Replies

In his op-ed "Evolution's bottom line," published in The New York Times (May 12, 2006), Holden Thorp emphasizes the practical applications of evolution, writing, "creationism has no commercial application. Evolution does"

Applications of evolution? I assume he mentioned naziism, communism, and eugenics programs?

Applications for religious fundamentalism: flying airplanes into buildings. Perhaps we should compare the number of evolution opponents who have flown airplanes into buildings with the number of biology teachers that have done so.

Perhaps we should compare the number of clergymen convicted of child molestation with the number of biology teachers convicted of child molestation. Ideas apparently do have consequences.

Applications of evolution? I assume he mentioned naziism, communism, and eugenics programs?

I suppose that naziism, communism and eugenics are good examples of things that are not applications of evolution, but are commonly claimed to be by individuals who do not understand evolution.

Applications of evolution? I assume he mentioned naziism, communism, and eugenics programs?

Who knows. However, there is certainly a huge commercial application for Intelligent Design. It's called the biotech industry....

Applications of evolution? I assume he mentioned naziism, communism, and eugenics programs?

I will address the last point--eugenics: Evolution was not the first to address the idea of eugenics--the movement devoted to improving the human species by controlling heredity. To wit:

"The Angel of God said...he [Ishmael and his descendants] shall be a wild ass of a man; his hand against all, and the hand of everyone against him, and he shall live before [literally against/counter/subversively/rebeliously] all his brothers..." (Gen 16:12).

"As it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau [tradition says Esau married into Ishmael's lineage] I have hated." (Rom 9:13; cf Mal 1:2-3).

"...Thus sayeth the Lord concerning Edom [aka Esau et al], '...the House of Jacob shall be a fire, the House of Joseph shall be a flame; but the House of Esau shall be stubble; they shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the House of Esau' For the Lord has spoken..."(Ob 1, 18).

"What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion...therefore he has mercy on whom he wills and whom he wills he hardens..." (Rom 9:14-15, 18 cf. Ex.33:19).

"...you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven..."(Deut 25:19).

"...And you shall destroy all the peoples [Listed among the peoples were: Hittites, Amalekites, Amorites, Jebusites, Philistines (aka Phoneceans/Eastern Greeks) even tribal relations such as the Midianites, Aramites and Moabites if they got in the way]...your eye shall have no pity on them..."(Deut 7:16).

"...And they warred against the Midianites, just as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed all the males...and Isreal took all the women...the little ones...captive...and burnt all the cities...[now kill every woman]...every male child, and every female [not a virgin]... (Num 31:7, 9-10, 15, 17-18).

"One of them, a prophet of their own, said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.' This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them [Cretans] sharply, that they may be sound in faith..." (Titus 1:12).

"...all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ...Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever... "(I Co 10:4; Heb 13:8).

Space is short. One could mention Jacob using eugenics to make a superior herd from his uncle's flocks. One could site Romans 11, as well as the gospels, as literal or metaphorical stories using husbandry/eugenic techniques concerning animals and plants to strengthen the species, or the good characteristics within the valued species. The stories also showed that the bible destroys the cowardly, the useless breeds, and unfit characteristics. Christ did not even spare an olive tree that bore no fruit. That's some powerful eugenics!

You're point on eugenics as a manifestation of evolution ALONE does not hold up against the weight of evidence in your own bible. Personally, I do not subscribe to eugenics which may have something to do with my current belief system.