Kansas college professor beaten for anti-creationism sentiments

[Dolemite]

That was the March of the Penguins thread, I believe.

[1CCOSA]

As we established in another thread months ago, you don't even know what evolution actually is, and have plenty of misconceptions about what scientists actually say about it. I won't debate this with you for that reason.

My sarcasm from the past aside, if a scientist says "This shows design" OR "This adaptation came about by chance" that is pretty straightforward.

[sethsez]

Haha

Edit: Aww, you edited it.

And no, I'm not ignoring everything you're saying. Your points were addressed already months ago in that thread, and it became clear that you didn't have a fundamental understanding of how evolution worked so the more intricate aspects were naturally completely lost on you. Furthermore, a scientist "converting" means nothing... what matters are the facts, and how well the theory holds up. Einstein wrote off quantum mechanics, but he was wrong. If a scientist says "this shows design" then it will have to be shown how it shows design, not just taken at face value. Then, of course, it will have to be shown that it's intentional design from an intelligent creator.

[1CCOSA]

Haha

Edit: Aww, you edited it.

And no, I'm not ignoring everything you're saying. Your points were addressed already months ago in that thread, and it became clear that you didn't have a fundamental understanding of how evolution worked so the more intricate aspects were naturally completely lost on you. Furthermore, a scientist "converting" means nothing... what matters are the facts, and how well the theory holds up. Einstein wrote off quantum mechanics, but he was wrong.

I'm not saying "A philosopher/atheist converted, the end." Just saying that the whole intelligent design snafu here in the states isn't a new line of thought.

My understanding of evolution is that it's the progression of life exclusively through chance adaptations. I simply can't believe that based on what I have seen.

And, of course, that's the beauty of religion. It's based on "faith" so they don't have to prove anything. Like the Bible says, "Proof denies Faith, and without Faith I am nothing." Exactly. It's the perfect cop-out.

What scripture and verse is that?

[sethsez]

My understanding of evolution is that it's the progression of life exclusively through chance adaptations. I simply can't believe that based on what I have seen.

You are aware that it takes an absurd amount of time to happen in larger species, right? It's not something you're going to see firsthand in your lifetime through casual observation, which is why you can't rely on that. And just for the record, it's chance mutations. The mutations are random, but what stays and what goes is dependant entirely on what works and what doesn't. Outside forces are extremely important to evolution.

Of course, we also observe it in plants, livestock (through selective breeding), and especially diseases, since bacteria reproduce at an extremely fast pace, making the changes easier to observe (why do you think we're constantly coming out with new, stronger antibiotics as the old ones become ineffective?).

[Calliander]

Nice, this means I can finally take out my "FAH-Q CHRISTIANS" paddle and start going to town.

[Grey's Anatomy]

If this happened in a high school, I wouldn't care.
But, these are full grown adults who hoppped out their car and whooped the shit out this guy for bashing their religion.
Sure, he might have been arrogant and just a plain douche, but that's not how you solve your damn problems. People have a constitutional right to say what they want and I must have mised the part where it was ok to assault someone for that.
Also, Kansas sucks balls.

[1CCOSA]

You are aware that it takes an absurd amount of time to happen in larger species, right? It's not something you're going to see firsthand in your lifetime through casual observation, which is why you can't rely on that. And just for the record, it's chance mutations. The mutations are random, but what stays and what goes is dependant entirely on what works and what doesn't. Outside forces are extremely important to evolution.

Of course, we also observe it in plants, livestock (through selective breeding), and especially diseases, since bacteria reproduce at an extremely fast pace, making the changes easier to observe (why do you think we're constantly coming out with new, stronger antibiotics as the old ones become ineffective?).

Yeah, I realize that evolution states countless millions of years are required for said changes to happen. But I don't think that fits in with livestick/produce within a species being consciously helped along by the hand of man. Outside of microscopic life and organisms which are from the same basic species, mutations are almost always detrimental. Look at the fruit fly experiments.

[sethsez]

But I don't think that fits in with livestick/produce within a species being helped along by the hand of man.

In other words, in this case man is the outside force. In other cases, it might be a sudden explosion of some creature (say, locusts) in the population. There's no rule that says another creature can't play a central role in evolution... in fact, that's what the cause often is.

Outside of microscopic life and organisms which are from the same basic species, mutations are almost always detrimental.

You are 100% correct. Mutations are almost always detrimental. That's why it takes so long. Out of 10,000 possible mutations, 9,998 might be detrimental, but hit on one of the 2 that are beneficial and they'll survive. Be born with a gigantic lump on your heart and this mutation will fuck you up. Be born with an opposable thumb and you're made.

[1CCOSA]

OK, that's the thing though. I'm born with a thumb: great new feature. All of my 'lil possum kiddies can now play roms. If it's a mutation, something that has been "added," how does "thumb" or "lump" get written into my genetic code as "normal for sucessive generations of offspring" if it's supposed to be "bad" and my DNA isn't exactly friendly to re-writes?