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Author Topic:   Calling Von Cullen - Anti Evolution Molecular Biologist!!
DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3128 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 16 of 43 (504225)
03-25-2009 12:00 PM
Reply to: Message 12 by Von Cullen
03-25-2009 11:37 AM


Von Cullen writes:
Here is an example provided by a member in the "Evolution of Creationism" thread. The person quotes a section of Darwins Origin of Species.
In the Articulata we can commence a series with an optic nerve merely coated with pigment, and without any other mechanism; and from this low stage, numerous gradations of structure, branching off in two fundamentally different lines, can be shown to exist, until we reach a moderately high stage of perfection. . . With these facts, here far too briefly and imperfectly given, which show that there is much graduated diversity in the eyes of living crustaceans, and bearing in mind how small the number of living animals is in proportion to those which have become extinct, I can see no very great difficulty (not more than in the case of many other structures) in believing that natural selection has converted the simple apparatus of an optic nerve merely coated with pigment and invested by transparent membrane, into an optical instrument as perfect as is possessed by any member of the great Articulate class.
What the poster fails to mention is that Darwin failed to discover an evolutionary pathway used to make the eye.
He didn't fail. He was just not privy to the 150+ years of data that now support the evolution of the eye. He laid the basis for further research and investigation which in the end backed up much of his observations of how evolution through natural selection occurred. Stacks of books and scientific peer-review articles on the evolution of the eye attest to this evolutionary foundation which Darwin set forth.
Would you say that Newton failed in his scientific ideas and theories since Einstein later modified and added to much of Newton's work to more accurately describe gravity and other forces of nature acurately?
Instead, he pointed to modern day animals with different kinds of eyes and suggested that evolution of the human eye MIGHT have involved similar organs as intermediates. At best, Darwin convinced most of the world that a modern eye evolved gradually from a simple structure, but he didnt even try to explain where the starting point - The light sensitive spot - came from.
Could you have even come close to the amount of work that Darwin conducted as a result from his world wide travels, dilligent observation and research of the fauna and flora of living organisms around the world? I think not. Yes, some of his conclusions were flawed (or more accurately put "incomplete") but the majority of his work on evolutionary biology has now been supported time and again by over 99% of biological scientists worldwide.
Von Cullen writes:
When it became apparent that larger complex features could be explained by extant and extinct species (the mammalian middle ear is another good example) the creationists moved to systems which could not leave a fossil record, namely cellular microscopic systems such as bacterial flagellum. With zero chance of a fossil record they wouldn't have to worry about those pesky transitional fossils.
Larger complex features cannot be explained by extant and extinct species. To say that it "could", is a rather weak hypothesis. Saying something "could" have developed in a particular manner isnt the same as providing viable, scientific evidence that it has. This is the problem with societies main stream view of evolutionary science. Possibilities and educated guesses get presented as irrefutable fact.
What is preventing smaller biological changes from adding up to become larger changes? In fact small changes are not just likely to produce larger and more complex biological changes but will unquestioningly produce larger changes with the direction of natural selection, without a doubt.
I have serious doubts of your claims of having a PhD in molecular biology much less being a scientist. And your blatant lies about not being anti-evolution are evident in your baseless accusations here. You are just not credible. Sorry just calling a spade, a spade.
Edited by DevilsAdvocate, : No reason given.
Edited by DevilsAdvocate, : No reason given.

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 12 by Von Cullen, posted 03-25-2009 11:37 AM Von Cullen has not replied

  
DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3128 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 25 of 43 (504234)
03-25-2009 12:32 PM
Reply to: Message 24 by Dr Jack
03-25-2009 12:19 PM


I think Von Cullen does identify a real problem with the presentation of science, however. And it's a very tricky one to solve; subtle distinctions of certainity are hard to communicate.
I think you are giving Von Cullen more credit than he is due. Every respectable scientist understands how scientific language is expressed. It is an honest scientist who state there findings in a tentative format. Absolutes are the realm of religion not true science.
"The doubter is a true man of science; he doubts only himself and his interpretations, but he believes in science." ~Claude Bernard

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 24 by Dr Jack, posted 03-25-2009 12:19 PM Dr Jack has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by DevilsAdvocate, posted 03-25-2009 12:42 PM DevilsAdvocate has not replied

  
DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3128 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 27 of 43 (504236)
03-25-2009 12:42 PM
Reply to: Message 25 by DevilsAdvocate
03-25-2009 12:32 PM


Also the scientific data itself in theories, hypothesis, etc should determine how much certainty we should have in thes findings.
Unfortunately the uneducated and layman have little or no frame of reference on which to determine how much certainty they should have in this data.
That is a problem of educating the public more than it is with the scientist providing the data.
Edited by DevilsAdvocate, : No reason given.

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 25 by DevilsAdvocate, posted 03-25-2009 12:32 PM DevilsAdvocate has not replied

  
DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3128 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 30 of 43 (504247)
03-25-2009 3:55 PM


Just out of curiosity Von Cullen, what was your molecular biology thesis on and what university are you an alumni of? If you can answer these credibly, I will lay off calling your academic claims into question bit.
Edited by DevilsAdvocate, : No reason given.

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

  
DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3128 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 31 of 43 (504249)
03-25-2009 4:15 PM
Reply to: Message 28 by Percy
03-25-2009 2:38 PM


Here is a really intelligent remark from our esteemed Von Cullen"
Von Cullen writes:
Eat shit, you Nazi douchebag.
and
Von Cullen writes:
Surely theres a tree somewhere that needs a hug.
also
Von Cullen writes:
It'd be sad just how fuckin' stupid you are, if it werent so funny.
Von Cullen writes:
C'mon, Goobshit...Quite jack-hammering your cornhole with your thumb and give us one of those pre-teen responses which your so well known for.....
Von Cullen writes:
Listen, you drooling moron....
Need I quote more golden quotes from this Christian "professional scientist"?
found here:
The Raving Atheist Forum
Hmm, Von Cullen sounds like your typical drive by internet troll and enraged against the evils of science & evolution creationist aka Bertot and the like; not your typical professional and intelligent field scientist. I may be wrong but if it walks like a duck...

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 28 by Percy, posted 03-25-2009 2:38 PM Percy has not replied

  
DevilsAdvocate
Member (Idle past 3128 days)
Posts: 1548
Joined: 06-05-2008


Message 40 of 43 (504352)
03-27-2009 1:26 PM
Reply to: Message 39 by Huntard
03-27-2009 1:08 PM


Sorry, I know I am kicking a man when he is down but thought I would do some internet research on this so called S&H Solutions company that Mr. "Von Cullen" belongs to.
S&H Solutions according to there website is located in Suches, GA, an unincorporated town of a little less than 800 people, about 1 hour north of Atlanta, Georgia.
The website for S&H Solutions is a mere 6 pages (home page, contact page, service page, about us, links to OSHA and other safety related websites, and in the news which has no references to anything to do with S& solutions) with 0 outside references or credentials to there credibility. I also conducted an extensive search on the internet for any references to this so-called company and came up with zilch.
I looked at the list of businesses at the Suches, GA website. Guess what? You would think that a construction safety and health consulting company would be listed along side the Parks Builders & Construction, High Valley Construction or even the Kountry Kurls Beauty Shop and Davey's Bar BQ. Guess what? Not a trace of it there.
Also looked on Georgia's Secretary of State list of registered and incorporated businesses (which S&H Solutions claims to be i.e. a LLC). Guess what S&H Solutions is not on this list.
Also this was interesting to note from the Suches website:
Today Suches (The Valley Above the Clouds) is primarily a retirement and farming community with no large stores. Suches is the home of the Wood Gap High School, the smallest public school in Georgia.
Also, this was listed in the Wikipedia entry for Suches, GA:
The current businesses in Suches include Budget Propane, the general store, two motorcycle resorts, Mountain Property Limited (the local realtor) and the U.S. Post Office.
Hmm. No construction safety consulting company!
To me if this company really exists, based on its lack of external references and certifications, it is at most a small office with a few of OSHA certified safety consultants serving a couple of the local construction companies. In no way would a practicing molecular biologist be an employee. My real suspicion is that Mr. "Von Cullen" is a perhaps a teenager who created this website and is claiming things that he isn't.
Mr. "Von Cullen", you may think this a personal attack, and perhaps it is, but there is a clear and poignant reason I am doing this aka truth and honesty. I am sorry but if one thing that peeves me off, it is liars and hypocrites, religious or otherwise. Please prove me wrong on this and I will graciously apologize and retract these accusations.
BTW, this is a beautiful area up in the southern Appalachian Mountains. I just got back from my grandmother's funeral in Atlanta, GA and drove back along the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC and VA just north of this area. It is absolutely gorgeous year round and great for hiking, camping and mountain biking.
Yes, I was a little bored today It is amazing what you can find on there internet!
To protect Mr. "Von Cullen"s identity, I will not disclose the search resources I have used to reveal his identity (and no I did not pay anything to do this).

For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Dr. Carl Sagan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 39 by Huntard, posted 03-27-2009 1:08 PM Huntard has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 41 by Percy, posted 03-27-2009 3:03 PM DevilsAdvocate has not replied

  
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