Posted on 05/28/2008 6:09:31 AM PDT by Sopater
Oh, but it most certainly did evolve. If you look at the fossil record, you'll see fossil hominids from the last several million years with gradually increasing cranial capacities: chimps have 350 cubic centimeters, Astrolopithicus aferensis 415 cc's (3 million years ago), Astrolopithicus africanus 500 cc's (2.5 milion years ago), Homo habilius 700 cc's (2 million years ago), Homo erectus 850-1100 cc's (1 million years ago), Homo sapiens 1400 cc's (150,000 years ago). Now we don't have enough fossil evidence for human evolution to be able to say what the direct relationships between these species are, but the general trend is very clear.
There's further evidence from genetics. If you look at the chimp genome and the human genome, it becomes very clear that they share a common ancestor (which various lines of evidence indicates lived 5 to 7 million years ago). For example, both genomes contain "endogenous retroviruses," DNA from certain kinds of viruses that splice their DNA into the host's genes. If such a virus infects a germ-line cell (an egg or sperm), the DNA can become a permanent but harmless snip of DNA in the species' genome. It turns out chimps and humans have some of the exact same snips of this viral DNA in the exact same locations in their genomes.
ping for later
Makes about as much sense as claiming that the Founding Fathers understood chemistry because they were well versed in Phlogiston theory.
It is for the "special creation" proponents. You see very few people explicitly express a belief in this position, but the arguments seem to invariably and implicitly steer the debate in that direction. It's quite curious, really.
You are, as ever, exceedingly predictable.
Nothing but looking down your nose at others. My how superior you must feeeeeeeel.
Barton received a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious education from Oral Roberts University in 1976 and an honorary Doctor of Letters from Pensacola Christian College, but has no academic qualifications in history.Barton serves on the Board of Advisors of the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, publisher of a controversial Bible curriculum for use in public schools.
In an article titled Unconfirmed Quotations, Barton admitted he has not located primary sources for a few of the alleged quotes from James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions, but maintains that this is not important to his central thesis because they are consistent with the views of the Founders.
In other words, fake but accurate!
Sounds like another quote-mining fundamentalist who believes the methods of apologetics can be applied to other, legitimate, fields of study.
An excellent point. I will hazard a guess that if the stars had their DNA, they would be after the astronomers too.
Certain subjects are just touchier than others. Let's sue natural selection for giving the species this characteristic.
Gould had a great essay about how Copernicus removed man from the center of the universe (and thus caught the ire of the “we are the darling of the infinite, and therefore must be at the center” crowd), and Darwin and Paleontology removed man from the beginning of the universe (thus catching the ire of the “we are the darling of the infinite, and therefore must be present right from the beginning” contingent).
OK, actually it was Gould quoting Freud, who, of course, shoehorned himself in there with Darwin and Copernicus (a bit of engaging in self love and ego, while decrying the self love and ego of others).
“Sigmund Freud often remarked that great revolutions in the history of science have but one common, and ironic, feature: they knock human arrogance off one pedestal after another of our previous conviction about our own self-importance. In Freud's three examples, Copernicus moved our home from center to periphery, Darwin then relegated us to “descent from an animal world”; and, finally (in one of the least modest statements of intellectual history), Freud himself discovered the unconscious and exploded the myth of a fully rational mind.”
Fake but “accurate” quotes of the founders that cannot be substantiated? Sheesh. It is not like the founders didn't write a TON of material that could be quote mined to any Creationist Cretins hearts content; they actually have to make up quotes? What a despicable and loathsome tactic.
Thanks for pointing this out, Coyoteman. As a basically honest person, and someone living in the ‘automatic authentication’ Internet age, I unfortunately assume that nobody would be so crass and foolish as to proffer bogus quotes. I should know by now that there is no depths so low that the professional liars known as “Creationists” will not willingly sink to it.
I never get any offer of scientific evidence from creationist/IDers, yet they want their objections tought in school.
Admit it in the war between truth and ignorance, you fight for the army of ignorance in the superstition regiment.
While I think Barton has done something positive by stimulating some
discussion of “what did the Founders really think and/or intend?”,
I think his work should be taken with a “trust, but verify” when he
puts forth quotations.
Barton should learn that when making incorrect attributions,
it’s like “ringing a bell that can’t be unrung”.
For more on that:
“Unconfirmed Quotations” on Barton’s WallBuilders website
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=126
Background on “Unconfirmed Quotations”
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=126#background
I do give Barton credit for posting the article and including annotations
after either finding the quote or learning that the quote is actually
in a different source.
He should also thank the critics for reducing the chance of future
embarassment.
As they say in the publishing world, the person who finds the errors
in your publication (preferably BEFORE going to press) is your friend,
no matter how biting in their review and fact-checking.
Kamura’s neutral mutation theory was not a scientific advancement of the theory of evolution through natural selection? How about founder effect? Discovery of ERV’s? The sequencing of the Genome?
When one drinks from the wells of ignorance one apparently drinks DEEP.
Nothing but looking down your nose at others. My how superior you must feeeeeeeel.
As usual you happily show off your inferiority complex.
Hey, that's your problem. If you want to read all kinds of things into facts that I state, then go ahead.
I'm still wondering how the eye “evolved” or the heart “evolved”.
BTW, NEVER, EVER look at how flawed the latest dating methods are ... . Nah, believe whatever you wish. Believe that the “eye” evolved. Believe that life came from inatimate sources and suddenly came to life. Believe that come sophistication found in all living things randomly “evolved”.
Psssst - no matter how often (length of time) I throw and small unassembled car in the air, it won't land assembled - no matter how long I do it. Life will not suddenly happen either. Believe there is no God. It's okay. Just pointing out how silly some folks are ... .
BTW, NEVER, EVER look at how flawed the latest dating methods are ... . Nah, believe whatever you wish. Believe that the “eye” evolved. Believe that life came from inanimate sources and suddenly came to life. Believe that come sophistication found in all living things randomly “evolved”.
Psssst - no matter how often (length of time) I throw and small unassembled car in the air, it won't land assembled - no matter how long I do it. Life will not suddenly happen either. Believe there is no God. It's okay. Just pointing out how silly some folks are ... .
BTW, NEVER, EVER look at how flawed the latest dating methods are ... . Nah, believe whatever you wish. Believe that the “eye” evolved. Believe that life came from inanimate sources and suddenly came to life. Believe that come sophistication found in all living things randomly “evolved”.
Psssst - no matter how often (length of time) I throw and small unassembled car in the air, it won't land assembled - no matter how long I do it. Life will not suddenly happen either. Believe there is no God. It's okay. Just pointing out how silly some folks are ... .
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