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Why not? What good is a theory that can't be used to predict something like that?

Metmom -- I think you like the debate more than anything. I *know* you are more intelligent and learned than that. You have tipped your hand in the past.

A theory is not evaluated on its usefulness. It is evaluated on its ability to explain phenomenon.

Once you have a workable explanation that fits all the proper criteria of a theory, you can begin to formulate ways to utilize it. But you build the foundation, then figure out its practical applicability later.

TToE can predict some general behavior. But even with the super computers of today we can't predict the path of evolution. Just like they have great theories of meteorology and can't predict a single hurricane more than a week or so in advance. And the number of variables in Evolution DWARF the number of variables in meteorology/climatology.

But we're not talking about predicting something in the future, like the weather next week. I realise that evolution cannot predict what's going to happen in the future. There's no way of determing what mutations might occur and what enivronmental changes will happen to put pressure on them. This is different. The proto-mammal or proto-insect happened in the past. We have fossils that have been found from before and after that. Since we know what the end result was and some of what came before, how can the proto- whatever not be determined, somehow?

So, is there a fossil that connects all mammals? Or all insects?

This thread is in the Religion Forum.

Discuss the issues all you want, but do NOT make it personal. Attributing motives, reading the other poster's mind are instances of "making it personal."

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