: Hey, Gideon,I appologize for butting in again, but there are some issues here that I feel should be addressed.
: I'd like your reaction to these statements.
: "The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology,
: and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a
: science founded on an unproved theory--
This is either an innocent mistake or a deliberate attempt to mislead you. The FACT of evolution is in no dispute whatsoever. Species change through time, as Gideon has already pointed out to you, numerous times. The theory of evolution is another matter. Darwin's theory of evolution is that descent, with modification, can account for the diversity of species we see today. Lamarck's theory of evolution was something different, as was Tielhard's, as is Gould and Eldrige's P.E. model,...etc. However, differences of opinion about the mechanism by which species change (which is what the theories attempt to explain) does not imply that there is any disagreement that species do, indeed, change. What the author of this quote is attempting to do is mislead you by implying that diversity of opinion about mechanisms is in some way indicative that there is question about the fact. An analogy would be if some people argue that airplanes fly because wings have aerodynamic properties, while others argue that the thrust provided by the engines is the explanation for flight. Would you conclude from this debate that airplanes don't actually fly? If so, you would be dreadfully mistaken.
:is it then a
: science of a faith?
No because, as has been repeatedly pointed out to you, it has been observed.
:Belief in the theory of evolution is
: thus exactly parallel to belief in special creation --
Did you notice what the author of that quote just did? He asked a question, and then assumed that his ability to ask the question was answer enough. Try this;
is the bible the revealed word or just a pile of pants?
Belief in the bible is thus exactly parallel to belief in Santa Claus.
Does that sentence convince you? I certainly hope not! The logic is completely faulty.
: both are concepts which believers know to be true but
: neither, up to the present, has been capable of
: proof."
This, as Gideon and I, and several others have pointed out to you, is simply a lie. The author of your quote was lying to you. I was under the impression that Christ and Moses advised against bearing false witness, didn't they?
: "The Theory of Evolution is no longer with us,
: because neo-Darwinism is not acknowledged as being unable
: to explain anything more than trivial change,
False assertion again, and note the conspicuous absence of evidence to back up this claim. "(I)s not acknowledged" by whom, for instance? By people who refuse to look at the evidence? The fossils are there, pal, just look. Also, would you care to quantify "trivial" for us?
:and in
: defaulr of some other theory we have none.. despite the
: hostility of witness provided by the fossil record,
Again, the fossil record, while necessarily an incomplete collection, has been a remarkably "friendly" witness to us. The record has only proven "hostile" to the author's bizarre misreading of Genesis.
: despite the innumerable difficulties,
It's nowhere near as difficult as flow dynamics. Do you also reject the theory that water flows downhill because the mathematics that explain the details of how it happens are too complicated?
:and despite the
: lack of even a credible theory,
False witness again. I'd go light some candles if I were the author of this quote. He's racking up quite a number of cardinal sins here. (or is lying a venal sin? I always get those mixed up! ;-)
:evolution survives. Can
: there be any other area of science, for instance, in
: which a concept as intellectually barren as embryonic
: recapitulation could be used as evidence for a
: theory?"
Recapitulation hasn't been considered a part of evolutionary theory since the 1870s. Perhaps your source hasn't read anything that's been written in the past 130 years, but his lack of knowledge of the literature doesn't disprove the theory.
: Any belief in evolution is as much faith as my belief in special creation.
Nope. Just plain wrong, as we've explained several times.
:
: And no, I'm working on the answers to your supposed "contradictions," I haven't conceded them. I'll also be out for the Thanksgiving holidays, so who knows when I'll return. (Is that rejoicing I'm hearing from someone:)?)
No, not rejoicing at all. I actually prefer it when people who disagree with me are here, as it gives me someone to debate with.
: Thanks,
You're welcome. I hope this helps to clear up some of your confusion.
-Floyd
None.
