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Author Topic:   Where are all the apes leading up to humans?
articulett
Member (Idle past 3372 days)
Posts: 49
Joined: 06-15-2010


Message 36 of 67 (653413)
02-20-2012 9:38 PM


Some of our hominid cousins do survive in our DNA:
Not Found - The New York Times
Great recent article for anyone ACTUALLY interested in the subject. (I don't believe that creationists are.)

  
articulett
Member (Idle past 3372 days)
Posts: 49
Joined: 06-15-2010


Message 37 of 67 (653414)
02-20-2012 9:52 PM


Most dead things rot away as they are eaten by living things-- even fungi and bacteria. We are lucky to get the fossils we get.
But I don't think anyone who understands the DNA can possibly deny evolution. It's considered a fact verified in stunning detail via the genetic record: http://www.sciencedaily.com/...ases/2010/05/100512131513.htm
I don't think we even have this much evidence for germ theory, atomic theory or the theory of gravity.
Only those who imagine themselves saved for believing a particular magic story (and damned for doubt) seem to be capable of denying such evidence-- usually fundamentalist Christians and Muslims. And I find that they do so by being incurious and making sure they keep ignorant of any new discoveries that threaten their faith.
The majority of Christians around the world seem to accept evolution including Ken Miller who edits many biology texts and Francis Collins.
I'm not sure how they maintain their Christianity given the impossibility of "Adam and Eve" however. Adam and Eve: the ultimate standoff between science and faith (and a contest!) – Why Evolution Is True

Replies to this message:
 Message 39 by CrytoGod, posted 02-21-2012 12:14 AM articulett has replied

  
articulett
Member (Idle past 3372 days)
Posts: 49
Joined: 06-15-2010


Message 38 of 67 (653415)
02-20-2012 10:08 PM


I don't know how to embed videos, but this seems to be a good thread to goof on creationists via a Family Guy episode:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRJ8DMyBLTc

  
articulett
Member (Idle past 3372 days)
Posts: 49
Joined: 06-15-2010


Message 63 of 67 (653516)
02-22-2012 1:04 AM
Reply to: Message 39 by CrytoGod
02-21-2012 12:14 AM


I get my science from scientists--
not people who imagine themselves saved for what they believe.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 39 by CrytoGod, posted 02-21-2012 12:14 AM CrytoGod has not replied

  
articulett
Member (Idle past 3372 days)
Posts: 49
Joined: 06-15-2010


(12)
Message 64 of 67 (653517)
02-22-2012 1:30 AM
Reply to: Message 45 by CrytoGod
02-21-2012 2:02 AM


What counts as "evidence" to someone who is afraid they'll go to hell if they don't believe a particular creation story?
What do YOU imagine the world would look like if evolution WAS true-- how do you imagine it would be different?
In your mind is this what the world would look like if an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent being was in charge? --Cancer, malformations, all kinds of kinky animal sex, a huge and wasteful amount of spermatazoa, ebola, Tay Sachs disease, extinctions, suffering, bugs that eat other bugs alive... an entire universe with mostly no life at all... etc.
I mean it's a great world (though not what I'd expect of an omnipotent being), but what exactly is your alternative hypothesis-- God did it? How is that more useful than saying "it's magic"?
In science, hypothesis must be able to predict new evidence to become a theory-- and a scientific theory is the best explanation for the observed facts. I think even you might be able to understand this with germ theory, for example. Sure, demons could be causing illness as many people believed (including your bible writers), but that belief doesn't allow us to learn more. The idea that micro-organisms cause disease does... hence modern medicine.
So what is your hypothesis and what can it predict? Evolution has given us forensic tests and paternity tests and flu vaccines and tiktaalik (etc. etc.) So what can you hypothesis do for us? How is it useful and how can scientists learn more? How can we know if it's not true? How would things be different if it wasn't true? Why should someone not afraid of hell give credence to the notions of those who are? (Don't those afraid of hell have a vested interest in deluding themselves?) How can we compare your hypothesis with other unfalsifiable claims (like that we are in a Matrix or an experiment of aliens from a parallel universe?)
Scientists are interested in the truth-- not what somebody thinks you should believe to be saved. It's the only way we can learn more and bring forth the modern marvels of today's world.
So-- how does your (so far unexplained) alternative hypothesis explain the evidence better than the theory of evolution? Because if it can't or doesn't, then scientists can't or won't care about it. It's just more "woo".
I strongly suggest you stop the silly cut and paste jobs. It makes you look as stupid, crazy, and dishonest as the people you are cutting and pasting from. The ONLY people who take such nutters seriously are people like you-- those who think that they must believe nonsense in order to be "saved".
Edited by articulett, : No reason given.
Edited by articulett, : corrected typos

This message is a reply to:
 Message 45 by CrytoGod, posted 02-21-2012 2:02 AM CrytoGod has not replied

  
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