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To: PetroniusMaximus
Very well. As I specifically asked about Germany, I read the article attempting to connect Nazi Germany with the theory of evolution. I'll point out a few problems that I had with the article where it attempts to blame the theory of evolution for what occured in Germany in the 30s and 40s.

These differences gradually produce new groups, some of which have an advantage in terms of survival. These new groups became the superior, or the more evolved races.

This is a misrepresentation of the theory of evolution. There's no absolute measure of "superior" or "more evolved". Superiority within evolution is a measure of reproductive succes, and it is entirely relative as to the environment wherein a population exists. It is possible for one group of individuals within a species to be "superior" in terms of reproductive ability within one environment, while in another, different, environment a seperate subgroup is better able to consistently reproduce. There's no measure of absolute "superiority" and "more evolved" is a strawman inveted by those who don't actually understand the theory of evolution.

Hitler and the Nazi party claimed that one of their major goals was to apply this accepted ‘science’ to society.

Which of course has no bearing on the validity of the theory of evolution. Evolution speaks of what inevitably occurs within a population of imperfect self-replicators. It does not say anything whatsoever as to what constitutes good social science. Even if this is an accurate representation of what Hitler did, it has no bearing whatsoever on the validity of the theory of evolution. Attempting to claim that a scientific theory is false because someone attempted to implement part of a natural process to a completely different subject is an excercise in utter stupidity. Anyone who tries to blame evolution for Hitler's actions is an idiot.

As the one race above all others, Aryans believed that their evolutionary superiority gave them not only the right, but the duty to subjugate all other peoples.

But this isn't based in the theory of evolution either. The theory of evolution says nothing about any rights to subjigate others, and it certainly doesn't declare any "superiority" of Aryans over all others. Once again, the article attempts to blame evolution for something that the theory does not say or imply at all.

Hitler believed humans were animals to whom the genetics laws, learned from livestock breeding, could be applied.

And humans are animals and genetic principles that apply to livestock apply to humans as well. Not liking this doesn't make it false, and it doesn't falsify the theory of evolution. Moreover, the fact that this is true does not in any way make what Hitler did "right".

The Nazis believed that instead of permitting natural forces and chance to control evolution, they must direct the process to advance the human race.

And now the author all but admits that Hitler's actions weren't really based on the theory of evolution. Evolution isn't something that must be directed deliberately; evolution occurs whether you like it or not as long as you have populations of imperfect replicators. It certainly does not say "go out and kill a group of people that you deem, by artifical standards, to be inferior.

Thus far the author has made a good case that Hitler's society was not based on the actual theory of evolution at all. If you really think that this article makes a good case against evolution, perhaps you could pull out some passages that I might have missed, but thus far it looks to me like any attempt to blame Darwin or the theory of evolution for any acts of mass genocide is nothing more than an act of desperate stupidity.
331 posted on 10/16/2005 8:35:36 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: Dimensio
The Nazis believed that instead of permitting natural forces and chance to control evolution, they must direct the process to advance the human race.

In other words, the Nazi's were Intelligent Designers.

336 posted on 10/16/2005 8:40:55 PM PDT by narby (Hillary! The Wicked Witch of the Left)
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To: Dimensio; PetroniusMaximus
"As the one race above all others, Aryans believed that their evolutionary superiority gave them not only the right, but the duty to subjugate all other peoples."

Hitler NEVER thought the Aryan race was a product of evolution, but instead he believed it was the special creation of God.

"Hitler believed humans were animals to whom the genetics laws, learned from livestock breeding, could be applied."

Animal husbandry the ROOT cause of the Nazis. lol

Crevo's will distort anything to make their points, such as they are.
338 posted on 10/16/2005 8:46:10 PM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: Dimensio

There is a constant one-sidedness to the rules they want to play with. Evolution is bad since Hitler believed in evolution. But if one mentions an evil "Christian" they say there is no link. But the one I really like is this one on why non-creo's cannot discuss the Bible!:



...where the line is to be drawn is upon those who gratuitously assume that such base knowledge allows them to be competent critics of the text, and make that assumption in absolute ignorance of their own lack of knowledge -- what I have elsewhere spoken of in terms of being "unskilled and unaware of it."

306 posted on 10/16/2005 8:04:14 PM PDT by Matchett-PI


340 posted on 10/16/2005 8:46:56 PM PDT by WildTurkey (When will CBS Retract and Apologize?)
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