Holly, I’m glad you do believe in evolution. I think that a lot of the activity in the bible is metaphor. I do understand fundamentalists taking the spoken words in the Bible literally, though. For myself, I believe some metaphor is intended there, too.
Your first quote gave the impression that “apes to human” was the main point of “the debate.” Given your second quote, I’m sure that’s not what you intended. I believe there are a number of debates ongoing; the “human to ape” one is a minor one aimed at the unread. I usually avoid religious debate because it’s a no-win situation. Our religious beliefs are too close to the core of our being to be debatable.
That being said, I do have one pet peeve. I have problems with a science fiction writer starting a religion probably just to prove to his peers how gullible people are. To paraphrase Lazarus Long, the main character of one of that writer’s most successful and respected peers, “If you really want to get rich, start a religion.” And, yes, I do believe Robert Heinlein was taking a potshot at L. Ron Hubbard.
