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To: Alamo-Girl
I gave the site as an example because their theory replaces the (Darwin) "Theory of Evolution" by saying that the diversity comes primarily from cosmic seeding and not by random mutation and natural selection. So it appears the cosmic side of their theory cannot be uncoupled from the biological.

I understand that panspermia relies upon genetic material from space, but that doesn't make it a "cosmological" theory. It's a biological theory that involves material from outer space ending up on earth. Cosmology is about the large-scale structure of the Universe. Neither panspermia, nor the (biological) Theory of Evolution provide an explanatory framework for the large scale structure of the Universe and how it changes over time.

"Tribune7's" point was to buttress the earlier assertion by "Fester..." that the "Theory of Evolution" encompassed not only the Origin of the species, but also origin of Life and Origin of the Universe.

I have patiently pointed out for many posts now to both of them that this is NOT the case. That said, Panspermia is an alternative BIOLOGICAL theory that happens to involve life in the "cosmos"... but that doesn't make IT a Cosmological theory, either.

3,422 posted on 01/07/2003 9:57:51 AM PST by longshadow
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To: All; Fester Chugabrew; Alamo-Girl; betty boop; Tribune7; f.Christian; exmarine; scripter
It has been my observation that for evil to progress it must deceive. It has to be able to appear to be what it is not in order to advance in our culture and in our own individual lives. Few of us, if any, choose evil because it is evil. We choose evil after having been seduced by charming words and images or persuaded by the lying desires of our own sinful nature. Paul Proctor

The Christian worldview is not unscientific or simpleminded or anti-intellectual. It is the only plausible explanation for the universe. Chuck Colson, The Body

The fundamental basis of this nation's law was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus, Matthew, Isaiah and Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don't have the proper fundamental moral background, we will finally wind up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the state. Harry S. Truman

That's the way God created us and how evolution designed us. Albert Gore [This is the core of new age religion—mixing up different, diametrically opposed worldviews. Are your beliefs in line with Al Gore & Company? GAG ME!]

What the Bible is to Christians, the Humanist Manifesto I, Humanist Manifesto II, and Humanist Manifesto 2000 is to the humanists. These publications represent the official position of the humanist movement, and each is accepted as the current humanist beliefs, ideas, values, and goals. The manifestos show how confident humanists are in their ultimate triumph. Many of the signers of the Manifestos are leaders in education, government and the Unitarian clergy. All promote atheism, evolution, amorality, and world government [globalism] among other things. Tim LaHaye, Mind Siege

The Founders believed that Christianity's influence on this world produced at least five tangible benefits: (1) a civilized society, (2) self-governing individuals, (3) good citizens, (4) elevated academic achievements, and (5) a stable society with a common value basis. David Barton, Wall Builders, The Practical Benefits of Christianity

...[When I was an atheist] my argument against God was that the universe seemed cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. C.S. Lewis

While many have doubted the accuracy of the Bible, time and [archeology] have consistently demonstrated that the Word of God is better informed than its critics. Norman Geisler

Priority must always be given to tangible, objective data, and to external evidence, over subjective theory or speculative opinions. Facts must control theory, not vice versa. Kenneth Kitchen


...No temais una muerte gloriosa
Que morir porla patria es vivar

...Do not fear a glorious death
To die for the Fatherland is to live.

Excerpt from the Cuban National Anthem (points to the hijacking of Christian beliefs into counterfeit Christianity)


The fundamental flaw in [the agnostic's] position is his claim to have knowledge of what he declares to be unknowable. In other words, if it were true that reality cannot be known, no one, including [the agnostic], would know it...agnosticism boils down to the claim: "I know that reality is unknowable." Norman L. Geisler, Peter Bocchino

We are not dealing with anything like a superficial resemblance between DNA and a written text. We are not saying DNA is like a message. Rather, [we are saying] DNA is a message. Hupert Yockey

Each of our beliefs and assertions represents the world as being a certain way, and the belief or assertion is true if the world is that way, and false if the world is not that way. It is...up to our beliefs and assertions to get the world right; if they don't [we suffer the consequences of a false worldview]. Peter Van Inwagen

In the Old Testament the prophets and psalmists frequently pointed to the impotence of idols as evidence that the gods of the nations were, in fact, false gods. And throughout the Bible the fulfillment of prophecy is emphasized as proof of the true God's sovereign control over the universe. Hank Hanegraaff

In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence. Sir Isaac Newton

We often think that when we have completed our study on one, we know all about two, because 'two is one and one.' We forget that we have still to make a study of 'and.' Sir Arthur Eddington

One reason why many people find [the false idea of the "force" or "life-force"] so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in [a god] and none of the less pleasant consequences. When you are feeling fit and the sun is shining and you do not want to believe that the whole universe is a mere [chance evolution] of atoms, it is nice to be able to think of this great...force rolling on throughout the centuries and carrying you on its crest. If, on the other hand, you want to do something rather shabby, the life-force, being only a blind force, with no morals and no mind, will never interfere with you like that troublesome God we learned about when we were children. The life-force is a sort of tame god. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All the thrills of religion and none of its costs. Is the life-force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the worlds has yet seen? C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Perhaps God hardens Pharaoh's heart as sunshine hardens clay, but the same sunshine melts a pat of butter and warms a frigid nose. The receiving substances, not the sun, often determines the outcome. Chris Blake

...there are three great families of faiths. One is Eastern, which includes Hinduism, Buddhism, and new age, and the essence of its worldview is that they all go back to the same source of reality: an impersonal being. And everything flows out of that. The second big family of faith is the secularists (humanists, naturalists, atheists, agnostics), and the essence of its worldview is that they all go back to the same source of reality: chance plus time plus matter [i.e. evolution]. And everything flows out of that. The third great family of faith is the Judeo-Christian Biblical, and the essence of its worldview is that it goes back to the same source of reality: an infinite, personal God. And everything flows out of that...The popular idea about these faiths is sort of Oprah Winfrey-esque [GAG ME TWICE!]: That there's a common core to them all and we just have to be nice to each other. This is absolute rubbish. When it comes to humanness, and rights and wrongs, justice and freedom, the great families of faiths have entirely different answers. Os Guinness (tweaked slightly for brevity)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. 2 Timothy 3:1-6

A man may proclaim the pure doctrine, but if he does not condemn and refute the opposing false doctrine, does not warn against the wolves in sheep's clothing, the false prophets, and unmask them, he is not a faithful steward of God's mysteries, not a faithful watchman on the walls of Zion, but, as the Word of God says, an unfaithful servant, a dumb dog, a traitor...The pastor cannot wash his hands in innocence, pleading that he has always preached the full truth, if he did not warn against error and, when necessary, identify it by naming the errorist; if his sheep, either while he is still serving or after he had left them for another field, become the prey of ravening wolves in sheep's clothing, he is guilty of their blood. Walther

For over a generation, archaeologists -- led by such distinguished scholars as Kathleen Kenyon -- have been unearthing ruins that, as the historian Paul Johnson writes, have "given us renewed confidence in the actual existence of places and events described in the early Old Testament books." [forgot to record cite/author]

Picture a piece of embroidery placed between you and God, with the right side up toward God. Man sees the loose, frayed ends; but God sees the pattern. Corrie ten Boom

"I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I don't feel it. It believe in God even when He is silent. [I believe in air and gravity even though I don't see it.]" Written on the wall of a prison cell in Europe and quoted (except that in brackets] in Billy Graham's book, 'Til Armageddon

G.K. Chesterton once said, the doctrine of original sin is the only philosophy empirically validated by centuries of recorded human history. Chuck Colson, How Now Shall We Live?

3,427 posted on 01/07/2003 10:11:20 AM PST by viaveritasvita
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To: longshadow
Thank you so much for your post!

Of course, what you are saying is true. Theirs is a biological theory - not a cosmological theory.

I returned to the subject because for the last hundred posts or so, the issue has been whether we can narrow the discussion of the "Theory of Evolution" to exclude first cause, cosmology, information theory, mathematics, physics etc.

The directed panspermia theory blends so tightly with first cause, even in diversification, which they attribute to the cosmos - that it is not possible to narrow the debate.

That is a separate issue from the meaning of the phrase "Theory of Evolution." But it illustrates why it is so difficult to explore the subject.

3,440 posted on 01/07/2003 10:35:54 AM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: longshadow
"Tribune7's" point was to buttress the earlier assertion by "Fester..." that the "Theory of Evolution" encompassed not only the Origin of the species, but also origin of Life and Origin of the Universe.

My point, actually, is that there is more than one theory of evolution being discussed in our culture. I was actually taught the all encompassing view in my high school.

3,447 posted on 01/07/2003 10:46:42 AM PST by Tribune7
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