Creation vs Evolution

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Originally posted by DamnCommie
Come now, you're misunderstanding this on purpose right? Mutations don't arise in response to environmental pressures.
Show us all where I said they do. I put the mutation first, then the selection. To imply otherwise is dishonest. Why can't you argue in good faith?
Originally posted by DamnCommie
Traits are selected for in response to environmental pressures. The mutations could have been present in the genome for millenia before any environmental change occured. The change just gives them a chance to shine.
I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall. O. K. I GET it. Yes, that is how evolution is supposed to work, FINE.
Originally posted by DamnCommie
There is lots allelic variation within a given population, most of it just doesn't seem to matter until an event happens to occur where all of a sudden it does.
And that doesn't strike you as convienent?
Originally posted by DamnCommie
Take eye color for a crazy example. An allelic variation cause by a a mutation in a pigmentation gene. No selection against it because it doesn't make any difference to survival or reproduction what color a persons eyes are. Now pretend some form of cosmic radiation caused by whatever starts blinding blue-eyed people because they don't have that pigment. The frequency of that allele will change, because all of a sudden brown eyes would provide a selective advantage. Nothing deliberate about it. See?
Yeah, and no need for a mutation either. Variation within a species, NOT evolution.

"Ever the poor marksman, you keep missing the target.":rolleyes:
 
Fred C Writes: "I wont dig in hardcore biology here. I wanted to say that I wont because it would not be useful to my point (what would be actually true), but the reason I wont is because I really do not understand it well enough."

Perhaps I could help you with the biology. It is very critical to determining the validity of Evolution.

Fred C Writes: "Anyway, I’ve seen arguing here in the lines that the notion of macro-evolution – new species spawning from others – is not a natural consequence of the undeniable micro-evolution (this one can be easily demonstrated, like in the antibiotics/bacteria example, and thus is harder to deny with sophism)."

What sophism? If you are going to make such charges against me, I do request that you be specific and substantiate such charges rather than simply imply that I resorted to sophism. Did you read what I wrote about the antibiotics causing bacteria to vary around a mean with no net evolution. The very proof of this is that the four oldest fossilized lifeforms are bacteria, and all four are extant with no evolutionary change over their alleged 3.5 Billion year existence on planet earth. lets try to keep this discussion civil.

I never argued from "Notions". I never claimed that "new species spawning from other species" is equivalent to "macro-evolution". That would be Goldschmidth's "Hopeful Monster" Theory. You must be referring to someone else's post. I have not read them all, in fact, only a few.

You seem to be saying that:
Micro-evolution + lots of time = Macro-evolution.

Yes, this what they teach in schools. It is Darwinian Evolution. And it is flat out wrong. I will address this gross error in follow up posts. I need several short posts to put this into proper scientific perspective.

Fred C writes: "For the most part, if I understood correctly, creationism back this claim by saying that, despite pressing conditions in the elements still exist until today, we do not see new species being spawned by the natural selection. All the changes we witness are minimal and deep within the animal’s previous genetic material."

Natural Selection never spawns genetic novelty, and therefore can not be the cause of Evolution. Only mutations or intelligent design by an intelligent designer are capable of changing the genetic code to produce novel morphological effects.

So, if new species spawn, why are they not spawning?

You must first define the word "species" for this question to be answered. Try as you might, there is no scientific definition for species, so speciation is a moot point.
 
You know what? Forget all of this nonsense. Just explain to us poor dumb Creationists where the intermediate fossils went.

Do that. Shut up otherwise until you do.
 
Fred C argues that micro-evolution + lots of time = Macroevolution. Does science support this idea?

No, it does not.

Chicago 1980!!!


In October 1980, 160 evolutionists representing both the neo-Darwinian view and punctuated equilibrium met in Chicago at the Field Museum of Natural History to discuss the mechanism by which evolution occurs and in particular, does micro-evolution plus time produce macro-evolution. Evolutionist Norman Macbeth (Newsweek, Nov. 3, 1980, p.95) stated:
"There were various kinds of scientists assembled there for three or four days to discuss the problems of macroevolution, and they got absolutely nowhere. The impression I got from two or three people who attended it is one of spectacular bankruptcy. They had no theory whatsoever to explain macroevolution. It is still in the condition it was in Goldschmidth's time with Gould and others now recognizing it. They have nothing to offer except the faint hope that in epigenesis they may someday find something."

Roger Lewin wrote in 'Science' ("Evolutionary Theory Under Fire",
Vol. 210, No. 4472, November 21, 1980):
"The central question of the Chicago conference was whether the mechanisms of microevolution (mutations and natural selection) could be extrapolated to explain the phenomenon of macroevolution. At the risk of doing violence to the positions of some people at the meeting, the answer can be given as a clear 'NO'!" ...

Lewin also writes about discussion on the fossil record:

"The fossils do not document a smooth transition from old morphologies to new ones. 'For millions of years, species remained unchanged in the fossil record' said Stephen Jay Gould, of Harvard, 'And they abruptly disappear, to be replaced by something that is then substantially different but clearly related..."

Skeptical voices (mostly biologists) were silenced by examples of
stasis by Anthony Hallam and Elizabeth Vrba.It was offered that
microevolution brought about only minor changes in species physical and other characteristics but that over time, this merely results in an oscillation about a mean. That the long term observation from the fossil record is that of stasis.

Lewin reports that the scientists mood swung in favor of accepting stasis as a real phenomenon. e.g. Cambridge geneticist Gabriel Dover felt strongly enough to call species stasis "The single most important feature of macro-evolution." And that in a generous admission, Francisco Ayala, a major figure in propounding the modern synthesis in the United States said "We would not have predicted stasis from population genetics, but I am now convinced from what the paleontologists say that SMALL CHANGES DO NOT ACCUMULATE." [Emphasis mine].

This is the second post that clearly documents that evolution can not be found in the fossil record. Contrary to what Darwin Believed, Evolution can not be accounted for by small imperceptible changes accumulating over millions of years thereby producing macro changes such as a group of fish evolving into amphibians. If this were so, the fossil record would have documented these transformations over long periods of geological time.
 
Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
You know what? Forget all of this nonsense. Just explain to us poor dumb Creationists where the intermediate fossils went.
Were trying to clarify your misconceptions in ToE

Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
Do that. Shut up otherwise until you do.
There are plenty of intermidiate fossils lsuch as Archaeopteryx, Part of a progression of animals that allowed birds to evolove from dinosaurs
 
Originally posted by DamnCommie


Come now, you're misunderstanding this on purpose right? Mutations don't arise in response to environmental pressures. Traits are selected for in response to environmental pressures. The mutations could have been present in the genome for millenia before any environmental change occured. The change just gives them a chance to shine.
There is lots allelic variation within a given population, most of it just doesn't seem to matter until an event happens to occur where all of a sudden it does.
Take eye color for a crazy example. An allelic variation cause by a a mutation in a pigmentation gene. No selection against it because it doesn't make any difference to survival or reproduction what color a persons eyes are. Now pretend some form of cosmic radiation caused by whatever starts blinding blue-eyed people because they don't have that pigment. The frequency of that allele will change, because all of a sudden brown eyes would provide a selective advantage. Nothing deliberate about it. See?

Yes! And this is creationism in action. Natural selection acting as a conserving force to preserve the species. NatSel operates on existing genetic information only, and the Creation model states that each type of Creature was endowed by the creator with lots of genetic information, all in perfect order intitially, with many alleles available for selection to preserve the 'species' through many environmental stresses and in many diffeent ecological niches.

The Evolution Model states that initially there was no genetic information and that the very first lifeform must have arisen from inert chemicals, and containing the first bits of genetic information. And that through innumeral mutations to the molecules in which the genetic information is stored, new novel beneficial morphological changes comtinously developed into the great diversity of creature that ever lived on this planet.

Unfortunately, the spontaneous generation of life from inert chemicals is impossible, scientifically speaking, and recent developments in our understanding of the complexity of the genetic code also implies that Evolution, from amoeba to man, is impossible. Evolution has become so far adrift from Hard Science that its continued acceptance and promotion can only be accounted for by social and philosophical considerations.

Dr. Guiseppe Sermonti, Professor of Genetics at the University of Peruvia, former director of the Genetics Institute of the University of Palermo, Senior Editor of the Biology Forum, and co-author and paleontologist Dr. R. Fondi (Dopo Darwin, 1980) stated that:
"The result we believe must be striven for can therefore only be the following: Biology will receive no advantage from following the teachings of Lamarck, Darwin, and the modern hyper-Darwinists; Indeed, it must as quickly as possible leave the narrow straits and blind alleys of the evolutionistic myths and resume its certain journey along the open and illuminated paths of tradition."
 
Perfection, have you read anything that Tyrus88 has posted? He's got evo-bios quoted as saying that the ToE is dead as a post. WAKEY WAKEY!!
 
Originally posted by Perfection
There are plenty of intermidiate fossils lsuch as Archaeopteryx, Part of a progression of animals that allowed birds to evolove from dinosaurs

Archaeopteryx is fully a bird, and the genetic gap between archaeopteryx and any known dinosaur is enormous. Furthermore, even evolutionary scientists agree that archaeopteryx is not ancestral to any modern birds. Archaeopteryx is not an intermediate.
 
Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
Perfection, have you read anything that Tyrus88 has posted? He's got evo-bios quoted as saying that the ToE is dead as a post. WAKEY WAKEY!!

LOL! No they do not say that. They simply can not defend Evolution scientifically. They defend evolution with a myriad of "Just-So" stories, the acceptance of which depends on the gullibility and naievite of their audience. As science it just does not wash.

Their ultimate reason for believing in Evolution is simply based on their humanistic materialistic worldview. Having rejected the existence of an Intelligent creator, they reason Evolution must be a fact, how else can all life be accounted for. In this sense, many evolutionists can severely criticize the alleged science other evolutionists offer as scientific evidence that demonstrates Evolution, while they remain evolutionists. They are simply realists willing to admit to where the science is really taking them (And it is not Evolution), and yet they still believe evolution is a fact because, how else could we have come into existence.

Scientists abandoning Evolution!!

"Scientists who utterly reject Evolution may be one of our fastest growing controversial minorities. ... Many scientists supporting this position hold impressive credentials in science." Science Digest: `Educators against Darwin', winter, 1979.

In a Newsweek article, 1985, "The great body of work by Charles Darwin is under increasing attack and not only by Creationists, but by all sorts of other scientists." In this same article, one evolutionist stated that "things have gotten so bad in the field of Evolution that I am thinking of moving into a field with more intellectual honesty, like being a used car salesman."

"Today, a hundred and twenty years after it was first promulgated, the Darwinian theory of evolution stands under attack as never before. There was a time. not too long ago when it seemed to the world at large that Evolution triumphed once and for all, and that the issue was henceforth closed. And yet, within the last two or three decades the debate about evolution has not only revived but is showing signs of heating up. Indeed, the question whether claims are justified is currently being discussed and argued, not just in fundamentalist circles, but also on occasion in research institutes, and in the prestigious halls of academia. The fact is that in recent times there has been increasing descent on the issue within academic and professional ranks, and that a growing number of of respectable scientists are defecting from the evolutionist camp. It is interesting, moreover, that most of these `experts' have abandoned Darwinism, not are the basis of religious faith or biblical persuasions, but strictly on scientific grounds, and in some instances, regretfully, as one could say."
J. Wolfgang Smith, Ph.D. Mathematics, MS Physics, 'Telhardism and the New Religion" 1988, Tan Books and Publishers Inc..

"I'm part of a fairly large scientific community in New Mexico, and a good number of these are creationists. Many don't actively belong to any creationists organization. Based on proportions and knowing the membership of the Creation Research Society, it's probably a conservative estimate that there are in the US alone around 10,000 practising scientists who are biblical creationists." Dr. Russel Humphreys, Ph.D. Physics, Physicist at prestigious Sandia National Laboratories, Alberquerque, New Mexico, In a 1993 interview with Dr. Carl Wieland. Creation Ex-Nihilo, Summer, 1993.


ON BIOLOGY:

"The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, And biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an unproved theory - is it then a science or a faith ? Belief in the theory of evolution is thus exactly parallel to a belief in special creation - both are concepts which believers know to be true but neither, up to the present, has been capable of proof." Evolutionist L. Harrison Matthews, FRS, Introduction to Darwins "The Origin of the Species", J.M. Dent & Sons LTD, London, 1971, p xi.

ON ABIOGENESIS (Evolution of life from non-living matter)

"More than 30 years of experimentation on the origin of life in the fields of chemical and molecular evolution have led to a better perception of the immensity of the problem of the origin of life on Earth rather than to it's solution. At present all discussions on principal theories and experiments in the field either end in a stalemate or in a confession of ignorance."
Klaus Dose, Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 1988, 13(4) 348.


On Darwinian evolution:

"The fact that a theory so vague, so insufficiently verifiable, and so
far from the criteria of HARD science has become dogma can only be
explained on sociological grounds." Biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy, as
quoted by Huston Smith, 'The Post Modern Mind' (New York, Crossroads,
1982) p. 173

On Macro-evolution (That all species share a common ancestry)

Professor J. Wolfgang Smith wrote:
"The salient fact is this: If by evolution we mean macroevolution (as we henceforth shall) then it can be said with utmost vigor that the doctrine is totally bereft of scientific sanction. Now, to be sure, given the multitude of extravagant claims about evolution promulgated by evolutionists with an air of scientific infallibility, this may indeed sound strange. And yet the fact remains that there is not a shred of bona fide scientific evidence in support of the thesis that macro evolutionary transformations have ever occurred. ...

"We are told dogmatically that evolution is an established fact; but we are never told who has established it, and by what means. We are told, often enough, that the doctrine is founded upon evidence, and that indeed this evidence 'is henceforward above all verification, as well as being immune from any subsequent contradiction by experience'; but we are left entirely in the dark on the crucial question wherein, precisely, this evidence consist." Professor J. Wolfgang Smith, Ph.D Mathematics, MS Physics, 'Teilhardism and the New Religion', 1988, Tan Books and Publishers. pp. 2,5,6.

ON Evolutionists and the Evidence they offer in support of evolution

" I probably will be chastised by them [his more cynical evolutionists colleagues] for writing this preface, as if in doing so I give aid and comfort to an enemy of true science. ... I do so because the book has virtue as criticism of evolutionary theory. It has virtue even though its criticism is loaded like the proverbial pair of dice. ... He [creationist W. R. Bird] rolls the dice with style. He rolls them over and over again with the same result. I may be too optimistic to expect my colleagues learn much if anything from Mr. Bird's effort. But there is something in his book for all of them...

"Mr. Bird is concerned with origins and the evidence relevant thereto. He is basically correct that the evidence, or proof, of origins- of the Universe, of life, of all major groups of life, of all the minor groups of life, indeed of all of the species- is weak or nonexistent when measured on an absolute scale, as it always was and will always be. He is correct also that what evidence there is, is sometimes, even often, exaggerated by evolutionists. Yes, they load their own dice, for they too, are human. They, too, play to the gallery, to the jury, to the judges. Were they entirely wise rather than adversarial, they would never have claimed to do the impossible: to have proved the correctness of their views by offering evidence of the origin of things. One might just as well attempt to prove stability by offering as evidence a pyramid balanced on its apex." Evolutionist, Gareth J. Nelson, Chairman and Curator, Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024. Preface to W.R, Bird's book, 'The Origin of Species Revisited' (1993).

Evolution as anti-Science:

In his November 5, 1981 address at the American Museum of Natural History, Evolutionist Dr. Colin Patterson, Curator of the British Museum of Natural History stated at the AMNH address the following with regard to macro-evolution:
"I feel that the effect of hypotheses of common ancestry in systematics has not been merely boring, not just a lack of knowledge; I think it has been positively anti-knowledge... Well, What about evolution? Well we are back to the question I have been putting to people, "Is there one thing you can tell me about evolution?" The absence of answers seem to indicate that it is true, evolution does not convey any knowledge..."
 
Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
Perfection, have you read anything that Tyrus88 has posted? He's got evo-bios quoted as saying that the ToE is dead as a post. WAKEY WAKEY!!
First of all look at the posts none of them are actual Evo-Bios we got a motly crew of other scientists.

Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
Archaeopteryx is fully a bird, and the genetic gap between archaeopteryx and any known dinosaur is enormous. Furthermore, even evolutionary scientists agree that archaeopteryx is not ancestral to any modern birds. Archaeopteryx is not an intermediate.
First of all its more reptilian than bird, Its the beginning of evolution for birds it has mostly Dinosour like features with the exception of feathers and an inverted Hallux. Sure this exact species may not be the on that eventually became birds, but its closely related.

And there are many links between animals. And there is radiocarbon dating to match up timelines. Sure we don't have every nuance of evolution down, but there are many trends easily seeable in the fossil record that show the general progression.

And Tyrus's quotes while seeming impressive have no real data, he's just listing off people who agree with his statements and proving that they do, just because a few scientists agree with you doesn't mean all of them do. A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME OPINIONS IN A LARGER GROUP DOESN'T PROOVE THAT THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP HAVE THE SAME OPINION.
 
Originally posted by Perfection
First of all look at the posts none of them are actual Evo-Bios we got a motly crew of other scientists.

First of all its more reptilian than bird, Its the beginning of evolution for birds it has mostly Dinosour like features with the exception of feathers and an inverted Hallux. Sure this exact species may not be the on that eventually became birds, but its closely related.

And there are many links between animals. And there is radiocarbon dating to match up timelines. Sure we don't have every nuance of evolution down, but there are many trends easily seeable in the fossil record that show the general progression.

And Tyrus's quotes while seeming impressive have no real data, he's just listing off people who agree with his statements and proving that they do, just because a few scientists agree with you doesn't mean all of them do. A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME OPINIONS IN A LARGER GROUP DOESN'T PROOVE THAT THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP HAVE THE SAME OPINION.

I have quoted extremelywell credential scientists who are tops in their respective fields and with no axe to grind. They provide unbiased expert testimony as to the science.

However, If you wish to discuss the science, I will discuss the science.

The only reason archaeopteryx was ever thought to be reptilian is based on its' first discovered fossil. This early fossilized specimen had a crushed skull and this allowed for speculation that the skull was reptilian. The better specimens have shown Archi's brain case was that of a flying bird, with a large cerubellum and visual cortex. The quadrate is double headed, thus similar to modern birds, and not single headed as found in reptiles. Like birds, the maxilla (upper jaw) moves. The ear regions of "Archi" is similar to that of modern birds. There is also evidence that the head was covered with feathers.

In addition to the bird characteristics of Archaeopteryx which I wrote above, Archaeopteryx also had feathers w/ attachments identical to modern flying birds (as compared to those of modern non-flying birds), as well as feather follicles, barb and barbules.
Archaeopteryx also had lots of small feathers on its arms and legs, and a grasping hallux (hind toe) and curved claws for perching. Archaeopteryx had a bony sternum. The hips and pubis of Archaeopteryx is like that of modern birds and unlike reptiles.

Much ado has been made of Archaeopteryx teeth. There are modern birds that have teeth (as well as claws at the end of their wings). Archaeopteryx teeth, similar to other fossil birds with teeth, were unserrated teeth with constricted bases and expanded roots. Theropod Dinosaurs had serrated teeth with straight roots.

Evolutionist Alan feducia writes (science, 1993, 259:790-793)
"Archaeopteryx probably can't tell us much about the early origins of feathers and flight in true protobirds because Archaeopteryx was, in a modern sense, a bird."
 
Originally posted by Perfection
I have a source that refutes your skull evidence (Icluding its impact on the brain) and most of the others http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/archaeopteryx/info.html#Variation

Now here is as biased a source as one can get. It also is full of those just-so stories I warned you about. Ostrom's 76' paper is obsolete. In order to try to force archaeopteryx into a position of being an intermediate between reptiles and birds, it nick picks on small details and compares them, not with one particular ancestral "species" candidate, but from paraphyletic groups such as Ornitholestes, Compsognathus, Velociraptor and Saurornithoides.

Archaeopteryx can not have descended from the Coelurus fragilis, Deinonychus, the maniraptors, Troodon, etc. It could have ONLY descended from one species of theropod dinosaurs. Thus the articles' effort to demonstrate alleged reptilian intermediate characteristics by drawing attention to similarity of a character from one 'species', then another alleged intermediate reptilian character from a 2nd totally different reptile 'species', and then another characteristic from a third totally different reptile species, etc, is ludicrous, deceptive, and disingenous.

Overall, the article from TO brings into question the quadrate, but then, it also eliminates a very major evolutionists claim of yesteryear to a major claim of alleged reptilian intermediate feature, the mandibular fenestra. It actually supports the birdlike features I mentioned, but fails to note the teeth are non-reptilian and fails to show a modern bird hip/pelvis' drawing to the three (saurischian, ornithischian, and Archaeopteryx) which would have shown that archaeopteryx's is very similar to that of modern birds. In addition, contrary to the articles claim, Archaeopteryx is equipped with asymmetric flight feathers. (Feduccia 1996, The Origin and Evolution of Birds).

All things considered, Archaeopteryx appears to be merely another extinct bird.
 
I am sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but Archaeopteryx is a full, perching bird, proven very scientifically. It was a perching, bird of prey with sharp teeth. I have to agree with Tyrus88 completely. Also there is, i believe an 8 cassete tape set, by Dr. Kent Hovind discussing creation, and evolution. He is a literalist, and believes the bible word for word. Any christian relates to this more easily than others, but if you watch them with an open mind, they easily disprove, and even make a mockery of evolution, scientifically.
 
Well in any case Archaeopteryx is not only the only support for evolution (Still looking for your source of infromation on its falsity), there is a lot of other evidence such as Carbon Dating (which disproves a shorter time period predicted in creationism), vestigial organs and many other fossils such as the succesion of Eohippus to Modern horses, and multiple other chains. Also I must mention that DNA mutations which are the backbone of Modern evolutionary thinking is all ben proven to occur naturally. All you've been doing is probing around for any thing that evolution hasn't proven yet, you havent disproven the theory

Also there seems to be very little evidence for creationism other than whats written in the bible. Can you show me any PHYSICAL evidence of why? Scientists claim to be creationists well than BACK IT UP WITH PROOF!!!
 
Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
You know what? Forget all of this nonsense. Just explain to us poor dumb Creationists where the intermediate fossils went.

Do that. Shut up otherwise until you do.

Ok. 2 reasons why it is wrong to say there are no intermediates.
1) There are countless transitional forms out there. Archeopterix is a classic example. Another is Ambulocetus natans, a land mammal to whale transition. Never mind the many many transtional forms between apes and humans on the evolutionary tree, like homo erectus and homo neanderthalensis.
The problem is that the creationists will continue to draw arbitrary lines ad infinitum between any transitional fossils that are discovered.
"Here's an intermediate."
"Thats just an extinct form chimp that happens to be more human-like"
"Here's another one."
"That's just a primitive human that happens to look more like a chimp."
"Here's 50 species between humans and chimps"
(Creationist throws dart, points to where it lands)
"All the forms below this are chimps. All the one's above are humans. THERE ARE NO INTERMEDIATE FOSSILS ANYWHERE!!"

2) Eldrege & Gould 1972: Punctated equilibrium. Missing fossils may be evidence of rapid episodic change, leaving behind few if any intermediate individuals to become fossilized.
As Tyrus pointed out, there was some disagreement as recently as the 1980's whether the genetic mechanisms of such rapid change existed. The relatively recent discovery of Hox genes, and other genes for basic body patterning have beautifully provided just such a mechanism.
 
Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
Fred LC-
Remember those days of creation? You know, on the first day God created the universe, on the second, the earth and sun, on the third the oceans and dry land, etc...? Remember how the Bible mentions that ocean life came first, then plants on land, and then animals, just like the fossil record says? God told Moses that He didn't do it all at once, so why would you even bring this up?

As to why no new species are being created...

"And He saw that it was good. On the 7th day, He rested."

Fearless, I could ask you about what bible has to say about the living things that came before plants – bacteria and fungi, for example – but I have a feeling that I won’t get an answer to that.

Anyway, my post was entirely dedicated to demonstrate that, even if you do not acknowledge evolution from the fossil record, there is no denying that the appearance of the flora and fauna didn’t happen all in compartmented sections, and thus it does not fit the bible description. There are “dry land” species that are older than some ocean species. Species disappeared, and others popped up (either by evolution or creation, as it pleases you) during the entire window of existence of this planet.

Here is a link.

So, why NO new species are being created now? For evolution, they are, slowly, as we speak.

But what is creationism excuse? Because God is resting, right? I’d say that, as long as the “days” or “eras” compartimentation of the genesis is inaccurate and unreliable, we cannot buy this excuse, but I am just waiting to see how you’ll interpret the fossil record to get around this…

Originally posted by FearlessLeader2
You know what? Forget all of this nonsense. Just explain to us poor dumb Creationists where the intermediate fossils went.

Do that. Shut up otherwise until you do.

Fearless, I could equally say to the people on your side of the debate:

“You know what? Forget all of this nonsense. Just explain to us poor heretic Evolutionists how to correctly interpret the word of the all might.”

We are not patronizing you guys, at least not more than you are patronizing us. So stop playing victim. It is not very nice of you, it does not add to the debate, and most importantly, it’s not working.

Originally posted by Tyrus88
Fred C Writes: "I wont dig in hardcore biology here. I wanted to say that I wont because it would not be useful to my point (what would be actually true), but the reason I wont is because I really do not understand it well enough."

Perhaps I could help you with the biology. It is very critical to determining the validity of Evolution.

Fred C Writes: "Anyway, I’ve seen arguing here in the lines that the notion of macro-evolution – new species spawning from others – is not a natural consequence of the undeniable micro-evolution (this one can be easily demonstrated, like in the antibiotics/bacteria example, and thus is harder to deny with sophism)."

What sophism? If you are going to make such charges against me, I do request that you be specific and substantiate such charges rather than simply imply that I resorted to sophism. Did you read what I wrote about the antibiotics causing bacteria to vary around a mean with no net evolution. The very proof of this is that the four oldest fossilized lifeforms are bacteria, and all four are extant with no evolutionary change over their alleged 3.5 Billion year existence on planet earth. lets try to keep this discussion civil.

I never argued from "Notions". I never claimed that "new species spawning from other species" is equivalent to "macro-evolution". That would be Goldschmidth's "Hopeful Monster" Theory. You must be referring to someone else's post. I have not read them all, in fact, only a few.

You seem to be saying that:
Micro-evolution + lots of time = Macro-evolution.

Yes, this what they teach in schools. It is Darwinian Evolution. And it is flat out wrong. I will address this gross error in follow up posts. I need several short posts to put this into proper scientific perspective.

Fred C writes: "For the most part, if I understood correctly, creationism back this claim by saying that, despite pressing conditions in the elements still exist until today, we do not see new species being spawned by the natural selection. All the changes we witness are minimal and deep within the animal’s previous genetic material."

Natural Selection never spawns genetic novelty, and therefore can not be the cause of Evolution. Only mutations or intelligent design by an intelligent designer are capable of changing the genetic code to produce novel morphological effects.

So, if new species spawn, why are they not spawning?

You must first define the word "species" for this question to be answered. Try as you might, there is no scientific definition for species, so speciation is a moot point.

Tyrus88, first and foremost, I wanted to say that in any moment I meant to flame or offend. I don’t know why you felt personally attacked by my post, as I didn’t say your name or quoted you, and in fact I was not holding you in mind when I posted it, but was in fact referring to the average arguing I am exposed to when I discuss this subject.

You, particularly, are above average, as you try to discuss it in a scientific fashion, instead of claiming the infallibility of God or threatening us with hell. Good for you, good for us, as than the debate can keep civil, just as you and I intend.

Anyway, your argumentation is, indeed, full of sophism. And I’ll present it to you know.

So, here is the meaning of sophism, according to the Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary:

Entry Word: sophism
Function: noun
Text: Synonyms FALLACY 2, casuistry, deception, deceptiveness, delusion, equivocation, sophistry, speciousness, spuriousness
Related Word illogicality, irrationality; invalidity, unsoundness; claptrap

Once we have agreed that sophism equals fallacy, I present you the “Round earth Society List of Fallacies”.

You will notice that your line of arguing falls in a few of them. For example, the “argumentum ad verecundiam” (appeal to authority), in it’s second modality (experts disagree on the issue).

In this two particular lines,

LOL! No they do not say that. They simply can not defend Evolution scientifically. They defend evolution with a myriad of "Just-So" stories, the acceptance of which depends on the gullibility and naievite of their audience. As science it just does not wash.

Their ultimate reason for believing in Evolution is simply based on their humanistic materialistic worldview. Having rejected the existence of an Intelligent creator, they reason Evolution must be a fact, how else can all life be accounted for. In this sense, many evolutionists can severely criticize the alleged science other evolutionists offer as scientific evidence that demonstrates Evolution, while they remain evolutionists. They are simply realists willing to admit to where the science is really taking them (And it is not Evolution), and yet they still believe evolution is a fact because, how else could we have come into existence.

you incur in two of them: “ad hominen” (circumstantial) – they rely on the gullibility and naivety –and in a first stage of the “slippery slope” – they refuse to accept the untruth of evolution only because they cannot imagine world in another fashion – when in fact it has more to do with the fact that no more reasonable alternatives have being given.

Fact is, and I addressed it in my first post of this discussion, several pages ago, that evolution is not perfect, and it has lots of failures (or at least, areas not completely explained yet). I am the first one to welcome criticism and scrutiny to verify them, as I am a big fan of the good old scientific method. But the indications pro-evolution are, at the very least, as indicative of its occurrence as the problems in it are relevant.

Ok, macro-evolution presents difficulties, and ok, fossil record is incomplete. But no one, not even here, is denying that the present species of planet are variants of older species; that changes occur in DNA and that DNA is the very bases of a species configuration; that the humans and monkeys are genetically very similar and that there are fossils of creatures that you can call “human-like monkeys” or “monkey-like humans”, but in any case shows characteristics of both species.

Denying that all this circumstances does implicate in favor of evolutionism is again incurring in a fallacy, now the “Slothful Induction”.

Anyway, Tyrus88, I appreciate you offer of helping me in the biology issue – I really do. But it will have to be in the terms of describing the working biological processes, not by quoting opinions. I could surf the web and pile up quite a lot of opinions, also from respected scientists, denying every opinion of those you like. We will end up not discussing the proposed matter, but who has the better scientists. It would be quite frustrating and unfruitful.

Last but not least, since you seen to be quite an intelligent person, all I require from you (and you can again find me arguing in this lines in my first post in this discussion), is that you apply to creationism the same unrelenting rigor that you are applying to evolution. Stop accepting all-purpose escapes like “it is this way because God made it this way and he can do anything”, because all-purpose escapes is not something that you can find in nature, in which’s solutions are always diversified and casuistic. It’s just a humane ideal, an intellectual construct, and thus should be dealt with carefully.

In any case, your arguing – always against evolution, without actually defending the logic of creationism – ends up in another fallacy that is the natural consequence of the “slippery slope” that you incurred into: the “False Dilemma” – because evolution is not true, than creationism must be true.

Not quite. Evolution may be wrong or not. Maybe you are right in all that arguing, maybe macroevolution is an impossibility and the life has a completely different origin. It does not change the fact that the pro-creationism arguments are completely illogical, and only can be accepted if you accept very, VERY unlikely statements as true, and it is also true that it holds no more scientific value than any other imaginative origin any other religion have created.

Hell, if I say that the universe was given birth by the pink-with-blue-dots flying kangaroo, and I write a book about it, the description of that book will be logically as valid as the one of the bible to those that believe in it.

That said, I’ll wait for your comeback, hoping that you take this as lightly as I mean it, and that you keep your arguing as in fields that can be actually discussed without levering in “mysteries of faith”.

Regards :).
 
Originally posted by FredLC


Tyrus88, first and foremost, I wanted to say that in any moment I meant to flame or offend.
Regards :).


FredC, in pulling no punches, writes: "Tyrus88, first and foremost, I wanted to say that in any moment I meant to flame or offend."

WELL! You certainly make youself very clear as to where you stand on this! Need we say anymore. ; )

Fred C Writes: "I don’t know why you felt personally attacked by my post, as I didn’t say your name or quoted you, and in fact I was not holding you in mind when I posted it, but was in fact referring to the average arguing I am exposed to when I discuss this subject."

Its' Okay, I'm very use to being flamed. I seek civility not for my sake, but those who may read this and to keep open amicable lines of communication. Angry people do not hear very well.

PS, I'm working today and I worked all day yesterday too. When I get a chance, I'll respond to posts here. My time for this is most limited. I do appreciate your ernestness in expressing your desire to communicate in a civil and productive manner.
 
I'll wait with patience. I myself took a few days to answer due to an awfully busy weekend.

regards :).
 
I do not understand all this talk of net mean. If the environment changes drastically, doesn't the most favorable set of genes to deal with that environment also change [Set B instead of Set A]? And therefore wouldn't the net mean migrate to a new mean, and would that not be evolution? That would explain the fact that we do not see the net mean migrating because a) our environment is very stable and b) biology is a very young science.
 
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