[LiteKeeper]

I am well aware of the position that says evolutionary theory has to do with the change in living organisms. I am also well aware of the fact that evolutionists refuse to discuss origins. But the assumption in evolutionary theory is that the original life form "just happened" - some times referred to as abiogenesis. Pasteur proved, and others have confirmed that abiogenesis is impossible. So, if we can establish that it didn't "just happen" then we need to posit where it did come from. And if the answer is a Creator, then that puts evolution on shaky ground.

[Dimensio]

But the assumption in evolutionary theory is that the original life form "just happened"

Evolutionary theory contains no attempt at explaining the ultimate origins of life. You are either misinformed or you are lying. Abiogenesis is not a part of evolution, it is a completely seperate matter.

[jennyp]

Pasteur proved, and others have confirmed that abiogenesis is impossible.

No, Pasteur proved that enormous multicelled creatures - maggots, IIRC - do not spontaneously form from meat left in a jar within a few weeks.

Abiogenesis is the theory that organic chemicals came together & formed autocatalytic or cross-catalytic relationships that kept replicating themselves, thus keeping their existence above the general "chemical noise". If so, some of the principles of evolution would apply here, though it's really still just chemistry. Eventually (maybe even several million years later) some such catalytic molecular colonies excreted bubble-like bags around themselves, thus segregating into individual metabolic entities. ("AKA cells.") These cells continued to reproduce themselves, and only at that point does biological evolution per se enter the picture, because only then do the self-replicating entities begin to fit the traditional definition of "living organisms".

This has nothing to do with Pasteur, nor with any "Law of Biogenesis". The Biogenesis Police keep pulling abiogenesis over, but he keeps getting it thrown out of court.

[Doctor Stochastic]

It is not a "position" that evolutionary theory has to do with the changes in living organisms. It is the entire point of the theory. You really need to stick to the point in these discussions.

You may also want to read a bit about Pasteur. He did not prove that abiogenesis was impossible. He proved that worms bacteria did not spontaneously arise from a sterile medium; not the same thing at all.

Establishing that abiogenesis is possible or impossible has no bearing at all on what happens to organisms afterword.