Evolution v Creationism

Forums: Philosophy, Philosophy Of Science
Email this Topic • Print this Page

This sure is a hot topic given the current global climate regarding the literalism of the bible and other major religious texts. Personally I fully side with the evolutionay camp. Evolution is evident. I have never felt that evolution and the possibility of a God are mutually exclusive ideas. To deny evolution in favour of myths and stories out of the bible seems foolish in the extreme to me. I do not dismiss everything in the bible as to do so would be equally foolish ie the existance of Jesus is an irrefutable historical fact - I would though question all the things that have been written about him and question their historical accuracy. I've always had a problem with the fact that the bible has been edited and re-edited by numerous Roman emperors for a start. I've also been amazed by religious fanatics insistance on abiding by the bible whilst supporting governments who rountinely disregard the bibles main commandment "Thou shalt not kill."
Mankind is an organic animal made of almost the same dna as other primates, we even share a large percentage of our dna with everything from bananas to mice so we're not that special. All the scientific evidence seems to confirm that we are indeed descended from common ancestors with all the earth's other primates. Evolution and technology are closely entwined. Ideas as well as dna evolves.

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 4,623 • Replies: 51

No top replies

@andykelly,

Not disagreeing with anything you are saying but....what would you say about "irreduible complexity" which creates huge problems for darwinists. "RNA" which is the most basic form or life, far infiria to DNA yet is a infanite leap away from non-life from which it came. the whole 'theory' of life begining in any form from 'a begining' as explained by any scientist does (and they admit it) rely on chances. This does sound sort of expected as praticly everything has a chance aspect, but it is beyond imposible. There are other things which cause great problems for evolution such as "macro-evolution" but I'll elaberate if this piece is replyed to. It can be quite exstensive and would require me to brush up on my knowledge. "Spontainious generation" sounds obsurd, I know but there are two things to consider,1 being that its been scientificly provern that 'something can physiclly generate out of nothing'(I dont mean to be vague but steven hawkin was on a programe on 'discovery science' the other day talking about the universe. It was said research has shown...) If anybody can elaberate this please help me out,I wasnt paying attention! Oh, I do see how "micro-evolution" works,though.

0 Replies

@andykelly,

andykelly wrote:

This sure is a hot topic given the current global climate regarding the literalism of the bible and other major religious texts.

Hot it does seem to be. I have already seen this discussed endlessly but does it matter, in philosophical terms?

I'd have to be much more sure of being around for a few more thousand years to have to worry about it as much as some would seem to.

Seriously, apart from issues of intellectual pride, I'd like to know what is at stake, re. spontaneous generation or whatever, what difference does it make?

--- RH.

1 Reply

@perplexity,

Well philosophicly not much,your right, its a physics, biology,cosmological type subject. Which was a thread on this forum site,so I got involved because not only is it interesting but, I feel its quite important. Mainly because we do know a little more about the universe than in the past and it could lead to new approaches to our origins. Also I am a supporter of those aspects of science(et al) that are ignored and pushed aside because the majority rule as ever are overbering in these fields so I always defend were I can.

And as my dad said once, Philosophy isnt even a science, nor is psychology. So in a sence it is more important:)

0 Replies

@andykelly,

I am not saying that the theory of evolution (or for that matter the theory of intelligent design) is not important to people. For as long as ruffled fur continues to fly there presumably is some sort of philosophical importance to it.

It is just that I have yet to come to philosopohical terms with why it is so important, also at a loss to understand why evolution is thought to be so much of a fundamental challenge to a religious disposition.

Seems to me that's like trying to disprove the fact of a television broadcast by asserting the discovery that the light actually emanates from pixels on an electronic screen. Whatever the practical form of the intelligent design, the origins and purposes are nevertheless open to philosophical speculation.

-- RH.

1 Reply

@perplexity,

Maybe the phiosphical debate can cover all areas that are descussed unlike sciences like physics or biology, because by deffinition they are confined to there areas of expertise as such. But to continually search for the philosphical argument in everything and making it paramount above all others to the point that you question what is even important about the other sciences that specialise in that field it seems wrong to me. Science, as i understand it is the study of things which can be tested and experimented with. Like biology for example philosophies main tool is observation, but unlike these other science that is where it unfortunatly stops. It seems there are no right or wrong just popular oppinion.

So then the creation versus evolution debate can have many perspectives to it, but it remains that the technological sciences have the day on this one, as the're in a persition to anaylise the physical content, not just to merely question if its there at all!

0 Replies

@andykelly,

So are we debating what the argument is or are we debating the argument? :rolleyes:

The problem I find with evolution is its lack of proof; there have been no transitional fossils from anything to anything, so why do we think it happened?
Scientists found a tooth in Nebraska that led them to stitch together something like a man crossed with a monkey with nothing else; and then (to their utter embarassment) the tooth was later found to be from a pig. Therefore, I see not how 'evolution is evident'. It most certainly is not; else there would be no debate.

2 Replies

@Ragnell,

Well science seems to have problems with sorting this mess out, the missing link, the fantastic super leep from nothing to life and the so called explanations of how man became intelligent just by eating meat and not sloaching! The popular argument is that evolution happens by the genetic structure of an organisim 'selecting' the next advancment to suit its environment.

As you dont see how it works i cant think what to say because neither can I!

0 Replies

@andykelly,

pilgrimshost wrote:

As you don't see how it works I can't think what to say because neither can I!

Amen to that.

1 Reply

@Ragnell,

I do hope though that sombody would like to debate this as it is a very intreging subject. I wonder if it is even philosophical, but if I remember I didnt start this thread, i am happy that it is though, never the less.

1 Reply

@andykelly,

We'll be standing by.

0 Replies

@Ragnell,

Ragnell wrote:

The problem I find with evolution is its lack of proof; there have been no transitional fossils from anything to anything, ....

That argument is often put, but it is reasonable to propose that sudden genetic mutations take place, which were in effect accidental. This is because of the fractal nature of nature; big results are known to arise because of small changes to the root cause, the DNA molecule.

A creature might for instance be genetically engineered overnight, with two heads as the immediate result, with no need to gradually evolve the second head. If thus better fit to survive with two heads, the four eyed version may then be wonderfully attractive to a two eyed mate.

I would not be so comfortable with that, personally, but there is no accounting for taste.

-- RH.

0 Replies

@andykelly,

'Genetically engineered'? In what, a mad scientist's lab? And research shows that mutations are never helpful to an animal, not to mention that they're almost always fatal.

1 Reply

@Ragnell,

Your exactly correct,a possitive mutation is like one in trillians, check it out. If need be ill put it up myself( sorry didnt mean to get too excited):eek:

1 Reply

@andykelly,

What if God created evolution?

1 Reply

@Aristoddler,

Well, now were getting somewhere. After all it is an omnipotant God were talking about. The question is, in what way? is it spontainious generation, much like 'adam and eve' or like the scientists have it but with a few skips to the final(ish) product?

0 Replies

@pilgrimshost,

pilgrimshost wrote:

Your exactly correct,a possitive mutation is like one in trillians, check it out.

You are obviously in a hurry to get a result.

There was time enough for evolution to wait for something special to happen.

-- RH.

1 Reply

@perplexity,

I havent got all the info at hand but if the universe is supposed to be about 13.5 billion years old and one stage of evolution takes many hundreds of millions of years, and still with only a few actual 'good' mutations in this period then it would be rushed. Not counting the nessesity for others of the same speicise to also have the same mutations simultainiously,then, you get the picture.

1 Reply

@pilgrimshost,

pilgrimshost wrote:

I havent got all the info at hand but if the universe is supposed to be about 13.5 billion years old and one stage of evolution takes many hundreds of millions of years, and still with only a few actual 'good' mutations in this period then it would be rushed. Not counting the nessesity for others of the same speicise to also have the same mutations simultainiously,then, you get the picture.

It is natural to appear to know a lot but without the information, that is one characteristic of the evolutionary process.

--- RH.

1 Reply

@perplexity,

Do you mean you want me to put up the infomation?

1 Reply

Evolution v Creationism

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know