Hundreds gather for evolution-'intelligent design' discussion

Mpls (red)Star Tribune (online) / AP ^ | 3/11/02 | LIZ SIDOTI

[Valin]

Supporters of evolution and those who believe life must have been designed by a higher power due to its complexity faced off Monday before the state school board as it struggles to come up with new science standards.

About 1,500 people attended the meeting, where supporters of "intelligent design" backed off their push to have the concept written into the standards.

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

Micro evolution (evolution within a species) has been demonstrated throughout history. Macro evolution (evolution across species) has never been demonstrated. According to Thomas Jefferson, "the first Amendment builds a wall of separation betwen Church & State". That wall must be kept high and impregnable!

[Dimensio]

Several board members have pushed for other views to be taught alongside evolution, and the board's standards committee appears to favor allowing alternative ideas.

Anyone proposing the teachings of the Church of Last Thursday?

[jennyp]

Teach-the-controversy-surrounding-the-Holocaust-too-why-don't-ya BUMP.

[steve-b]

Micro evolution (evolution within a species) has been demonstrated throughout history. Macro evolution (evolution across species) has never been demonstrated.

This "distinction" is exactly the same as the Clintonista "distinction" between "not risiing to the level of impeachment" and "a serious charge if proven true". Each time a specific assertion is proven, it is moved into the lesser category (BJ's BJs were moved from "serious charge" to "not impeachable" when the blue dress surfaced; Eohippus -> Equus was moved from "macroevolution" to "microevolution" when the fossil record was filled in too extensively to be quibbled away). That way, the greater category is always empty of evidence -- because any solid evidence is shuffled off into the lesser category by definition.

An argument based on rubber definitions designed to define inconvenient evidence out of applicability is most unconvincing, especially to those of use who have cut their teeth on Billzo & Co's prevarications.

[Khepera]

Personally I think the Creationists should just kick the crap out of the evolutionists and be done with it.

[ArGee]

Now no, no need for violence.

The truth will out in the end. It always does.

Much more important than the continual war over evolution is that those who worship at the altar of Scientism recognize their own worldview and prejudice. As long as they continue to delude themselves they do a disservice to science and to theology.

Shalom.

[PatrickHenry]

So that everyone will have access to the accumulated "Creationism vs. Evolution" threads which have previously appeared on FreeRepublic, plus links to hundreds of sites with a vast amount of information on this topic, here's Junior's massive work, available for all to review:
The Ultimate Creation vs. Evolution Resource [ver 16].

[Physicist]

Personally I think the Creationists should just kick the crap out of the evolutionists and be done with it.

It's the only argument they have left.

[Physicist]

Macro evolution (evolution across species) has never been demonstrated.

Of course it has. That's what the fossil record shows.

[Khepera]

I think that goes both ways since neither can claim to have proof one way or the other. I myself believe in creationism more than evolution. This is because I am a Christian.

[Physicist]

This is because I am a Christian.

Should I assume that that is in harmony with your advocation of violence, or not? Either works for me.

[timm22]

What I find funny is that both sides of this issue think high school students are going to soak up everything they learn in their biology classes, and that the content of those classes has some great importance for the future of the country.

In reality, with the way schools are right now, it doesn't really matter who wins. You can teach evolution, or creationism, or both in Biology 101, and 90% of the students won't understand or remember anything about the origins of life after they pass the test.

[Khepera]

There is no transitional species. No fossel of any new species that could be substantionally linked to an old species. Even if there was solid proof that this occured then who is to say it was not God who planned and executed this as part of the design process?

[Physicist]

There is no transitional species.

Species are always in transition. Every fossil is a transitional form.

No fossel of any new species that could be substantionally linked to an old species.

Ridiculous. Have you seen the skeleton of homo erectus? It is clearly related to humans and neanderthals, and existed prior to either. How more substantial can a link be?

Even if there was solid proof that this occured then who is to say it was not God who planned and executed this as part of the design process?

Even if celestial mechanics are perfectly described by General Relativity, who's to say that there aren't angels pushing the planets around in their courses? At that point, the two theories become the same theory, and to argue against the science (GR or evolution) is to argue against God.

[Khepera]

GR? Whats that?

[PatrickHenry]

... to argue against the science (GR or evolution) is to argue against God.

This is always the case, unless God's universe isn't this one, in which case it's irrelevant to us.

[js1138]

The worst thing that could happen to Christianity would be to have it taught by the public schools.

[Saturnalia]

GR=General Relativity.
I.e. Current theory of physics

[Khepera]

Oh you mean Einsteins Theory? He said light traveled at a constant speed but now we find that it can be slowed down. Its been proven that its not constant. That theory? Its a lot like evolution isn't it?