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Author Topic:   TOE and the Reasons for Doubt
AnswersInGenitals
Member (Idle past 151 days)
Posts: 673
Joined: 07-20-2006


(2)
Message 136 of 530 (527830)
10-02-2009 7:14 PM
Reply to: Message 129 by Peg
10-02-2009 1:12 AM


Simple tests for complex theories.
Peg, Christianity, like evolution, can be treated as a theory - a very ambitious 'theory of everything' that attempts to explain (all theories are "attempts to explain") everything observable in the universe. Like all good theories, it makes many predictions so that its validity can be tested. So, let us look at one of these predictions and compare it to the comparable prediction made by Darwin's theory of evolution.
Christianity's theory of disease is that all disease is a curse created by god to punish man for Adam's disobedience. This is a very reasonable and logical theory. God gives Adam many great gifts, including life and wife, and makes one simple, almost inconsequential request in return. Adam violates this request and god is quite justifiably pissed off and curses Adam, and all mankind, with disease. A simple, straightforward prediction can immediately be made from this theory: humans will have no immune system to protect them from disease. According to the Christian theory, for humans to have an immune system would be like sentencing a felon to be whipped, but then strapping a wooden board to his back so that he feels no discomfort, or imprisoning someone for some misdeed, but leaving all the gates and doors unlocked so that he is free to come and go as he wishes. I. e., this wouldn't be done and by the same token, there would be no immune system.
What does the theory of evolution predict? The theory of evolution predicts that if an immune system is a physiological and biochemical possibility, it will sooner or later evolve into existence since it would confer a very strong survival advantage to any individuals and species that possessed it. But the theory of evolution goes much further than this in making specific predictions. It predicts that if an immune system does come into existence, pathogens will then evolve to evade or neutralize that immune system, also for the survival advantage of doing so. And it predicts that the immune system will further evolve to counter the array of defenses that the pathogens have evolved for their survival. I. e., the theory of evolution predicts that any immune system that comes into existence will quickly (in geological time) evolve to be very flexible with the ability to blanket a whole host of pathogens in a great variety of ways.
Thus we have two very different theories that make two very different (diametrically opposed, really) predictions about how human physiology will react to the existence of disease. And reality can easily be checked to see which, if either, prediction is borne out. What does the evidence show? I'm sure that you yourself have recovered from some disease or other on at least several occasions and are therefor aware of the evidence. It shows that immune systems are physiologically and biochemically possible - almost every species of animal, plant, and even bacteria has several immune systems at its disposal - and the existence of all these immune systems falsifies the Theory of Christianity (ToC) and confirms in detail the Theory of Evolution (ToE).
Even more detailed and specific tests can be performed, for the ToC posits that forgiveness and redemption from god's wrath can be achieved by anyone who accepts Jesus as his personal savior and is born again in Christ. Thus, or so the theory would predict, at the moment one is baptized, anointed, or proclaimed to be born again, they should acquire an effective or enhanced immune system. This prediction is also subject to very easy testing. Just find some individuals who have seen the errors of their ways and are coming forth to be reunited with their savior and are also willing to have blood samples taken immediately before and immediately after their rebirth. Diagnostic procedures exist to test the quantity and quality of immune components in the blood and can be used to confirm or refute this further prediction of the ToC. Or we could just check the morbidity rates for Believer and non-Believer populations.
This is the kind of scientific research your creationist and intelligent design advocates should be conducting.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 129 by Peg, posted 10-02-2009 1:12 AM Peg has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 137 by pandion, posted 10-03-2009 1:00 AM AnswersInGenitals has replied
 Message 141 by Peg, posted 10-03-2009 9:19 AM AnswersInGenitals has not replied

  
AnswersInGenitals
Member (Idle past 151 days)
Posts: 673
Joined: 07-20-2006


Message 138 of 530 (527875)
10-03-2009 1:43 AM
Reply to: Message 137 by pandion
10-03-2009 1:00 AM


Re: Simple tests for complex theories.
So much for "...ask and it shall be given..." Perhaps prayer is like all those paranormal phenomena that only work when no skeptics are there to observe them.
Can anyone think of any other testable predictions that the Theory of Christianity makes? If Buzsaw were still posting here he would propose a whole slew of biblical prophesies, although the tests demonstrating the fulfillment of those prophesies have been somewhat equivocal. Does the apparition of the Virgin Mary in a potato chip count? It's really the proponents of the ToC that should be proposing and performing such tests.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by pandion, posted 10-03-2009 1:00 AM pandion has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 160 by AdminNosy, posted 10-03-2009 10:42 AM AnswersInGenitals has not replied

  
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