Replies

"I took graduate level classes in evolution because I liked and respected the professors who taught them. I asked one what he would do if someone DID prove evolution is false. He said it would be a real kick in the nuts at first, and then it would be exciting because it would force him to rethink so many things. That is the sort of intellectual honesty I loved to encounter."

Would be nice to see the same intellectual honesty on the other side.

"Of course common descent is a fact. The variety of dogs demonstrates common descent. Common descent is NOT evolutionary theory - if you think it is, then you are very ignorant."

Now you are just being intentionally dense. Common descent means we share an ancestor with all other life, and you knew I meant that. At the roots of the Tree of Life, it gets more tricky, but we certainly share a common ancestor with other apes. That is a fact. That is the fact of evolution I am talking about. The way we evolved is the ToE.

"I'm inclined to disagree - I think the arguements in "Darwin's Black Box" are more formidible than evolutionists give them credit for being. "

Behe accepts common descent too.

"But when you say evolution is a fact, and that there can be no debate or discussion of alternatives, you go too far."

Since I never said no debate or discussion is allowed, I will disregard your fictional statement.

"Intelligent Design is an alternative explanation."

ID is an argument from ignorance. It's a gutless choice. It has no physical evidence, it makes no testable predictions. It's Creationism with an ugly dress on.

"Would be nice to see the same intellectual honesty on the other side."

There are jerks everywhere. They are found on both sides. I have had professors screaming spit into my face for asking a question. Fortunately, I also had good professors.

"Now you are just being intentionally dense. Common descent means we share an ancestor with all other life, and you knew I meant that. At the roots of the Tree of Life, it gets more tricky, but we certainly share a common ancestor with other apes. That is a fact. That is the fact of evolution I am talking about. The way we evolved is the ToE."

I was pointing out that 'common descent' is to the debate on evolution like 'pro-choice' is to the debate on abortion.

"ID is an argument from ignorance. It's a gutless choice. It has no physical evidence, it makes no testable predictions. It's Creationism with an ugly dress on."

In fact, ID is analogous to 'pro-life' or 'common descent' - an attempt to make an arguement socially acceptable. But it is certainly NOT gutless. I'll take far more heat for suggesting ID than you will ever take for promoting evolution - oops, 'common descent'!

I would also be curious as to the testable predictions in evolution...