So far it appears that "irrefutable evidence" is what ever is provided, plus 1%. And we have irrefutable evidence that SoldierDad doesn't apply the same standard to other branches of science.
Posted on 09/27/2006 9:56:09 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Why Darwinism is doomed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: September 27, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Jonathan Wells, Ph.D.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2006
Harvard evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould wrote in 1977: "Biology took away our status as paragons created in the image of God." Darwinism teaches that we are accidental byproducts of purposeless natural processes that had no need for God, and this anti-religious dogma enjoys a taxpayer-funded monopoly in America's public schools and universities. Teachers who dare to question it openly have in many cases lost their jobs.
The issue here is not "evolution" – a broad term that can mean simply change within existing species (which no one doubts). The issue is Darwinism – which claims that all living things are descended from a common ancestor, modified by natural selection acting on random genetic mutations.
According to Darwinists, there is such overwhelming evidence for their view that it should be considered a fact. Yet to the Darwinists' dismay, at least three-quarters of the American people – citizens of the most scientifically advanced country in history – reject it.
A study published Aug. 11 in the pro-Darwin magazine Science attributes this primarily to biblical fundamentalism, even though polls have consistently shown that half of the Americans who reject Darwinism are not biblical fundamentalists. Could it be that the American people are skeptical of Darwinism because they're smarter than Darwinists think?
On Aug. 17, the pro-Darwin magazine Nature reported that scientists had just found the "brain evolution gene." There is circumstantial evidence that this gene may be involved in brain development in embryos, and it is surprisingly different in humans and chimpanzees. According to Nature, the gene may thus harbor "the secret of what makes humans different from our nearest primate relatives."
Three things are remarkable about this report. First, it implicitly acknowledges that the evidence for Darwinism was never as overwhelming as its defenders claim. It has been almost 30 years since Gould wrote that biology accounts for human nature, yet Darwinists are just now turning up a gene that may have been involved in brain evolution.
Second, embryologists know that a single gene cannot account for the origin of the human brain. Genes involved in embryo development typically have multiple effects, and complex organs such as the brain are influenced by many genes. The simple-mindedness of the "brain evolution gene" story is breathtaking.
Third, the only thing scientists demonstrated in this case was a correlation between a genetic difference and brain size. Every scientist knows, however, that correlation is not the same as causation. Among elementary school children, reading ability is correlated with shoe size, but this is because young schoolchildren with small feet have not yet learned to read – not because larger feet cause a student to read better or because reading makes the feet grow. Similarly, a genetic difference between humans and chimps cannot tell us anything about what caused differences in their brains unless we know what the gene actually does. In this case, as Nature reports, "what the gene does is a mystery."
So after 150 years, Darwinists are still looking for evidence – any evidence, no matter how skimpy – to justify their speculations. The latest hype over the "brain evolution gene" unwittingly reveals just how underwhelming the evidence for their view really is.
The truth is Darwinism is not a scientific theory, but a materialistic creation myth masquerading as science. It is first and foremost a weapon against religion – especially traditional Christianity. Evidence is brought in afterwards, as window dressing.
This is becoming increasingly obvious to the American people, who are not the ignorant backwoods religious dogmatists that Darwinists make them out to be. Darwinists insult the intelligence of American taxpayers and at the same time depend on them for support. This is an inherently unstable situation, and it cannot last.
If I were a Darwinist, I would be afraid. Very afraid.
Get Wells' widely popular "Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Wells is the author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Darwinism and Intelligent Design" (Regnery, 2006) and Icons of Evolution (Regnery, 2000). He holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D. in theology from Yale University. Wells is currently a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute in Seattle
"evolution is anti-religious"
Irrefutable evidence that these "animals" are actually evolutionary changes instead of just distinctly different animals with similarities.
You need to define what you would consider to be 'Irrefutable evidence' for anyone to be able to say it's possible to provide such evidence.
Which is why the first tendency is to abandon the thread.
The statement is disengenuous and specious. And, for the most part, wrong.
So far it appears that "irrefutable evidence" is what ever is provided, plus 1%. And we have irrefutable evidence that SoldierDad doesn't apply the same standard to other branches of science.
And I'm guessing you wouldn't ever judge someone for becoming a Muslim, scientologist or Satanist?
Like MLK said (paraphrased and updated) - we need to judge a man by the context of his character and not the color of his skin or his religion
"Updated" -- like adding a factor that involves choice (religion) alongside one that doesn't (skin color)?
We have freedom of religion in this country - I guess you are against freedom - do you want to force your personal religion on other people?
That's an argument a liberal would use. I am not suggesting this fellow not be free to practice his religion. Far from it. I am suggesting that I question ANYONE'S view of reality who joins a cult. You are saying I shouldn't have the right to do that?
FWIW, my religion is not evangelical at all, so it's not possible to force it on others.
For being here a couple of years, you are ignorant of the purpose of FR. You wrote, "Take your scripture and go somehere else. This site is for people who will open their minds and think." That stance is directly counter to the position of FR's founder. Consider how pro-God the founder of FR is:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1103363/posts
Indeed, this site is for people who are thoughtful.
Group attacks aren't personal. Only personal attacks are disallowed.
When I said, "What a dumba$$" that wasn't personal, see. All I was saying is here comes the nonsense, name-calling, and unsupported accusations.
The above is based on the logic that you hold.
But you aren't that stupid, you know that is a personal attack, just like your bozo alert was.
You are playing games, but what else can one expect from a creo? Honesty? LOL!
Not bitter or angry. I just don't like to waste my time on fools.
And with that, thank you for reminding me that I am finished with you.
This is my last post to you.
Not bitter or angry. I just don't like to waste my time on fools.
"Wasting Time On Fools": (MI: Middle Internet) An inevitable occupational risk and negative experience, increasingly and strongly, associated with spending time responding to irrational posts on some Internet forums.
So, the sense I get from this discussion is that my options are to 1) accept your position that all animals evolved from some other animal or 2)
No, wait, there is no option two in your world.
My father had a similar view -
Rule 1) I am never wrong
Rule 2) If I am ever wrong see rule 1.
Lousy world to be raised in.
Why is it the hostile ones that always accuse me of being bitter and angry?
Gotta be some serious projection going on there...
It's against my religion to be bitter and angry, and I am pretty fricken aware of when I sin, because there's this thing called "guilt" that goes with...
Obviously evidence can't prove anything in the sense of a geometrical proof. It can show "proof beyond a reasonable doubt", however.
Here's an interesting and amusing website, Some More of God's Greatest Mistakes. Rather than showing the evidence for evolution, it shows a bit of the evidence against intelligent design. Learn about the recurrent laryngeal nerve, then come back and explain why the hypothetical designer was allowed to keep its engineering license!
Naw - never - no way!
We is much smarter dan da is!!!
--EvoDude
Do EVOLUtionist goons make thinking LIBERALs look bad as well??
So, a lack of Human understanding of why certain structures are made the way they are is evidence that ID does not exist. Because man (woman) cannot explain these seemingly bizare structures, then God cannot exist. Hmmmmm. Interesting theory. Still doesn't exactly provide any direct evidence of evolution, though, does it?
Why is it the hostile ones that always accuse me of being bitter and angry? Gotta be some serious projection going on there...
When they run out of substantive arguments and other irrational rhetoric, they accuse everyone who doesn't agree with them of being bitter and angry, not just 'evos'.
One fact that's not often emphasized is that fossils always fit into these gaps. We never see, for example, fossilized pegasi or centaurs. There are plenty between dinosaurs and birds, or reptiles and mammals, but none whatsoever between mammals and birds.
Don't forget Tiktaalik; the ToE was used to predict what to look for and where to dig - yet more confirmation that there's something real behind the theory.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.