can religion and evoulution coexist?

Yes, mainstream religion (the vast majority) appears not to have a problem with science at all - although that wasn't always the case. They have basically had to be dragged, kicking and screaming into the 21st century, and there are a few denominations still lingering closer to the 19th century.

It's only the fundamentalist retards that have a problem with reality....Show more

Well, yes. :)

As a matter of fact, in my native country, (Norway), most of the people who identify as Christians, (there aren't really all that many of them, but they do still exist), ALSO accept evolution. I was a Christian myself for a short while, (about 1.5 years, from the age of 15 to late 16), and I still agreed with evolution. So did most of the people I went to church with, as far as I'm aware. I also have ONE friend who is a very extreme Christian, (sweet girl, and very accepting, but excessively committed to her religion), who is a creationist. But.. she's the only one I know, and definitely a major exception to the rule. :)

..That's just MY country and MY experience with it, though. I know this is generally not how things work over in the US. But.. It should still be possible for religious people to be creationists, yet not get offended by the very idea of evolution. And it should still be possible for non-religious people to accept that some people are indeed creationists. Although, I don't think it should be taught in science class. Teach evolution in science class, and creation stories in religion class. Because really, that's where they belong. :)...Show more

There are many, many Christians and people of other religions who accept the theory of evolution as being substantially accurate. It's not a problem, really. The only problem for Christians comes when we try to take the figurative and mystical/mythical stories in the Bible as literal history. I used to try to do that, and it's frankly silly. These stories were meant to convey truth, just as CS Lewis' fantasy fiction is meant to convey truth. They tell the truth far better by myth-making (to people who understand what that's all about) than they could by volumes and volumes of difficult-to-follow systematic theology....Show more

Actually they exist now, but I doubt whether they will ever agree in principle. There is no reason why both could not exist, but religion has gone through so many alterations and additional mystical theories, that the possibility or such an agreement is now beyond any possibility.
Evolution is about scientific fact, whereas religion relies on folk lore originally formulated for a primitive peasant society. How can factual knowledge ever get into bed with folk lore that places its knowledge on miracles, magic, and ancient beliefs that no one can in all honesty believe, or is even willing and openminded enough to discuss....Show more

Many who do not believe in the Bible embrace the theory that living things emerged from lifeless chemicals through unknown and mindless processes.

Supposedly, at some point a bacteria-like, self-replicating organism arose, gradually branching out into all the species that exist today. This would imply that ultimately the mind-bogglingly complex human actually evolved from bacteria.

The theory of evolution is also embraced by many who claim to accept the Bible as the word of God. They believe that God produced the first burst of life on earth but then simply monitored, and perhaps steered, the process of evolution. That, however, is not what the Bible says.

The Bible account of creation does not conflict with the scientific observation that variations occur within a kind

According to the Bible, Jehovah God created all the basic kinds of plant and animal life, as well as a perfect man and woman who were capable of self-awareness, love, wisdom, and justice.

The kinds of animals and plants created by God have obviously undergone changes and have produced variations within the kinds. In many cases, the resulting life-forms are remarkably different from one another.

The Bible account of creation does not conflict with the scientific observation that variations occur within a kind....Show more