Posted on 05/01/2006 8:29:14 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Please explain to me where Darwin and the Theory of Evolution contradict a Creator.
"By further reflecting that the clearest evidence would be requisite to make any sane man believe in the miracles by which Christianity is supported,—and that the more we know of the fixed laws of nature the more incredible do miracles become,—that the men at that time were ignorant and credulous to a degree almost incomprehensible by us,—that the Gospels cannot be proven to have been written simultaneously with the events,—that they differ in many important details, far too important, as it seemed to me to be admitted as the usual inaccuracies of eye witnesses;—by such reflections as these, which I give not as having the least novelty or value, but as they influenced me, I gradually came to disbelieve in Christianity as a divine revelation. The fact that many fake religions have spread over large portions of the earth like wildfire had some weight with me. But I was very unwilling to give up my belief; I feel sure of this, for I can remember often and often inventing day-dreams of old letters between distinguished Romans, and manuscripts being discovered at Pompeii or elsewhere, which confirmed in the most striking manner all that was written in the Gospels. But I found it more and more difficult, with free scope given to my imagination, to invent evidence which would suffice to convince me. Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress, and have never since doubted even for a single second that my conclusion was correct."
( Charles Darwin in his Autobiography of Charles Darwin, Dover Publications, 1992, p. 62. )
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
"I think that generally (& more & more as I grow older), but not always, that an agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind."
( Quoted from Adrian Desmond and James Moore, Darwin: The Life of a Tormented Evolutionist, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1991, p. 636. )
However, the paper is not terribly helpful to the young-Earth cause. Zheng discusses four ways in which an incorrect isochron could result:
Protracted fractional crystallization Requires a slow cooling period on order of ten million years, which is not possible on a young Earth. Also, the effect is very slight: in the only example which Zheng produces (first entry in Table II on p. 14), the "incorrect" age (437 ± 10 Ma) is not very different from the actual age (415 ± 10 Ma).
Inherited (for example, by partial melting) Discussed previously; requires special circumstances and almost always induces a fair amount of scatter in the isochron plot. Requires ancient source material (the "inherited" age matches the age of the source), which is not available on a young Earth.
Mixing isochron Discussed previously; in most cases detected by the mixing plot test.
Apparent isochron by metamorphism Discussed previously; requires special circumstances and results in an age in between original time of crystallization and the metamorphic event that partially reset the isochron. Requires ancient source material, which is not available on a young Earth.
While each of these processes can be invoked to explain a few confusing or conflicting dating results, none could reasonably be expected to account for all (or even most) isochron dating results which are incompatible with a young Earth.
You're getting close. The selection phase (after the Brownian motion) deletes those moving in less favorable directions. Repeating these two steps leads to rapid movement into any niche.
Hah, I thought Elsie was a girl too. I should have called myself Michael. :-D
Thanks, I wasn't in the mood to hike to the library and look this up today.
I know that MacDonald does not believe that there were bears or birds in the Permian, and I think the oft-quoted excerpt clearly indicates that he does not, but that does not negate what he actually found. The tracks are mysterious to him because of his views about evolutionary timescales. My point in bringing it up is stated very well by the next part of the Smithsonian article that you quoted:
"He suspects, however, that conventional theories about precisely who was walking around in Permian times, and how they did so, will end up being revised, perhaps extensively, once these tracks are studied in detail."What if there were bears in the Permian? Would such a find generate any doubt about Darwinian evolution itself in those predisposed to believe it? In other words, I just think that promises to abandon belief in Darwinian evolution itself based on a find like a mammal in the Permian are overstated.
Cordially,
Somehow guide dogs came up on the thread, and it just sort of went from there.
But aren't they cute?
That is so cute! Animals are great!
Or I'm just scatter brained!
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Resistance is futile....
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"An average Evolutionist understands evolution like the average American understands the IRS Tax Code."
And...
50% of all Evolutionists graduated in the lower half of their class.
Not really. We say that BELIEVEING in Evolution will make it HARD to be a Christian.
Darwin sure thought so!
No matter WHICH side of the C vs E thing you fall on, it'll be your faith in Christ that is the determing item, heaven wise.
We shouldn't complain. You guys do provide us with fertile ground for discussion.
God the Creator and Lord of the Universe, which is the work of his goodness and wisdom; and Man, made in His image, who is to hallow his week-day labors by the blessedness of Sabbath-rest -- such are the teachings of the Creation chapter. It's purpose is to reveal these teachings to the children of man -- and not to serve as a text book of astronomy, geology, or anthropology. Its object is not to teach scientific facts; but to proclaim highest religious truths respecting God, Man, and the Universe. The "conflict" between the fundamental realities of Religion and the established facts of Science, is seen to be unreal as the soon as Religion and Science each recognizes the true border of its domain.
-- famous British Rabbi Dr. J. H. Hertz (1872-1946)
and YEC's, too! (Just look at the title.)
So it appears that THIS statement:
"Ummm...no. I think you got lost somewhere on your way to the religion threads."
is not correct.
Yup; you sure will!
I get new folks reading it every thread.
If YOU, however, don't like it; don't read it.
(It does, however, make one wonder just WHY you don't like my posts...)
Now now...
It looks like his 5 star rating has dropped to 4 stars...
Wait!!
Now it's down to 3 stars!
Is this thread still going on???
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