your great post deserves to be repeated. I too, mostly lurk. I'm far from a scientist and sort of a poor mans theologian. I throw my two cents in when I feel like it, but not as eloquently as you.
For anyone that has ever wondered...we lurkers do notice and appreciate the difference between the two "camps".
Those that believe in evolution and make an intelligent, reasoned case for it, often providing links and scientific data. They almost always stay calm but enjoy poking the other side in the ribs(and honestly how could one not, when a lot of the other side believe that man lived with dinos and the earth is only 6000 years old) Some believe in God,others don't.
I have seen creationists, some in scientific or mathematic fields, argue for their side the same way. But by far, the majority resort to all CAPS tirades about burning in hell, evolution is a religion, bizarre conspiracy theories about evo out to persecute and destroy christianity, no christian could believe yadda yadda yadda and still be a True Christian...and so it goes.
And I gotta say, a lot of times you can detect an obvious form of *higher education envy* on the part of some in the more hateful hysterical posts.
These debates are the most educational, interesting and entertaining threads on FR.
*higher education envy*
That may be your perception, but it is wrong.
Wolf
Yeah, it's sad.
That's the major reason I partake. The quality of the creo opposition has varied over the years; early on were the thoughtful ones (very few of whom show up in current threads), but beginning with the Crevo Wars of 2003 the quality of posters dropped considerably, even after all the bannings. Of the 80 or so names on the "Black Wall" a goodly portion were lost during this time.
Thanks much to you...I am usually just a lurker, such as yourself, and appreciate that you have been following this thread and like all other lurkers and other posters, you can see for yourself, who argues and discusses the matter in what particular way...that is the precise reason why I do not like any posts to ever be deleted, which sometimes does happen on various threads(tho I understand, that many of the deleted posts are really extremely vulgar posts, and not really appropriate for FR readers...still my personal opinion is that even really vulgar posts have their purpose, namely that they expose the poster)...
But I will mention something that I had not thought of...the posters who resort to using the CAPS tactic...I always get a laugh at that...yeah, use all those CAPS, so we can imagine you shouting away during your tirade...its like a child having a temper tantrum...if you cannot get your point across by normal dialog, then by all means shout louder and louder...its generally a useless tactic, as the other posters and lurkers know, that the poster using the all CAPS method, is now in the shout mode, and who knows where it will go from there...but its always fun to watch...
Again, thanks for your comments, and you should join in once in a while...your description of yourself, regarding both science and theology, is also an apt description of myself, yet the way we can learn is to read, to discuss, and then come to a better understanding...Join in...
And if you want, ask PatrickHenry to add you to his ping list...that way you can be alerted to all pertinent threads concerning the evo/creation/ID debate...in that way, you will be sure to miss nothing...