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Author Topic:   Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul by Ken Miller
Percy
Member
Posts: 22480
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 4.8


Message 1 of 37 (471572)
06-17-2008 1:29 PM


I preordered this new book by Ken Miller several months ago, and it just arrived yesterday. I'll probably start reading it in a couple weeks.
Ken Miller was on the Colbert Report last night (June 16th). I haven't seen it yet, but I have it TiVo'd.
--Percy

Replies to this message:
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 Message 5 by mrjoad2, posted 07-18-2008 8:46 AM Percy has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3313 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 2 of 37 (471582)
06-17-2008 1:47 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Percy
06-17-2008 1:29 PM


Click here to download file of the Ken Miller interview on Colbert Report.
Added by edit.
If you're interested, here are a series of youtube vids of Ken Miller's lecture on evolution and intelligent design. The 7th one is particularly interesting because he talks about why intelligent design/creationism shouldn't be taught in the classroom.
Edited by Taz, : No reason given.

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Replies to this message:
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Archer Opteryx
Member (Idle past 3620 days)
Posts: 1811
From: East Asia
Joined: 08-16-2006


Message 3 of 37 (473490)
06-30-2008 4:07 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Taz
06-17-2008 1:47 PM


Miller lecture
Thanks for providing links to these videos, Taz. Miller is an outstanding explainer!
Alas, 7-9 are now no longer available. Can anyone provide up-to-date links for these?

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Deftil
Member (Idle past 4477 days)
Posts: 128
From: Virginia, USA
Joined: 04-19-2008


Message 4 of 37 (473564)
06-30-2008 5:56 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Percy
06-17-2008 1:29 PM


I find it interesting that Miller is a theist. It's great though. Good to have him on the side of those of us who recognize evolution, and see the flaws in ID.

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mrjoad2
Junior Member (Idle past 5720 days)
Posts: 14
Joined: 02-08-2008


Message 5 of 37 (475775)
07-18-2008 8:46 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Percy
06-17-2008 1:29 PM


Just curious if you have finished Dr. Miller's book?

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Percy
Member
Posts: 22480
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 4.8


Message 6 of 37 (475780)
07-18-2008 9:30 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by mrjoad2
07-18-2008 8:46 AM


I haven't started it yet, it's next on my list. I'm still in the middle of Your Inner Fish, things have been busy lately and it's going slow.
--Percy

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Phat
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Posts: 18310
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 7 of 37 (475782)
07-18-2008 9:48 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Taz
06-17-2008 1:47 PM


I actually learned something
I actually learned something by listening to a couple of those You Tube snippets. I learned that humans never evolved from apes, chimps, or gorillas. We DO share a common ancestry. This makes a lot of practical sense, as it does not come into conflict with religion.
I also don't insist within my context of Belief that the Bible has to be interpreted (or parroted off of other interpretations) in a strictly literal fashion.
GOD is certainly clever enough to make us have to think about our beliefs as a precondition for worthiness (or readiness) to receive his Grace.

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 Message 10 by Larni, posted 08-27-2008 6:19 AM Phat has replied

  
Percy
Member
Posts: 22480
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 4.8


Message 8 of 37 (479395)
08-26-2008 7:46 PM


Starting the book now...
...will post as I come across items of interest.
--Percy

  
Hyroglyphx
Inactive Member


Message 9 of 37 (479412)
08-26-2008 11:27 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by Phat
07-18-2008 9:48 AM


Re: I actually learned something
I learned that humans never evolved from apes, chimps, or gorillas. We DO share a common ancestry.
You didn't know that is what is taught until you watched that YouTube video??? Isn't that really common knowledge?

“Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito"

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Larni
Member
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 10 of 37 (479431)
08-27-2008 6:19 AM
Reply to: Message 7 by Phat
07-18-2008 9:48 AM


Re: I actually learned something
I actually learned something by listening to a couple of those You Tube snippets. I learned that humans never evolved from apes, chimps, or gorillas. We DO share a common ancestry.
Phat, this is an honest question: how could you not have known that this was true? You've been a member of this site for years!
Have you never seen it posted before?
ABE: ninja'd
Edited by Larni, : Ninja'd by Nem.

Jesus Saves! The rest of the party take full damage.

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Phat
Member
Posts: 18310
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 11 of 37 (479533)
08-28-2008 5:13 AM
Reply to: Message 10 by Larni
08-27-2008 6:19 AM


Re: I actually learned something
Larni writes:
how could you not have known that this was true? You've been a member of this site for years!
Have you never seen it posted before?
I was never that interested in evolutionary science. I only knew that so-called creation science lacked credibility. In my two or three years here, I mainly debated one or two folks concerning religious ideas...I rarely strayed into the science side of the board except for Cavediver or Son Goku as they explained cosmology....one of the few areas I had any interest in. To use a quote from "Inherit The Wind", I am more interested in the Rock Of Ages than I am in the age of rocks!

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Percy
Member
Posts: 22480
From: New Hampshire
Joined: 12-23-2000
Member Rating: 4.8


Message 12 of 37 (486957)
10-26-2008 8:14 AM


I'm Finding This Book a Slow Go
I keep finding more interesting reading material, and so my progress through this book has been very slow. Now about a quarter way through, based just upon what I've read so far I'd have to say this book is not well conceived in the way it presents its argument. Miller initially states his intention to examine the ideas of intelligent design from the IDist perspective so as to portray them in the best and most positive light, but he fails in the implementation because wherever the ideas begin to sound too convincing he steps in with the evolutionist response.
It would have been more powerful, I think, had he used his gifts of scientific insight and clarity of expression to present in one or a few chapters the ideas of intelligent design in all their power and glory, unadulterated by any evolutionist criticism. He could then have followed it up with chapters dismantling it.
I'm going to finish the book, or at least I intend to. Because Miller is a gifted and active research biologist, he presents information and perspectives that often don't filter down to us hoi polloi here on Internet discussion boards, and its valuable for that reason alone.
--Percy

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kevinator815
Junior Member (Idle past 5643 days)
Posts: 2
From: California
Joined: 11-05-2008


Message 13 of 37 (487930)
11-06-2008 4:22 PM


I read this book and it is extremely good.

  
Cold Foreign Object 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3070 days)
Posts: 3417
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 14 of 37 (488118)
11-07-2008 7:45 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Taz
06-17-2008 1:47 PM


If you're interested, here are a series of youtube vids of Ken Miller's lecture on evolution and intelligent design. The 7th one is particularly interesting because he talks about why intelligent design/creationism shouldn't be taught in the classroom.
And herein we see Miller caught in his lies, or he is shown to be deluded or deceived.
Miller's new book explicitly presupposes ID to have been produced by unguided evolution. Intelligence and Design are terms used to describe the paradigm that Darwinism says is false. By presupposing ID to be an effect of evolution Miller is reacting to the success of the current ID movement. His book assumes his audience is stupid about the main claims of evolution in regards to God (ID does not exist in nature) while he asserts said attributes to have been produced by evolution. Miller's new book is attempted proselytization by deception. Standard stuff for evolutionists.
Ray
Edited by Cold Foreign Object, : minor text changes

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Cold Foreign Object 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3070 days)
Posts: 3417
Joined: 11-21-2003


Message 15 of 37 (488119)
11-07-2008 7:56 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Percy
10-26-2008 8:14 AM


Re: I'm Finding This Book a Slow Go
I keep finding more interesting reading material, and so my progress through this book has been very slow. Now about a quarter way through, based just upon what I've read so far I'd have to say this book is not well conceived in the way it presents its argument. Miller initially states his intention to examine the ideas of intelligent design from the IDist perspective so as to portray them in the best and most positive light, but he fails in the implementation because wherever the ideas begin to sound too convincing he steps in with the evolutionist response.
Very objective criticism (and I agree). Miller's book is dull. Said criticism complements my previous message upthread.
Ray
Edited by Cold Foreign Object, : No reason given.
Edited by Cold Foreign Object, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
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