Questions to Evolutionists

[Marshy]

Any theory is based on a belief in it - or it's NOT a theory but an experiment itself.

I would have to respectfully disagree. I view scientific theories as descriptions of to world. I don't believe in Newtonian Mechanics on some religious level, but I do believe that it gives a very accurate description of the way that objects behave in certain limited circumstances. It is not a complete description of the universe and even in the areas that it can be applied it has been shown that general relativity is a more accurate description.

In the same way evolution through natural selection seems to be a good description of the way in which species change. I don't ferverently believe in it. I'm sure that it will be replaced by a better description some day.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Newton wrote some Laws of Motion. Einstein wrote a Special Theory of Relativity. These documents both seek to identify formulae that predict the motion of objects in the universe. The difference in terminology reflects a reduction in arrogance rather than a change in purpose.

Nope, it reflects in difference in nature. A "law" is a formulaic statement of the relationship of two or more quantities. A "theory" is a conceptual framework for explaining some class of phenomena, and may contain laws.

The Laws of Motion are part of Newtonian mechanics, which is a theory.

 

[CurtSibling]

I believe in the Bible and I would still describe it as myth.



Actually, I think you mean it was clear it was millions of years ago.



By the very definition of "species" that is not true. One species cannot produce fertile offspring with another. They can't be "lumped together" or "united in a group".



The Bible gives its dimensions. We know exactly how big it was supposed to be. It was too small.

And how do you answer my criticisms of Creationism? They are the same ones used against evolution, so it is only fair.

Good answers, Eran.

I am glad there are level-headed believers out there!

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Ancient myths are those of Greece and Rome - do not mix everything into one big box.

Care to explain why ? Why is it less logical to worship Jupiter, Sol Invictus or Zeus ?

Whether dinos existed isn't that clear - clear is that it wasn't millions year ago.

Those bones were probably buried by Satan to fool us.

animals didn't eat meat before the Flood - only afterwards.

So after the flood the evolutionary pressure made lions evolve fangs and made them carnivores...

 

[Masquerouge]

The most unforgettable thing I read about palaeonthology was that they attached Bronthosaurus' (might be another "long-neck" dino) head to his tail at first!
And you still say palaeonthology is truthful?!
You get a sack of detached bones - and then you "make" a skeleton out of them.
You can match most bones however you wish.
I'm not sure whether all bones even belong to the same organism.
And that's not something "creationistic" - rather "sceptic".

I wish I could report this post to CarlosMM
"dude, your studies and your job are just a fraud!"

 

[Marshy]

Marshy
What's a wind-up?

From the OED:
Wind-up --- A deliberate attempt to ‘wind up’ or provoke someone by misleading or hoaxing; a trick or practical joke.

 

[warpus]

Science is definitely a "religion" because YOU guys believe in those theories.

I am personally a member of the Church of Gravity

Every day at noon we hurl ourselves at the ground in praise of the Theory of Gravity.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I am personally a member of the Church of Gravity

Every day at noon we hurl ourselves at the ground in praise of the Theory of Gravity.

Yep, sounds like a religion to me, particularly since theres no agreement on just what the heck gravity IS in the first place

 

[Marshy]

I am personally a member of the Church of Gravity

Every day at noon we hurl ourselves at the ground in praise of the Theory of Gravity.

Really. At our branch we enjoy hurling non-believers from the top of the steeple screaming "Feel the mighty wrath of vengeful gravity heathen". But you know, whatever floats your boat.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Personally, I worship the God of Concussion. Everyday I walk the city streets bringing his blessings to the townsfolk.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I belong to the Church of Evolution. Every day we demonstrate the role of sexual selection in speciation with nubile young ladies.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

This reminds me of:



And yes, my Pantheon has over one hundred deities, but some of them tend to decay very quickly.

 

[Boris Godunov]

The most unforgettable thing I read about palaeonthology was that they attached Bronthosaurus' (might be another "long-neck" dino) head to his tail at first!
And you still say palaeonthology is truthful?!
You get a sack of detached bones - and then you "make" a skeleton out of them.
You can match most bones however you wish.
I'm not sure whether all bones even belong to the same organism.
And that's not something "creationistic" - rather "sceptic".

I'd love to see an actual citation of this supposed occurence, because I can't find any reference to it. I see no reason to believe such a story sans evidence. Of course, even if such a mistake had been made, it would in no way invalidate the entire field of paleontology, since it involves far more than just stitching bones together. If this story had happened, who do you supposed noticed and corrected the error? Not a creationist, I'm sure.

http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CC/CC401.html

So we can chalk up your knowledge of paleontology as part of your wholesale ignorance of science, just like evolution.

 

[Sims2789]

1) What evidence do you see backing the ToE? Can you point to specific examples of how that evidence can be shown?

2) Do you see evolution purely as a theory or legitimate idea, or are you sure of it being fact? Why?

3) Do you see the ToE as being compatible or incompatible with the idea of a Creator God? (Note: please do not get carried away with the existence of said God)

Thanks in advance.

1) Evolution can be created in labs (My sister is evolving a bacteria and she's only a freshman [I guess now a sophomore] in college). I will post more information about that experiment when I next see her.

2) That evolution can occur is a fact, as we have observed it a few times in the wild and many times in labs. Of course, since we didn't see it happening in humans, it's a theory that it happened in the past. However, due to the overwhelming evidence in support of it I do not doubt that it occurred. However, like any good scientist, I am open to other ideas.

3) Though I'm an athiest, one can still believe in God and accept evolution. Many Christians, for example, think that God created the initial life and/or guided evolution.

 

[Sidhe]

Yep, sounds like a religion to me, particularly since theres no agreement on just what the heck gravity IS in the first place

We know precisely what it is we just don't know how it works. Some say theres a force carrior or Boson(Higg's) which would mean it is slightly incompatible with general relativity which needs no force carrier as it is merely a bend in space time that causes objects to be attracted. Should we be unable to find the Boson quantum field theory would be one step further in its claim to accuracy, and general relativity would have to incorporate it fully or die, many think it is unlike the other forces though and that it needs no force carrier. if that's the case we only need to unify the strong force and Einsteins dream is realised.

I am personally a member of the Church of Gravity

Every day at noon we hurl ourselves at the ground in praise of the Theory of Gravity.

Now if you were a member of the Curch of Anti-gravity I'd be interested, anyone who could hurl themselves at the ground and miss would peak my interest

 

[Steph]

I don't think the Ark was too small - anyway you need only two of a kind (I don't think there MILLIONS of distinct kinds of animals - most species could be united into a group.)

Can you explain this part, what do you mean species could be united into a group?

 

[Steph]

My sister is evolving a bacteria and she's only a freshman

Shouldn't she be a freshwoman?

 

[croxis]

To address the OP and some other comments in here.

When comparing two different theories (theory defined as it is in science), one of the criteria used is the utility of the theory. Another way to think of it is the predictive power of it. The first genealogies of species were bade based off of physiology, and generally it was done with bone structure. When genetic and protein testing became viable people used the theory of evolution to predict that the genetic and protein testing would show the same family tree. The trees for the veribres were almost identical. ( Further research into the non verbes showed that we didn't understand them enough and categorised them with the wrong properties and doesn't show fault with evolution.)

 

[Boris Godunov]

Can you explain this part, what do you mean species could be united into a group?

Perhaps he thinks that instead of having lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, etc., Noah could have just had 2 "big cats."

Of course, this would require a subsequent rate of evolution of these animals to branch off into their respective species post-Ark that far exceeds what evolutionary science shows is feasible, or what is remotely realistic by genetics. Not to mention that this "model" completely fails to explain the diffusion of species around the globe post-Ark.

Speaking of that, why is it that marsupials are confined to Australasia? If they came to Noah for the flood and then were let loose again, shouldn't we see a trail of them all the way from Turkey to Oz? The same goes for all the species supposedly on the Ark.

Oy, why are we bothering debating this? Even my 6-year-old nephew is smart enough to realize the Ark story is make-believe, just like Santa Claus. Anyone who thinks such a ludicrous story actually happened has serious issues with reality as it is.

 

[Sidhe]

I agree that is one example you can destroy a million times, if anyone actually believes you can fit all the species of the Earth in a boat and that they wouldn't go mental break free and start eating each other, you're somewhat delusional. I would much rather they said God reached out his hand and gathered up all the animals that Noah had gathered together and kept them safe while Noah go to go on a boat trip. At least it's consistent with God's omnipotence, if not reality.