Pheobe Debates The Theory of Evolution

Original scene from the show... Friends. ^ | NA | NA

[Mr.Atos]

I was just lisening to Medved debating Creationism with Athiests on the air. I found it interesting that while Medved argued his side quite effectively from the standpoint of faith, his opponents resorted to condescension and beliitled him with statements like, "when it rains, is that God crying?" I was reminded of the best (at least most amusing)debate that I have ever heard on the subject of Creationism vs Evolution, albeit a fictional setting. It occurred on the show, Friends of all places between the characters Pheobe (The Hippy) and Ross (The Paleontologist). It went like this...

Pheebs: Okay...it's very faint, but I can still sense him in the building...GO INTO THE LIGHT MR. HECKLES!!

Ross: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What, uh, you don't believe in evolution? Pheebs: Nah. Not really. Ross: You don't believe in evolution? Pheebs: I don't know. It's just, ya know, monkeys, Darwin, ya know, it's a, it's a nice story. I just think it's a little too easy.

Ross: Uh, excuse me. Evolution is not for you to buy, Phoebe. Evolution is scientific fact. Like, like, the air we breathe, like gravity... Pheebs: Uh, okay, don't get me started on gravity.

Ross: You uh, you don't believe in gravity? Pheebs: Well, it's not so much that ya know, like I don't *believe* in it, ya know. It's just...I don't know. Lately I get the feeling that I'm not so much being pulled down, as I am being pushed.

Ross: How can you NOT BELIEVE in evolution? Pheebs: [shrugs] I unh-huh...Look at this funky shirt!!

Ross: Well, there ya go. Pheebs: Huh. So now, the REAL question is: who put those fossils there, and why...?

Ross: OPPOSABLE THUMBS!! Without evolution, how do YOU explain OPPOSABLE THUMBS?!? Pheebs: Maybe the overlords needed them to steer their spacecrafts!

Pheebs: Uh-oh! Scary Scientist Man!

Pheebs: Okay, Ross? Could you just open your mind like, *this* much?? Okay? Now wasn't there a time when the brightest minds in the world believed that the Earth was flat? And up until what, like, fifty years ago, you all thought the atom was the smallest thing, until you split it open, and this like, whole mess o' crap came out! Now, are you telling me that you are so unbelievably arrogant that you can't admit that there's a teeny, tiny possibility that you could be wrong about this?!?

Pheebs: I can't believe you caved. Ross: What? Pheebs: You just ABANDONED your whole belief system! I mean, before, I didn't agree with you, but at least I respected you. Ross: But uh.. Pheebs: Yeah...how...how are you gonna go in to work tomorrow? How...how are you gonna face the other science guys? How...how are you gonna face yourself? Oh! [Ross runs away dejected] Pheebs: That was fun. So who's hungry?

[NewLand]

Thanks Trib. The truth and the facts are always enjoyable.

[ALS]

"virtual ignore list"

another evo-myth

[ALS]

the agreement is not in effect son, and when it is, your definition of it will be meaningless, especially since you opted to continue to not behave.

[NewLand]

good night...

[Alamo-Girl]

Since y'all have dropped the subject - I will have nothing to say on the matter directly, but I would like to remind y'all of one thing.

When a flame war is going on, particularly an intense and long standing one, people are likely much, much more sensitive and irritable than they would be under normal circumstances. Even with the agreement, the jitters will continue for some time. It takes time to heal. But the important step is to look forward and not back.

IMHO, "dropping it" was the right thing to do even though we aren't yet at an effective date for the agreement.

[ALS]

right on

[ALS]

nito!

[Aric2000]

Here's where we are going to have the problem AG.

Any time we ask a specific question about the veracity of a quote, the athenticity of a statement, it is going to be viewed as an attack.

A thorough discussion regarding the motivation of the posts will be considered "Not behaving".

Sorry, when the other side gets to make the rules as we go along, as to what is and what is NOT proper behavior, this little agreement is NOT going to work at all.

I was very polite, I did NOT attack, I stated the facts as I saw them, yet I am being classified as misbehaving?

I am the one being attacked now, ALS is doing his incessant attack and whine bit, Newland is bitching about the fact that I am actually responding to his silly charges about Dimensio, and yet I am the one that is "misbehaving".

This ain't gonna work out too well at the rate your side is going.

So either figure out what it is you actually want to accomplish, and try to enforce it, or just forget the whole thing.

Have a great evening AG.

Good night.

[ALS]

A. You aren't signing on, so what are you whining about?
B. You do realize that an agreement is the opposite of "making rules as we go along".
C. The agreement doesn't bind us up in sackcloth so you can beat on us.
D. Life consists of incentives and disincentives. This reality is inculcated in any agreement. Give that some thought...
E. My addendum is a direct response in anticipation of what you are doing. And sure enough, you proved it a good idea in record time. I'm sure I'm not the only one that is thinking that there are some on here that see this agreement like they see the bible. Documents that restrict the abider for easier abusing by those outside the documents. Anyone that thinks that, is not only ignorant, but in for the usual surprises and disappointments.

[ALS]

One more thing. Given the disrespect and bashing you've hurled at Alamo-Girl recently, I find it rather hypocritical you run to her for validation.

Don't you think you should apologize for impuning her character and credibility if you are going to seek her judgement?
You can't have both.

don't make me post the links...

[Aric2000]

Give it a rest ALS, I know what I said, and she knows what I said.

And given the disrespect that you have given EVERYONE that disagrees with you in any way shape or form, you have no room to talk whatsoever, let alone judge.

so give it a rest, oh holier then thou man.

And it is time for me to get some sleep, so good night there ALS, perhaps you should get some rest too, your whining is getting a bit loud.

[ALS]

Total failure to explain why you seek validation from someone you impune.
I think you should apologize.

If you want a rest, then cease the hypocrisy, and the projection of your whining on observers of it.

You think you could post without my name sprinkled in it?
That would be novel.

[ALS]

reference:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/952079/posts?page=676#676
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/952079/posts?page=666#666

[jennyp]

placemarker

[ThinkPlease]

Too early in the AM placemarker.

[Junior]

I didn't find your joke to be "Christian bashing." Indeed, you included St. Peter in a positive light, so Catholics will definitely not be offended. The only persons you poked fun at were fundamentalist Christians, and they are a very small minority of total Christians.

Of course, there are some on these threads incapable of detecting such blatant "nuances;" they associate fundamentalist bashing with Christian bashing not being able of discerning the difference.

[ALS]

here's the joke that junior doesn't find offensive:
===

Here's a joke for you, made me laugh my ass off, thought that I would share.
From Aric2000 | 07/29/2003 11:11 PM CDT new

A Pagan died and, much to her surprise, found herself at the Pearly
Gates facing St. Peter. He walked up to her and said, "Hello, and
welcome."
She stared at St. Peter in complete confusion. "Wait a minute," she
said. "I was supposed to end up in the Summerlands." He smiled. "Ah, you
must be one of our Pagan sisters. Follow me, please."

Peter gestured for her to follow him down a small path which went
through the gates and down a bit to the left. They walked for a short
while, then he stepped back and gestured her forward. Looking past his hand,
she saw the verdant fields and forests of her desired Summerlands. She saw
people feasting, dancing, and making merry, exactly as she expected.
While standing there in wonder, the Pagan happened to glance over to one
side and saw a small group of people near the edge of the Summerlands. The
people in the group were watching the revelers, but not joining them.
Instead, they were screaming and weeping piteously.

The Pagan looked at St. Peter. "Who are those people?"

St. Peter replied, "Them? They're fundamentalists. They're a bit
surprised to see you all there, so they stand there and carry on like
that all day."

"Why? Don't they have better things to do?" asked the Pagan.

Peter leaned conspiratorially toward her. "They don't really have a
choice. They're actually in Hell. God doesn't like being told what He
thinks."

[Junior]

Many, many moons ago, when I was working my way through college as a busboy, I worked in a restaurant in Pensacola. The local Bible college used to send its students out to preach from street corners as part of their graduate requirements. One day, one of the waitresses who worked at the restaurant (and with whom I graduated high school) came to work crying. Seems that one of the corner preachers had latched onto her being blonde and driving a red convertible and had told her she was doomed to Hell.

That was what really clinched it for me. Fundamentalists are like the salesman in The Music Man. The create a problem -- "You are doomed to Hell!" -- then they offer their solution. They are not like Christ in this regard. He taught love and forgiveness. He gave people hope. They teach death and destruction and drive people to despair. Their's is a dark view of God and the afterlife, and the only people they attract are those that can be frightened into following their particular brand of religion.

[ALS]

moronic Christian bashing @ post #1176

[ALS]

toss in #1178