Charles Darwin developed his early theories on board the Beagle
Posted on 07/19/2006 3:55:15 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
Plans are being drawn up to build a £3.3m working replica of the boat that took Charles Darwin around the world at Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.
Fundraising for the project, which would mark the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth in 2009, is under way.
The aim is to built a seaworthy vessel identical to the HMS Beagle on the outside, but with a modern interior.
Darwin, who showed how natural selection could explain evolution, sailed on the Beagle between 1831-36.
Sitting opposite him on the expedition was mate and surveyor John Lort Stokes.
One of Stokes' descendents, Pembrokeshire farmer David Lort Philips, together with commercial yacht master Peter McGrath, have founded the Beagle Project Pembrokeshire.
Mr McGrath said the ship would look identical to the original Beagle on the outside but would have a 21st century interior with diesel auxiliary engines and generators.
He said he hoped the fished vessel would inspire the scientists of the future and be used by researchers and scientists from across the world.
"Externally it will be exactly the same but we want it to do some serious scientific work and you would not want the crew living like they did in the 18th Century," he said.
The pair have spent three years putting their plans together and aim to raise the money through private and institutional investors along with public subscription.
"With all the Darwin 200 celebrations there is not one big project to focus the attention on," added Mr McGrath.
"I know the effect a square rigger has on young people - it's a jaw dropping site.
"But we do not want this just to be a replica - we want it to have genuine scientific benefits.
"We have started the fundraising. Construction will take 14 months and it has to be finished by early 2009.
"She will be built in Milford Haven and it will be her home. But what we want to do when she is built is visit the significant sights in Darwin's and the Beagle's life."
Researchers believe the original remains of the 27m-long Navy brig, that was sold for scrap in 1870, are embedded in a marsh near Potton Island in Essex.
Darwin, who published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859, came fourth in a poll run by the BBC in 2002 to find the public's greatest Briton of all time.
His voyage on the Beagle allowed him to form the basis for much of his later work.
Since you claim to be the real Patrick Henry, did you start this thread? Hard to beleive it got this much play. I have been getting pulled back into it all day.
More to the point: Certain major features of the planet were formed at the time the planet itself was formed. The geologic record attests more prominently to catastrophism than to uniformitarianism. This would take place on a larger scale during the early stages of the earth's formation than it would have during the global deluge which you dismiss out of hand for personal reasons.
And then there's that pesky problem of time, which science has yet to define. I prefer to start with the assumption the biblical texts are accurate and authoritative. The global deluge mentioned therein is not at all difficult to recognize on the basis of the geologic record. You pretend to make no assumptions, yet your claims make fairly clear what those assumptions are. You've chosen your own biblical texts: ones that emanate from yourself and those who think like you. If I were in your shoes I'd make the same conclusions you do, and I could defend them.
"Darwin is linked with Hitler's actions."
You have failed to demonstrate any link beyond your claim they both doubted the authority of the Bible (which itself hasn't been shown for Hitler). Most people in the world do not accept the authority of the Bible. They are not like Hitler.
"Evolutionism, insofar as it attempts to deny intelligent design, is superstitious enough without Hitler's endorsement."
You are drowning in your logical fallacies Fester, and I think you like it.
BTW, evolutionary theory doesn't deny the possibility of an intelligent designer.
The biblical texts indicate that even demons believe in the divinity of Christ. They even acknowlege the authority of the biblical texts. I'm sure they are happy to see the physical evidence that underpins evolution used as a means to draw people away from their Creator, too.
Anyway, great to see the Beagle resurrected from the dead. Evolutionists need a holy shrine. Maybe this one will work better than public schools. Cool!
Pronouncements such as this are moot when coming from one who cannot distinguish the difference between "the bible" and "biblical texts;" who thinks it is a logical fallacy to note the similarity between Hitler and the Dali Lama insofar as both exalt ther own reason over the biblical texts; who cannot see the difference between what the biblical texts say and what Adolph Hitler did under the pretext of accepting their authority.
Be that as it may, you have reason to celebrate. A shrine is about to be erected in honor of one of your favorite philosphers of history.
"I prefer to start with the assumption the biblical texts are accurate and authoritative."
Ahh, so that is where you screwed up. Go back and start over and skip that assumption. Let us know how you progress.
If I did that I'd be a mystic like you, calling intelligent design an "unscientific" idea. No thanks. I tend to shy away from wild speculations both in science and theology.
"Not to mention the fact that no part of the biblical texts invites dismissal on the face of it."
A few things that invite immediate dismissal:
1. All the universe and everything in it created in 6 days.
2. God stops time to let one army kill the other.
3. Somebody rides a fiery chariot to heaven.
4. God turns Lot's wife into a salt shaker for looking back, but has no problem with Lot nailing his daughters after offering them up to S&G, and using the excuse that he was too drunk to know what what happening.
5. The global flood.
6. Putting two of every animal on earth into a homemade boat.
7. Anything in the book of Revelations.
Ok, more than a few, but you get the idea.
Intelligent design is religion. There is no science to it.
Nah. Most of those are minor physical anomalies. Nothing superstitious, mystical, unreasonable, or unscientific about them. Or maybe your car thinks it's a mystical experience when you intervene to change the oil?
Coming from a superstitious mystic I can understand your opinion. The rest of us are happy to give credit where credit is due, either generally or specifically.
The difference is not in what they examine but how they examine and what can be claimed as a cause.
Regardless, it is not true that the biblical texts "have nothing to do with science." They happen to deal with the what, the how, and the why of physical reality. All of these questions are investigated by science.
PING
Are you of the misbegotten opinion that if you can show Hitler believed in the Theory of Evolution, the observed phenomenon of Evolution and the observed mechanisms of mutation and selection/drift will just go away? The moment you prove Hitler was an 'evolutionist' all Evolution will halt?
Or perhaps you believe proving Hitler an 'evolutionist' will cause the rest of the world's Evolution proponents to suddenly become maniacal killing machines?
What Hitler believed was secondary to what he wanted. His irrational hate would have manifested even if Darwin's ideas had not been published. Look to the man, not the tools.
I'm sure you can provide us with some real evidence to back up this outrageous lie?
They don't have a congress in Britain, they have a parliament.
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