Hi, Pete, some of the most patient people I have ever encountered are here at EvC.They explain the 'facts' at length and frequently. However, coming up against what can only be called stupidity, time after time, can wear down the best intentions. Here we have the best-educated generations in history, and the best that a lot of religious posters can do is parrot some site they visited. Whatever happened to checking your facts? We have books on every subject known to man, and many are set up on the Internet. So excuses for ignorance are pretty paltry. Same with honesty that you mention. Where is the honesty in re-distributing lies? If a poster is too lazy to research his/her material, why should she/he be offended if the correct information is indicated? Why depart in a huff because the posts are shown for what they are? Staying with sites that merely 'tickle your ears' won`t expand your knowledge or correct misconceptions.
Some engineers are regarded on debate sites like these as being as ignorant as--um--creationists. Put the two together and you have entrenched ignorance. Visit sites like Panda`s Thumb, Talk Origins, Aetiology and see how they regard engineers. Even creationist biologists like Behe get a towelling. One would think if biology is beyond an engineer`s ken, he would at least grasp the essentials of geology. While geology might have passing relevance to evolution, it sure gives creationist dogma a shaking.
Keep up with the search as the world needs more earnest seekers. Who knows, maybe one day we might meet on an atheist bench. :-p
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