The Origin and Extinction of Species

The American Chronicle ^ | July 25, 2008 | Darrell Williams

[Soliton]

Understanding the origin and extinction of species is of paramount importance to our own existence and survival. Unfortunately, the vast majority of humans understand neither. About 90% of humankind professes to adhere to a religious philosophy that has absolutely no interest or concern in understanding the most fundamental ecological relationships that exist in nature. Human failure to respect this relationship has resulted in human failure in our own stewardship of our own planet.

[Soliton]

Very long summary of evolution leading to consequenes of denying it.

[The_Republican]

[scory]

“About 90% of humankind professes to adhere to a religious philosophy that has absolutely no interest or concern in understanding the most fundamental ecological relationships that exist in nature.”

Total nonsense. This man is an ignoramus.

[PA Engineer]

Save The Planet

[Soliton]

Total nonsense. This man is an ignoramus.

You don't spend much time on evolution threads on FR do you. There are many people here who believe that an invisible being spoke magic words and that created everything in existence. They completely deny the established science.

[ravingnutter]

And your theory..and yes it is still a theory...puts a whole new meaning to the term “scum of the earth”.

[zimfam007]

Okay this is a 7th grade textbook rendition of evolutionary science.... I realized the true nature of this article in the last few paragraphs (although the title should have clued me in).... your “very long summary” is summed up in the last few paragraphs..... trying to come at global warming from another angle since the current angle has been debunked. I love how the author tries to goad one into ignorance by claiming that very few people understand the basics of ecology/evolution and then tries to make a case for global warming by using the scare tactics of impending doom and death. That folks, is not science. Scientists cannot even come to a consensus on the shear number of species that have come and gone during Earth's history.... and to the author's assertion that the breakup of Pangea was the cause of vast evolution is an elementary argument at best.... Besides you would think that ecologists errrr... environmentalists would be having parties in the street if the human race was indeed going to die out due to global warming.... b/c afterall the human race is the most vile, unnatural thing on Earth.... and we should be all too happy to go extinct as a species..........

[Coyoteman]

Functioning together, these two characteristics control the rate of evolution of an animal species. When a species is facing a rapidly changing environment and there is great competition, the species must struggle harder to survive. This increases the metabolism and speeds up the rate of evolution. This is exactly what the species needs if it is to survive. In a changing environment, a species needs more variation in their characteristics in order to adapt. (This literally increases the raw material for Natural Selection. This gives Nature more choices. Simply speaking, those who work harder are more likely to survive and those who are lazy are more likely to fail).

This describes the early ape-like critters that were forced to the edges, then out of the shrinking African forests some six million years ago (our ancestors).

When an animal species is existing in a slow changing environment and there is little competition, the species doesn´t have to struggle so hard to survive. If there is a lot of food available and life is easy, the species may literally become lazy. This slows down the metabolism and slows down the rate of evolution. This is exactly what the species needs. It´s already adapted to the environment and doesn´t need to evolve, so it doesn´t need to change any characteristics.

This describes the early ape-like critters that remained in the forests some six million years ago.

It also answers the oft-asked question, "Why are there still apes?"

[Soliton]

“The fact that they are theories does not make them uncertain, even when various fine details are still under dispute. This is particularly true of the theory of evolution, which is under constant attack from people who are either ignorant of science or, worse, who allow their superstitions to overcome what knowledge they might have.”

-Dr. Isaac Asimov, PhD. Professor of Biochemistry, Johns Hopkins University

[Soliton]

It also answers the oft-asked question, "Why are there still apes?"

Because they taste like sh**

[Caramelgal]

I think that the grandeur of the vast scale and very long timeline and the complexity of life and how life evolved from simple one celled organisms to the complex life forms we see today including humans and their ability to think and reason, invent and question, and the power and influence of volcanism and plate tectonics and solar cycles and the influence that other celestial bodies have had on our planet over billions of years, gives greater credence to the idea of a God in charge of it all than does the idea of some white bearded robed guy in the sky who woke up on day and on a whim, decided to make all of creation in a six day work week with a day off for good measure some 6,000 years ago.

In my opinion, the Creationists don’t give their God the credit He should deserve for His efforts and inventiveness.

The God of the Creationists is lazy and sloppy and pressed for time and fallible, while the God who created the mechanisms of evolution and celestial mechanics and physics is brilliant.

[count-your-change]

“By the late Pleistocene, the modern large one-toed horse had evolved. It can´t be proven that the later large horse was descended from the earlier smaller horse, but except for size they are very similar animals and descent with variation is the most probable natural explanation. (This oversimplified summary was not intended to include all of the several dozen species of horse ancestors that have been discovered. For a more complete history of horses go to www.talkorgins.org).”
Like global warming/climate change explains anything and everything so the evolution notion does too even when it has no evidence. And now the two are pressed into an amalgam in this article that attempts to elevate Darwin to demigod status. Believe or perish!

[csense]

There are many people here who believe that an invisible being spoke magic words and that created everything in existence.

As opposed to those, including yourself, who believe they're related to their houseplant. Yup, that makes more sense.....

[Soliton]

In my opinion, the Creationists don’t give their God the credit He should deserve for His efforts and inventiveness. The God of the Creationists is lazy and sloppy and pressed for time and fallible, while the God who created the mechanisms of evolution and celestial mechanics and physics is brilliant.

Fairy tails are easy. Science is hard.

[Soliton]

As opposed to those, including yourself, who believe they're related to their houseplant. Yup, that makes more sense.....

We have the same DNA structure as houseplants. God doesn't need biology. He could have filled us with marshmallow creme and we would stll work

[Soliton]

Why even reply. You aren’t interested in understanding science. You are only interested in protecting your superstitions. There is a religious forum where no one is allowed to disagree with your delusions. Go in peace.

[csense]

He could have filled us with marshmallow creme and we would stll work

Some of us are full of something alright, but marshmallow isn't quite what I have in mind....

[Louis Foxwell]

Amazing how quickly the anti God spiders come out from under their rocks when ever someone spins a web about evolution.
The sheer sophistry and sophomoric logic of Mr. Williams demonstrates his lack of ability to handle complex issues. His understanding of science has more to do with HS chemistry than the metaphysics underpinning serious science.
Too long by double and too dumb by half.

[Caramelgal]

Fairy tails are easy. Science is hard.

I agree with you completely.

I don’t believe in fairy tales in general or in alien conspiracy theories, the Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster, ghosts, fairies or in benevolent angels, unicorns or in any other vast number of other fantastical beings.

As for God, I’m somewhere between being an agnostic and an atheist.

But if I am inclined to believe in a God, I find more proof of God in the beauty and vast complexity of science than I do in the literal and often biased and uniformed personal interpretation of scripture. Religious scriptures, the great moral teachings found in common among the many of the major religions, in my opinion, hold many great and common truths about how to live our lives in a moral context and not necessarily the mechanics of how life and the world around us works.

Do not accept any of my words on faith,
Believing them just because I said them.
Be like an analyst buying gold, who cuts, burns,
And critically examines his product for authenticity.
Only accept what passes the test
By proving useful and beneficial in your life.
- The Buddha

[Sopater]

There are many people here who believe that an invisible being spoke magic words and that created everything in existence. They completely deny the established science.

Stranger yet is that there are many people here who believe that it happend by accident. They completely deny the established science.