Evolution can occur quickly and change how populations interact [Lab demonstration]

Cornell University ^ | 03 July 2006 | Susan Lang

[Lexinom]

The notion that there is such a category as "pigeon" is "silly"?

The notion that there is such a category as dog is silly?

If words had no meaning, as you seem to suggest my FRiend, how then are we able to communicate?

[Lexinom]

Some analogy:

If I'm going to design and build a 1,500 sq. foot rambler, my foundation will take a vastly different form than if I build a 78-story skyscraper. With the former, I can use brick-and-mortar. No 78-story brick building exists. The difference is not merely one of degree, it is one of principle. To the evolutionists' way of thinking, elaborately precise and loquacious as they are, everything looks to be the former. That is a simplistic mode of thought.

The point is, organs as vastly complex as the mammalian eye, stand as irreducibly complex examples of something designed for a purpose (remember our discussion about meaning? the same applies to purpose). One would sound rather ridiculous if he tried to explain how such a marvelous organ could arise piecemeal. Hence, punctuated equalibrium i.e. don't you dare question the theory. It's become a sort of religious dogma in some academic circles.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"The notion that there is such a category as "pigeon" is "silly"?"

No, but the category isn't a species category. You said there was only one species of pigeon. In fact there are over 200.

"If words had no meaning, as you seem to suggest my FRiend,..."

I suggested no such thing. It was you who used *species* in a way that would give it no meaning.

"The point is, organs as vastly complex as the mammalian eye, stand as irreducibly complex examples of something designed for a purpose..."

No, they don't. Behe (and Paley, the guy he stole that from) was wrong.

"One would sound rather ridiculous if he tried to explain how such a marvelous organ could arise piecemeal."

Only if it was assumed that the mammalian eye *poofed* out fo nowhere.

"Hence, punctuated equalibrium i.e. don't you dare question the theory."

Um, no. PE is still a gradual process. It is only *fast* in geological time. We are still talking about tens of thousands of years between speciation events.

[Elsie]

Time is our friend. GOD.

--EvoDude

[Lexinom]

Order/genus/species are categories. Pigeon is a category on some level. Species is probably more granular as you've suggested. I don't know, I don't care, I should have used the word category.

Gotta run now.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"Order/genus/species are categories."

I never said they weren't. Nor did I ever say that pigeon wasn't a category. I just simply corrected your error when you said there was only one species of pigeon.

Words have meanings.