Why do people believe what they believe?

Since Darwin, explicitly left it out of the Origin of Species it would have to have been added later. I'm not aware of that happening at any time.The way they are connected is that all the sciences have some contact and little bits of overlap. For example, chemistry and physics. Some more "affinity" than others. Clearly a biologist would be interested in both how life evolves and how it started. However, this would only be at a general level. The specialists working in one area or another would almost certainly be focussed on one or the other.Evolutionary theory concerns changes in the geneomes of populations of organizations. Since these populations are already living things there is no way that abiogenesis is an issue.However, evolutionary theory might be of interest to those studying the origin of life. "Pre-biotic evolution" is one approach used to think about how life may have arisen. That is why the interest in self-replicating but not 'alive' molecules.This is a somewhat closer connection than using genetic algorithms to design things. We don't think that aircraft engineering is part of the ToE though do we? (or do we? )

Well you might note that some YEC organization suggest that the 2nd law argument is not a valid one to use.http://www.answersingenesis.org/.../v24n2_moving_forward.aspThere are some topics on it on EvCforum. There are also real physicists here to discuss it with. That argument is wrong.If you want to move on beyond it you can get into information theory arguments if you want. You will find them, on occasion, a bit of heavy going.

I don't necessarily know that abiogenesis is kept completely and utterly separated from discussions of evolution. In fact I'd say it isn't. It's just that the connection is only one that arises naturally because both are discussing something about life.Also, the constant tangling of them up by creationist organizations makes it easy to become confused.However, if you just consider what evolution is about, specifically the ToE, you should be able to decide for yourself whether they are the "same thing" or only part of a continuum of scientific endeavour. You don't gotta take my word for it.

(note: first attempt at reply to this got to "perfectnav" page, again ok the second time)This is wondering off topic. Perhaps we should start another thread if ppl want to?