probably be ideal. It was on last year around Darwin's anniversary - not on the BBC player anymore but no doubt it's obtainable somewhere. Other than that I'd keep stressing that evolution is not incompatible with catholicism and leave her to it!

+1 on this.

Attenborough's 'Life on Earth' series is a pretty good one too.

She's 72. I thought the answer was pretty damn obvious for God's sake.





Infect her with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and then ask her if she wants the antibiotics they have evolved resistance to or if she wants the newer ones that still work.

Tick tock moma.