Creation vs Evolution

Started by Nellinator221 pages

Most high school textbooks won't say that sort of thing though. They cover it more as the species jumping or anagenetic speciation as your quote calls (never heard that term before though). It is misleading which is why there are so many idiots running around.

Too much Kirk Cameron, IMO.

Originally posted by Nellinator
Most high school textbooks won't say that sort of thing though. They cover it more as the species jumping or anagenetic speciation as your quote calls (never heard that term before though). It is misleading which is why there are so many idiots running around.

The talk-origins defintion is more archaic than the one in my high school textbook...and i don't even like that one.

maybe we should look at schoolboards who won't even teach evolution and then wonder why thier students fail in science?

Originally posted by Alliance
The talk-origins defintion is more archaic than the one in my high school textbook...and i don't even like that one.

maybe we should look at schoolboards who won't even teach evolution and then wonder why thier students fail in science?


Chemistry and biology FTW.

ftw?

For the win.

It's really quite sad to see that Christians, in response to feeling pressure from all the scientific theories that do not need any god in their observations in order to understand, have simply radicalised to keep their ancient ideas safe. And then republicans come around and pass laws forbidding text books mentioning evolution 😐

Originally posted by eezy45
It's really quite sad to see that Christians, in response to feeling pressure from all the scientific theories that do not need any god in their observations in order to understand, have simply radicalised to keep their ancient ideas safe. And then republicans come around and pass laws forbidding text books mentioning evolution 😐

I think it's sadder that all these allegedly open-minded scientists refuse to hear creationists out and instead engage in meaningless rhetoric.

Especially when it's on a messageboard about movies.

What a bullshit answer considering:

1. Creationism is not scientific, so why should scientists be obligagted to address it?

2. Creationists themselves are MORE ignorant of evolution than scientists are of creationism/ID.

It is NOT a scientist's place obligation or duty to engage in rhetoric with the clowns of the age. Its unscientific and it simultaneously damages the credibility of scientists as taking a stance on a non-scientific issue, as well as lending credibility to any garbage that some psycho spits out.

Fighting ID is a job for philosophers, not scientists.

So just shut the f*ck up on that one.

Originally posted by Alliance
What a bullshit answer considering:

[b]1. Creationism is not scientific, so why should scientists be obligagted to address it?


Creationism itself is not scientific, but there is science in creationism.

2. Creationists themselves are MORE ignorant of evolution than scientists are of creationism/ID.

So you claim. I maintain my statement about open-mindedness.
It is NOT a scientist's place obligation or duty to engage in rhetoric with the clowns of the age.

Actually, the issue I stated was that, in fact, many anti-creationists use is rhetoric--that is, "language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous."
Its unscientific and it simultaneously damages the credibility of scientists as taking a stance on a non-scientific issue

Actually, it does quite the opposite. By refusing to debate evolution and creationism, creationists can easily twist your motives to saying that you know that evolution doesn't hold up under close scrutiny. Furthermore, if creationists aren't kept "in check," they might go about spreading their horrid tomfoolery to other people. (Oh, noes.)
Fighting ID is a job for philosophers, not scientists.

It's a job for both, and I wasn't talking about intelligent design. That's boring.

Oh, as far as that graph goes...I chanced upon a delightful analysis of it.

See what a world of difference coloring and layout of a graph does? The way it appeals to the eye? The manner in which Iceland looks positively terrible in the sideways graph?

Oh, yes, and then there's this gem:

Third, genetic literacy has a moderate positive relationship to the acceptance of evolution in both the United States and the nine European countries. This result indicates that those adults who have acquired some understanding of modern genetics are more likely to hold positive attitudes toward evolution. The total effect of genetic literacy on the acceptance of evolution was similar in the United States and the nine European countries.

Although the mean score on the Index of Genetic Literacy was slightly higher in the United States than the nine European countries combined, results from another 2005 U.S. study show that substantial numbers of American adults are confused about some of the core ideas related to 20th- and 21st-century biology. When presented with a description of natural selection that omits the word evolution, 78% of adults agreed to a description of the evolution of plants and animals (see table S2 in SOM). But, 62% of adults in the same study believed that God created humans as whole persons without any evolutionary development.


Jigga-wha? So Americans are better with genetics but...for some reason against evolution...because of scientific illiteracy and Christian fundamentalism! Yeah, that's the ticket!

But, really. I'm curious--what was this question on natural selection?

Over periods of millions of years, some species of plants and animals adjust and survive while other species die and become extinct.

The choices were "yes," "not sure," and "no." Hmm, let's see. Let's ask two unrelated questions and skew the results as much as possible to give bad publicity to young Earth creationism.

Anymore lovely gems from a site professing:
"Science Against Evolution is a California Public Benefit Corporation whose objective is to make the general public aware that the theory of evolution is not consistent with physical evidence and is no longer a respectable theory describing the origin and diversity of life."

Founded by two creationist engineers.

Ad hominem. Refute what I've written.

Refute selective highlighting?
"another 2005 U.S. study show that substantial numbers of American adults are confused about some of the core ideas related to 20th- and 21st-century biology"
And turning a graph sideways?
That you've paraphrased from a site founded by two creationist engineers, who aren't exactly versed in biology, nor statistics, nor experimental design?

You're welcome to criticize the experimental design, and contest the findings of the beliefs of the Nordic people. And pull more tidbits from Mr Pogge.

I don't see what exactly that's supposed to achieve.

And out of curiosity, when did you start supporting "young earth creationism," as scientific?

Originally posted by FeceMan
Creationism itself is not scientific, but there is science in creationism.

There is science in everything. You have no point.

Originally posted by FeceMan
So you claim.

I haven't seen any creationists, including the only scientifically trained proponent of IDthat I know, Michael Behe, ever respond to criticism. Most creationists think that humans descended form apes.

Again, your have no point.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Actually, the issue I stated was that, in fact, many anti-creationists use is rhetoric--that is, "language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous."

You're basing your oh so well formed opinon on a buch of hormonal teenagers on a website that know about as much about evolution as the creationists they try to attack.

And don't talk to me, because I've continuouly offered to debate you. You have always refused.

Originally posted by FeceMan
Actually, it does quite the opposite. By refusing to debate evolution and creationism, creationists can easily twist your motives to saying that you know that evolution doesn't hold up under close scrutiny. Furthermore, if creationists aren't kept "in check," they might go about spreading their horrid tomfoolery to other people. (Oh, noes.)

Unfortuantely, we've tried that for the past 20 years and seen it have the opposite effect. Maybe if you lived in this scenario everyday or have studied it as intensely as I have, you would actually have an informed opinion. yet, as we know on KMC, any dick with a computer can speak his poison.

Why are you wrong? Science is complicated, so is natural selection and there is a tremendous amount of information behind it. Its asy for some sh*t to stand up with a mike and say "LOOK! THERE IS CONTROVERSY" or "THIS SCIENTIST CALLED YOU A MONKEY AND HATRES GOD" even though there is nothing to back up their claims.

Its much harder to explain a scientific theory to the public. EVERY scientific establishment in the world backs up evolution. ID fails on every level.

Creationists do need to be kept in check, but not by scientists. That hasn't worked, in fact, it has only seemingly hurt the problem. Why? because scientists cant debate for shit. scientists lose their credability as independant observers when they debate sh*t like this. ID is not science, its not scientific, its religious and philosophical, therefore should be debated by theologians and philosophers.

Originally posted by FeceMan
It's a job for both, and I wasn't talking about intelligent design. That's boring.

Its NOT a job for both. Creation is non-scientific. And theres notihing incompatable between the concept of creation and evolution.

and yes...the poll is stupid...as are all polls. Its still disturbing....and you're still being a tool.

Here's a little somthing else for you peeps to read. Its called the Wedge Document, and it was leaked to the internet in 1999. Its from the "Discovery Institute," a prominent, if not the most prominant think tank promoting ID. It is their strategy for how to promote creation in the guise of creation science/ID in the US.

This is authentinc and reproduced in full. By the way, Phase I was never initiated.

Originally posted by The Discovery Institute
CENTER FOR THE RENEWAL OF SCIENCE & CULTURE
INTRODUCTION

The proposition that human beings are created in the image of God is one of the bedrock principles on which Western civilization was built. Its influence can be detected in most, if not all, of the West's greatest achievements, including representative democracy, human rights, free enterprise, and progress in the arts and sciences.

Yet a little over a century ago, this cardinal idea came under wholesale attack by intellectuals drawing on the discoveries of modern science. Debunking the traditional conceptions of both God and man, thinkers such as Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud portrayed humans not as moral and spiritual beings, but as animals or machines who inhabited a universe ruled by purely impersonal forces and whose behavior and very thoughts were dictated by the unbending forces of biology, chemistry, and environment. This materialistic conception of reality eventually infected virtually every area of our culture, from politics and economics to literature and art

The cultural consequences of this triumph of materialism were devastating. Materialists denied the existence of objective moral standards, claiming that environment dictates our behavior and beliefs. Such moral relativism was uncritically adopted by much of the social sciences, and it still undergirds much of modern economics, political science, psychology and sociology.

Materialists also undermined personal responsibility by asserting that human thoughts and behaviors are dictated by our biology and environment. The results can be seen in modern approaches to criminal justice, product liability, and welfare. In the materialist scheme of things, everyone is a victim and no one can be held accountable for his or her actions.

Finally, materialism spawned a virulent strain of utopianism. Thinking they could engineer the perfect society through the application of scientific knowledge, materialist reformers advocated coercive government programs that falsely promised to create heaven on earth.

Discovery Institute's Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture seeks nothing less than the overthrow of materialism and its cultural legacies. Bringing together leading scholars from the natural sciences and those from the humanities and social sciences, the Center explores how new developments in biology, physics and cognitive science raise serious doubts about scientific materialism and have re-opened the case for a broadly theistic understanding of nature. The Center awards fellowships for original research, holds conferences, and briefs policymakers about the opportunities for life after materialism.

The Center is directed by Discovery Senior Fellow Dr. Stephen Meyer. An Associate Professor of Philosophy at Whitworth College, Dr. Meyer holds a Ph.D. in the History and Philosophy of Science from Cambridge University. He formerly worked as a geophysicist for the Atlantic Richfield Company.

THE WEDGE STRATEGY

Phase I. Scientific Research, Writing & Publicity
Phase II. Publicity & Opinion-making
Phase III. Cultural Confrontation & Renewal

THE WEDGE PROJECTS

Phase I. Scientific Research, Writing & Publication

* Individual Research Fellowship Program
* Paleontology Research program (Dr. Paul Chien et al.)
* Molecular Biology Research Program (Dr. Douglas Axe et al.)

Phase II. Publicity & Opinion-making

* Book Publicity
* Opinion-Maker Conferences
* Apologetics Seminars
* Teacher Training Program
* Op-ed Fellow
* PBS (or other TV) Co-production
* Publicity Materials / Publications

Phase III. Cultural Confrontation & Renewal

* Academic and Scientific Challenge Conferences
* Potential Legal Action for Teacher Training
* Research Fellowship Program: shift to social sciences and humanities

FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN SUMMARY

The social consequences of materialism have been devastating. As symptoms, those consequences are certainly worth treating. However, we are convinced that in order to defeat materialism, we must cut it off at its source. That source is scientific materialism. This is precisely our strategy. If we view the predominant materialistic science as a giant tree, our strategy is intended to function as a "wedge" that, while relatively small, can split the trunk when applied at its weakest points. The very beginning of this strategy, the "thin edge of the wedge," was Phillip ]ohnson's critique of Darwinism begun in 1991 in Darwinism on Trial, and continued in Reason in the Balance and Defeatng Darwinism by Opening Minds. Michael Behe's highly successful Darwin's Black Box followed Johnson's work. We are building on this momentum, broadening the wedge with a positive scientific alternative to materialistic scientific theories, which has come to be called the theory of intelligent design (ID). Design theory promises to reverse the stifling dominance of the materialist worldview, and to replace it with a science consonant with Christian and theistic convictions.

The Wedge strategy can be divided into three distinct but interdependent phases, which are roughly but not strictly chronological. We believe that, with adequate support, we can accomplish many of the objectives of Phases I and II in the next five years (1999-2003), and begin Phase III (See "Goals/ Five Year Objectives/Activities"😉.

Phase I: Research, Writing and Publication

Phase II: Publicity and Opinion-making

Phase III: Cultural Confrontation and Renewal

Phase I is the essential component of everything that comes afterward. Without solid scholarship, research and argument, the project would be just another attempt to indoctrinate instead of persuade. A lesson we have learned from the history of science is that it is unnecessary to outnumber the opposing establishment. Scientific revolutions are usually staged by an initially small and relatively young group of scientists who are not blinded by the prevailing prejudices and who are able to do creative work at the pressure points, that is, on those critical issues upon which whole systems of thought hinge. So, in Phase I we are supporting vital witting and research at the sites most likely to crack the materialist edifice.

Phase II. The primary purpose of Phase II is to prepare the popular reception of our ideas. The best and truest research can languish unread and unused unless it is properly publicized. For this reason we seek to cultivate and convince influential individuals in pnnt and broadcast media, as well as think tank leaders, scientists and academics, congressional staff, talk show hosts, college and seminary presidents and faculty, future talent and potential academic allies. Because of his long tenure in politics, journalism and public policy, Discovery President Bruce Chapman brings to the project rare knowledge and acquaintance of key op-ed writers, journalists, and political leaders. This combination of scientific and scholarly expertise and media and political connections makes the Wedge unique, and also prevents it from being "merely academic." Other activities include production of a PBS documentary on intelligent design and its implications, and popular op-ed publishing. Alongside a focus on influential opinion-makers, we also seek to build up a popular base of support among our natural constituency, namely, Chnstians. We will do this primarily through apologetics seminars. We intend these to encourage and equip believers with new scientific evidence's that support the faith, as well as to "popularize" our ideas in the broader culture.

Phase III. Once our research and writing have had time to mature, and the public prepared for the reception of design theory, we will move toward direct confrontation with the advocates of materialist science through challenge conferences in significant academic settings. We will also pursue possible legal assistance in response to resistance to the integration of design theory into public school science curricula. The attention, publicity, and influence of design theory should draw scientific materialists into open debate with design theorists, and we will be ready. With an added emphasis to the social sciences and humanities, we will begin to address the specific social consequences of materialism and the Darwinist theory that supports it in the sciences.

...continued...

Originally posted by The Discovery Institute
GOALS

Governing Goals

* To defeat scientific materialism and its destructive moral, cultural and political legacies.
* To replace materialistic explanations with the theistic understanding that nature and hurnan beings are created by God.

Five Year Goals

* To see intelligent design theory as an accepted alternative in the sciences and scientific research being done from the perspective of design theory.
* To see the beginning of the influence of design theory in spheres other than natural science.
* To see major new debates in education, life issues, legal and personal responsibility pushed to the front of the national agenda.

Twenty Year Goals

* To see intelligent design theory as the dominant perspective in science.
* To see design theory application in specific fields, including molecular biology, biochemistry, paleontology, physics and cosmology in the natural sciences, psychology, ethics, politics, theology and philosophy in the humanities; to see its innuence in the fine arts.
* To see design theory permeate our religious, cultural, moral and political life.

FIVE YEAR OBJECTIVES
1. A major public debate between design theorists and Darwinists (by 2003)

2. Thirty published books on design and its cultural implications (sex, gender issues, medicine, law, and religion)

3. One hundred scientific, academic and technical articles by our fellows

4. Significant coverage in national media:

* Cover story on major news magazine such as Time or Newsweek
* PBS show such as Nova treating design theory fairly
* Regular press coverage on developments in design theory
* Favorable op-ed pieces and columns on the design movement by 3rd party media

5. Spiritual & cultural renewal:

* Mainline renewal movements begin to appropriate insights from design theory, and to repudiate theologies influenced by materialism
* Major Christian denomination(s) defend(s) traditional doctrine of creation & repudiate(s)
* Darwinism Seminaries increasingly recognize & repudiate naturalistic presuppositions
* Positive uptake in public opinion polls on issues such as sexuality, abortion and belief in God

6. Ten states begin to rectify ideological imbalance in their science curricula & include design theory

7. Scientific achievements:

* An active design movement in Israel, the UK and other influential countries outside the US
* Ten CRSC Fellows teaching at major universities
* Two universities where design theory has become the dominant view
* Design becomes a key concept in the social sciences Legal reform movements base legislative proposals on design theory

ACTVITIES

(1) Research Fellowship Program (for writing and publishing)

(2) Front line research funding at the "pressure points" (e.g., Daul Chien's Chengjiang Cambrian Fossil Find in paleontology, and Doug Axe's research laboratory in molecular biology)

(3) Teacher training

(4) Academic Conferences

(5) Opinion-maker Events & Conferences

(6) Alliance-building, recruitment of future scientists and leaders, and strategic partnerships with think tanks, social advocacy groups, educational organizations and institutions, churches, religious groups, foundations and media outlets

(7) Apologetics seminars and public speaking

(8) Op-ed and popular writing

(9) Documentaries and other media productions

(10) Academic debates

(11) Fund Raising and Development

(12) General Administrative support

THE WEDGE STRATEGY PROGRESS SUMMARY

Books

William Dembski and Paul Nelson, two CRSC Fellows, will very soon have books published by major secular university publishers, Cambridge University Press and The University of Chicago Press, respectively. (One critiques Darwinian materialism; the other offers a powerful altenative.)

Nelson's book, On Common Descent, is the seventeenth book in the prestigious University of Chicago "Evolutionary Monographs" series and the first to critique neo-Dacwinism. Dembski's book, The Design Inference, was back-ordered in June, two months prior to its release date.

These books follow hard on the heals of Michael Behe's Darwin's Black Box (The Free Press) which is now in paperback after nine print runs in hard cover. So far it has been translated into six foreign languages. The success of his book has led to other secular publishers such as McGraw Hill requesting future titles from us. This is a breakthrough.

InterVarsity will publish our large anthology, Mere Creation (based upon the Mere Creation conference) this fall, and Zondervan is publishing Maker of Heaven and Earth: Three Views of the Creation-Evolution Contoversy, edited by fellows John Mark Reynolds and J.P. Moreland.

McGraw Hill solicited an expedited proposal from Meyer, Dembski and Nelson on their book Uncommmon Descent. Finally, Discovery Fellow Ed Larson has won the Pulitzer Prize for Summer for the Gods, his retelling of the Scopes Trial, and InterVarsity has just published his co-authored attack on assisted suicide, A Different Death.

Academic Articles

Our fellows recently have been featured or published articles in major sciendfic and academic journals in The Proceedings to the National Academy of Sciences, Nature, The Scientist, The American Biology Teacher, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Biochemirtry, Philosophy and Biology, Faith & Philosophy, American Philosophical Quarterly, Rhetoric & Public Affairs, Analysis, Book & Culture, Ethics & Medicine, Zygon, Perspectives on Science and the Christian Faith, Relgious Studies, Christian Scholars' Review, The Southern Journal ofPhilosophy, and the Journal of Psychalogy and Theology. Many more such articles are now in press or awaiting review at major secular journals as a result of our first round of research fellowships. Our own journal, Origins & Design, continues to feature scholarly contribudons from CRSC Fellows and other scientists.

Television and Radio Appearances

During 1997 our fellows appeared on numerous radio programs (both Christian and secular) and five nationally televised programs, TechnoPolitics, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Inside the Law, Freedom Speaks, and Firing Line. The special edition of TechnoPolitics that we produced with PBS in November elicited such an unprecedented audience response that the producer Neil Freeman decided to air a second episode from the "out takes." His enthusiasm for our intellectual agenda helped stimulate a special edition of William F. Buckley's Firing Line, featuring Phillip Johnson and two of our fellows, Michael Behe and David Berlinski. At Ed Atsinger's invitation, Phil Johnson and Steve Meyer addressed Salem Communications' Talk Show Host conference in Dallas last November. As a result, Phil and Steve have been interviewed several times on Salem talk shows across the country. For example, in ]uly Steve Meyer and Mike Behe were interviewed for two hours on the nationally broadcast radio show ]anet Parshall's America. Canadian Public Radio (CBC) recently featured Steve Meyer on their Tapestry program. The episode, "God & the Scientists," has aired all across Canada. And in April, William Craig debated Oxford atheist Peter Atkins in Atlanta before a large audience (moderated by William F. Buckley), which was broadcast live via satellite link, local radio, and intenet "webcast."

Newspaper and Magazine Articles

The Firing Line debate generated positive press coverage for our movement in, of all places, The New York Times, as well as a column by Bill Buckley. In addition, our fellows have published recent articles & op-eds in both the secular and Christian press, including, for example, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Times, National Review, Commentary, Touchstone, The Detroit News, The Boston Review, The Seattle Post-lntelligenter, Christianity Toady, Cosmic Pursuits and World. An op-ed piece by Jonathan Wells and Steve Meyer is awaiting publication in the Washington Post. Their article criticizes the National Academy of Science book Teaching about Evolution for its selective and ideological presentation of scientific evidence. Similar articles are in the works.

Originally posted by Alliance
There is science in everything. You have no point.

My point is that one can't dismiss it like that.
I haven't seen any creationists, including the only scientifically trained proponent of IDthat I know, Michael Behe, ever respond to criticism. Most creationists think that humans descended form apes.

Kind of like what was said by that graph, and I'd bet that most of the public would agree with the statement that apes evolved into humans.
Again, your have no point.

Neither do you.
You're basing your oh so well formed opinon on a buch of hormonal teenagers on a website that know about as much about evolution as the creationists they try to attack.

Good thing that I wasn't referring to KMC when making that statement.
And don't talk to me, because I've continuouly offered to debate you. You have always refused.

You have not once made such an offer.
Unfortuantely, we've tried that for the past 20 years and seen it have the opposite effect. Maybe if you lived in this scenario everyday or have studied it as intensely as I have, you would actually have an informed opinion. yet, as we know on KMC, any dick with a computer can speak his poison.

You do not even know my opinion.
Why are you wrong? Science is complicated, so is natural selection and there is a tremendous amount of information behind it. Its asy for some sh*t to stand up with a mike and say "LOOK! THERE IS CONTROVERSY" or "THIS SCIENTIST CALLED YOU A MONKEY AND HATRES GOD" even though there is nothing to back up their claims.

Just like it's easy for any dick with a mic to stand up and say, "EVOLUTION DISPROVES CHRISTIANITY HAHA STOOPID."

Besides, that wouldn't be a respectable form of debate. I make no such statements.

Creationists do need to be kept in check, but not by scientists. That hasn't worked, in fact, it has only seemingly hurt the problem. Why? because scientists cant debate for shit. scientists lose their credability as independant observers when they debate sh*t like this.

Then perhaps they ought to learn to support their arguments and refute creationists before they step into the public arena.
ID is not science, its not scientific, its religious and philosophical, therefore should be debated by theologians and philosophers.

If creationists can support their claims with science, then evolutionists ought to refute those claims with science. Hence, it is a job for both.
And theres notihing incompatable between the concept of creation and evolution.

Even non-literal interpretations of Genesis fail when dealing with the evolutionary origins of life--again, that is the issue, not evolution itself.
and yes...the poll is stupid...as are all polls. Its still disturbing....and you're still being a tool.

Tool? Heh. Your indignance, your impotent rage is inspirational.

Just curious, but what mechanisim do creationist offer in the stead of: Natural Selection, and Random Mutations?

Originally posted by Emperor Ashtar
Just curious, but what mechanisim do creationist offer in the stead of: Natural Selection, and Random Mutations?

They don't disagree with either of those. IDT says that natural selection/random mutations are guided by a designer. YEC says that God originally created basic forms as per Genesis 1/2 and all the species split off from there.