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--> The Cult of Evolution – the Opiate of the Atheists
NoDNC.com - STOP Democrat Corruption ^ | NoDNC.com Staff

Posted on 08/16/2005 11:23:20 AM PDT by woodb01

The Cult of Evolution – the Opiate of the Atheists
evolution is based on superstitious religious secular fundamentalism

for the week of August 15, 2005 - NoDNC.com staff

ARTICLE LINK - | | | - DISCUSSION LINK
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Evolution’s basic premise is that all “life” on the planet miraculously “emerged” through a bunch of accidents.  Current evolution teaches that “natural selection” is how we continue to “evolve.” 

Unfortunately for evolutionists their recent beliefs have been challenged on interesting grounds.  A new theory has come about to challenge the blind faith orthodoxy of the evolutionists, that theory is intelligent design. 

Think of it like this, evolution believe that if you have a deck of 52 cards and two jokers, and then shuffle the deck thoroughly, and throw the entire deck up in the air as high as you can, that eventually all of the cards will land, in perfect order, and perfectly aligned.  The probability of this even happening one time in a billion years approaches zero.  Then, to believe evolutionary "theory," you have to accept on blind faith that this same miracle of perfect order from total chaos has repeated itself millions of times to account for each of the plants, animals, and life on earth.  We'll leave it there for now.  It gets a WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATED for the evolutionary cult.  On the other hand, intelligent design says that after the evolutionist throws the cards up in the air and makes a mess, the intelligent designer comes along and carefully picks up each card and stacks them all up together, in sequence, and properly aligned.

Stepping back from evolution long enough to use critical thinking skills not taught much in public education these days, it becomes quickly apparent that evolution is nothing but a silly religious belief – a type of “secular fundamentalism” – demanding cult-like superstitious faith in the impossible.  If I have your attention, let’s take a careful look at what evolution requires us to accept on complete blind faith:

These are just a few of the major problems for the cult of evolution.  They are certainly not the least of the problems.  For example, under the “accidents” of evolution, where do emotions come from?  Where does instinct come from?  Why do humans have the ability to reason and understand right from wrong?  And the list goes on.  None of these innate characteristics can be explained by evolution.

Evolution is not science, because it can not be tested, verified, and there are no “false results.”  The only “false result” to evolution is Intelligent Design (ID) because the theory of ID proves that evolution is false and therefore evolution adherents attack ID proposals with zealous fundamentalism.

Has anyone ever seen how zealously these evolutionary “secular fundamentalists” irrationally attack competing theories without answering the underlying problems with their beliefs? 

Evolutionists routinely dodge issues like the origins of the universe because they know that if you stop and think hard about these issues, evolution falls apart as nothing but a widely held religious belief.  If you can't explain where the raw material for the inputs to the "evolutionary process" come from, then you have no process.  If you can't tell me how life started, and where its components came from, what the specific components were, what specific “accident” created “life,” then you have no process, only religious belief.

When you refuse to evaluate the inputs to a process, you have an incomplete process, it is unverifiable, and therefore un-provable, un-knowable, and an un-testable theory from a scientific perspective.  You MUST at that point insert your suppositions and BELIEFS (i.e. secular fundamentalist religious beliefs) into the process.  This is where it is no longer science, but superstition and blind religious faith.

It is understandable evolutionists would avoid many of these difficult questions because it exposes the preposterous "blind faith" required to accept evolution.

The cult of e
volution is the opiate for the atheists. 

Evolution is an atheist’s way to excuse their denial and rejection of god, it is their religion.  To the degree that evolutionists dodge the difficult questions, like the origins of life's raw materials, how the five senses came about (how did one-celled organisms get the "idea" that “senses” were even needed?), how or why or where emotions come from, or a whole host of other questions, proves that it is not science, but secular fundamentalism.  To the extent that evolutionists challenge competing theories such as Intelligent Design rather than answering the difficult questions or admitting that their “theory” has holes, it is not a scientific theory subject to the scientific process, but a cult based on zealous secular fundamentalism.

And on one hand, evolutionists expect you to believe that through a bunch of "accidents" life happened and "evolved" and then later, just the OPPOSITE takes place in the form of "natural selection."  In other words, the "accidents" of life lead to deliberate selection.  Under "natural selection" the "great god of evolution" decides who is the strongest and smartest and everyone else must be subjected to the superior race.  Sounds a lot like what Hitler's National SOCIALISTS believed to me.

No amount of proving atheism, er, I mean evolution wrong will ever satisfy the secular fundamentalist religious cult of evolution.  Even when those who support the theory of Intelligent Design are willing to engage in a dialog on the issue, the secular fundamentalists come out of the woodwork and shriek from the high heavens about how they refuse to prove one iota of their religious philosophy, but demand that ANYTHING that dares challenge their orthodoxy must be proven beyond any doubt.  This is the essence of religious zealotry and blind religious fundamentalism--, it is the opiate of the atheists...

If those who adhere to evolution are genuinely interested in science, then they must evaluate the whole process, and if the inputs to that process, or many of its components such as the senses or emotions do not support the process then they must reject that theory (evolution) as unworkable.  To do anything less is no longer science.  But then again, evolutionists are not really interested in science.

Call me weak minded but I just don't have the blind, zealous, fundamentalist faith to believe that nothing created everything (the "Big Bang") and that life just spontaneously erupted from rocks, water, and a few base chemicals (evolution) through a bunch of "weird science" accidents.  Step back, stop and actually THINK about the leaps of un-provable, totally blind-faith that evolution requires and unless you're one of its religious zealots, you too will reach the conclusion that evolution is a FRAUD!

Evolution, the opiate for atheists and the biggest hoax and fraud ever perpetrated on the Western World in History...


Additional Resources:

DNA: The Tiny Code That's Toppling Evolution (DNA is PROVING that evolution is a hoax)
The controversy over evolution includes a growing number of scientists who challenge Darwinism. (The fraud of Darwinism...)
Einstein Versus Darwin: Intelligent Design Or Evolution? (Most LEGITIMATE Scientists do NOT agree with Evolution)
What’s the Big Secret? (Intelligent Design in Pennsylvania)
What are the Darwinists afraid of? (The fervent religious belief in evolution)
The Little Engine That Could...Undo Darwinism (Evolution may be proven false very soon)
 



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: anothercrevothread; awwcrapnotthisagain; crevolist; enoughalready; evolution; evoscientology; evoshavetinywinkies; idiocy; idiots; intelligentdesign
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To: Elsie

That's weird.

But funny!

Thanks.


761 posted on 08/19/2005 8:34:10 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: woodb01
The cult of evolution is the opiate for the atheists.

Amen.

762 posted on 08/19/2005 10:14:55 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Gal.4:16)
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Comment #763 Removed by Moderator

To: Dimensio; CarolinaGuitarman
P> Starting at the end (a very good place to start):

Me: Imagine their elation when they were told that it’s just a matter of a few years and the existence of God will be definitively disproved, and that it will be known authoritatively that we all came from a mud puddle.

You: Who in the hell told them this? I've never heard anyone claim that we're anywhere close to demonstrating that the latter is true, and science could never, ever, do the former. Anyone who claims that science could disprove God is a liar or a moron.

Well . . . that lying moron David R. Liu, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard ‘told them this,’ apparently (by ‘them’ I assume you mean the liars and the morons of the press).

"My expectation is that we will be able to reduce this [origin of life] to a very simple series of logical events that could have taken place with no divine intervention." That’s a quote - professor Liu said it; he’s responsible for it (the part about the mud puddle is my responsibility - more about that later). According to professor Liu, not only can we disprove the existence of God, it’s going to be a rather simple matter to do so.

Professor Liu has a bit of wiggle room if the heat gets a little intense, and he has to squirm out of what he said (it won’t so he won’t). He did reference ‘logical events that could have taken place,’ indicating there might be various possibilities (including ‘divine intervention’). He could claim that God may have created the universe, and therefore might be indirectly responsible for the origins of life. He could simply flat-out deny the quote, or claim that he was quoted ‘out of context.’ He could declare his utter neutrality in the matter, leaving his prior quote hanging in midair with no context.

I imagine you’re tempted to come to Professor Liu’s defense. I really wish you wouldn’t. The professor is not worthy of your defense. Surely, he does understand that the Origins of Life in the Universe Initiative was not instituted to logically demonstrate that origin of life is part of the theory of evolution. Yet the connection is made in the article. More to the point, surely he must know that the Initiative is incapable of delving into value judgments such as declaring God either dead or alive (or irrelevant). Yet, he says what he undeniably said. But then, perhaps it’s just that he knows an Atlantic City Boardwalk stripper named ‘Devine Intervention.’ Undoubtedly, she would have nothing to do with the origin of life, even though she may have more than her share to do with its perpetuation.

That little bit of humor aside, the question remains why would a science professor make such an irrational statement. In the first instance, if the professor was not concerned with science in that statement, it ceases to be irrational. In the second instance, it’s not science, it’s Harvard with an atmosphere where huge amounts of wealth float around looking for a hook-up. In the third instance, it’s not science, it’s Harvard, with an atmosphere where agendas float around looking for wealth to hook-up with. In the forth instance, it’s not science, it’s Harvard, with an atmosphere where professors float around looking for opportunities where their particular discipline can go “Ta-ta for money.” Understand this, and what was obscure and perplexing becomes suddenly very clear.

On Mud Puddles where little children and scientists love to play:

Scientists like to posit that it’s in places like tidewater basins and wetlands where life most likely originated. Loaded with nutrients and lots of readily available sunlight. Yes or no, true?

Second best option: the bottom of a sea. Sunlight is a problem, but hot water vents are thought an adequate substitute. Yes or no, true?

Very well, then. Mud Puddles. If you don’t like my analogy, then Mr. Madison &c, more than two hundred years ago, said you have a perfect right to sneer. In the interim you’ll know what I mean even if you don’t like it.

I think that you're reading into this things that are simply not there.

That’s always a possibility. On the other hand, there may be just a whole lot of things there that you’re not seeing.

Harvard is doing a study on life origins. Many people mistakenly think that life origins is part of the theory of evolution.

I’m not one of those people. And, this story did not do one thing to clear up the misconceptions of people who do hold that mistaken belief.

The theory of evolution has recently come under attack by a group of hacks pushing "Intelligent Design", thus from a study on origins we get an article mentioning the evolution vs. ID issue.

You can’t reasonably blame everything on LD ‘hacks.’ This story is the responsibility of the Boston Globe and of Harvard. We’re dealing with the original story, not with blowbacks.

I don't see how this is the fault of Harvard, . . .

It’s their story. In fact, it reads like a press release originally written by the Harvard PR department (and, yes, they’re not scientists, so they’re morons too, but these morons should be smart enough to get feed-back from the Science Dpt). Better than half of these kinds of stories are press releases. You and several other posters noted the stories from different sources were virtually identical, but you apparently missed the vital connection: the parts that are identical from news outlet to news outlet are part of the original press release. It looks like The Globe did follow-up (probably with some telephone interviews - it’s doubtful there was any face-to-face), but apparently most of the outlets basically printed the release as is. Some did throw in a little bit of information from other sources.

. . . nor do I see how this logically demonstrates that life origins actually is part of the theory of evolution.

I don’t see that it does. But, it does seem that someone in Harvard PR perceives an advantage to leaving others with that impression.

Theology and philosophy can certainly address the matter of origins, but that doesn't mean that science can't investigate the matter.

Apparently two lines of evolutionist thought on this issue. There are others who say that origins is not a fit study for science because any conclusion/hypothesis/theory arising from this study would not be falsifiable and, therefore, not genuinely scientific. You’re the first I’ve encountered to say differently. Elaborate a little on this, if you wish to take the trouble.

Me: Personally, I think the articles are probably accurate.

You: On what basis?

I explained once, but let me try again. Coming at it from a little different angle, and in addition to that written above:

Recollection may bring to mind that several years ago four or five college students made up an environmental logo letterhead with an impressive-sounding scientific-like title. They set themselves up in an off-campus apartment, with a copier, and a fax. They then begin sending phoney environmental studies and bulletins to newspapers, wire services and various other news outlets. Unbelievably, some of the news organizations published their crap without checking out either the information or the supposed organization, despite the outlandishness of much of the material being produced. Once that happened, then everyone else was more that pleased to chime right in and add to the mist of misinformation. Eventually, of course, the whole little scam was uncovered and the jig was up. But, the question is, why did any journalist ever fall for this nonsense in the first place?

The answer is simple. The stuff these kids were putting out fit the political and ideological agenda of the press. It also fit their prejudices and their ignorance. All the right people were being flayed. The press had no hint of the truth of the matter, and could have cared less. It was so very much emotionally satisfying that they were thrilled to pass on whatever they were told. When the game was finally up and the scam exposed, then all the press simply dropped the whole matter without so much as a sheepish grin. Why should they feel sheepish? They didn’t believe they had done anything particularly wrong, and it had served a good purpose in their minds.

This present situation is very similar. The press gets to stick a thumb in the eye of those evil Christians and those dumb knuckle-dragging conservatives. What else do they need to know.

764 posted on 08/19/2005 5:50:41 PM PDT by YHAOS (Western morons are more dangerous than Islamic lunatics)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 751 | View Replies]

To: Dimensio; CarolinaGuitarman
P> Starting at the end (a very good place to start):

Me: Imagine their elation when they were told that it’s just a matter of a few years and the existence of God will be definitively disproved, and that it will be known authoritatively that we all came from a mud puddle.

You: Who in the hell told them this? I've never heard anyone claim that we're anywhere close to demonstrating that the latter is true, and science could never, ever, do the former. Anyone who claims that science could disprove God is a liar or a moron.

Well . . . that lying moron David R. Liu, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard ‘told them this,’ apparently (by ‘them’ I assume you mean the liars and the morons of the press).

"My expectation is that we will be able to reduce this [origin of life] to a very simple series of logical events that could have taken place with no divine intervention." That’s a quote - professor Liu said it; he’s responsible for it (the part about the mud puddle is my responsibility - more about that later). According to professor Liu, not only can we disprove the existence of God, it’s going to be a rather simple matter to do so.

Professor Liu has a bit of wiggle room if the heat gets a little intense, and he has to squirm out of what he said (it won’t so he won’t). He did reference ‘logical events that could have taken place,’ indicating there might be various possibilities (including ‘divine intervention’). He could claim that God may have created the universe, and therefore might be indirectly responsible for the origins of life. He could simply flat-out deny the quote, or claim that he was quoted ‘out of context.’ He could declare his utter neutrality in the matter, leaving his prior quote hanging in midair with no context.

I imagine you’re tempted to come to Professor Liu’s defense. I really wish you wouldn’t. The professor is not worthy of your defense. Surely, he does understand that the Origins of Life in the Universe Initiative was not instituted to logically demonstrate that origin of life is part of the theory of evolution. Yet the connection is made in the article. More to the point, surely he must know that the Initiative is incapable of delving into value judgments such as declaring God either dead or alive (or irrelevant). Yet, he says what he undeniably said. But then, perhaps it’s just that he knows an Atlantic City Boardwalk stripper named ‘Devine Intervention.’ Undoubtedly, she would have nothing to do with the origin of life, even though she may have more than her share to do with its perpetuation.

That little bit of humor aside, the question remains why would a science professor make such an irrational statement. In the first instance, if the professor was not concerned with science in that statement, it ceases to be irrational. In the second instance, it’s not science, it’s Harvard with an atmosphere where huge amounts of wealth float around looking for a hook-up. In the third instance, it’s not science, it’s Harvard, with an atmosphere where agendas float around looking for wealth to hook-up with. In the forth instance, it’s not science, it’s Harvard, with an atmosphere where professors float around looking for opportunities where their particular discipline can go “Ta-ta for money.” Understand this, and what was obscure and perplexing becomes suddenly very clear.

On Mud Puddles where little children and scientists love to play:

Scientists like to posit that it’s in places like tidewater basins and wetlands where life most likely originated. Loaded with nutrients and lots of readily available sunlight. Yes or no, true?

Second best option: the bottom of a sea. Sunlight is a problem, but hot water vents are thought an adequate substitute. Yes or no, true?

Very well, then. Mud Puddles. If you don’t like my analogy, then Mr. Madison &c, more than two hundred years ago, said you have a perfect right to sneer. In the interim you’ll know what I mean even if you don’t like it.

I think that you're reading into this things that are simply not there.

That’s always a possibility. On the other hand, there may be just a whole lot of things there that you’re not seeing.

Harvard is doing a study on life origins. Many people mistakenly think that life origins is part of the theory of evolution.

I’m not one of those people. And, this story did not do one thing to clear up the misconceptions of people who do hold that mistaken belief.

The theory of evolution has recently come under attack by a group of hacks pushing "Intelligent Design", thus from a study on origins we get an article mentioning the evolution vs. ID issue.

You can’t reasonably blame everything on LD ‘hacks.’ This story is the responsibility of the Boston Globe and of Harvard. We’re dealing with the original story, not with blowbacks.

I don't see how this is the fault of Harvard, . . .

It’s their story. In fact, it reads like a press release originally written by the Harvard PR department (and, yes, they’re not scientists, so they’re morons too, but these morons should be smart enough to get feed-back from the Science Dpt). Better than half of these kinds of stories are press releases. You and several other posters noted the stories from different sources were virtually identical, but you apparently missed the vital connection: the parts that are identical from news outlet to news outlet are part of the original press release. It looks like The Globe did follow-up (probably with some telephone interviews - it’s doubtful there was any face-to-face), but apparently most of the outlets basically printed the release as is. Some did throw in a little bit of information from other sources.

. . . nor do I see how this logically demonstrates that life origins actually is part of the theory of evolution.

I don’t see that it does. But, it does seem that someone in Harvard PR perceives an advantage to leaving others with that impression.

Theology and philosophy can certainly address the matter of origins, but that doesn't mean that science can't investigate the matter.

Apparently two lines of evolutionist thought on this issue. There are others who say that origins is not a fit study for science because any conclusion/hypothesis/theory arising from this study would not be falsifiable and, therefore, not genuinely scientific. You’re the first I’ve encountered to say differently. Elaborate a little on this, if you wish to take the trouble.

Me: Personally, I think the articles are probably accurate.

You: On what basis?

I explained once, but let me try again. Coming at it from a little different angle, and in addition to that written above:

Recollection may bring to mind that several years ago four or five college students made up an environmental logo letterhead with an impressive-sounding scientific-like title. They set themselves up in an off-campus apartment, with a copier, and a fax. They then begin sending phoney environmental studies and bulletins to newspapers, wire services and various other news outlets. Unbelievably, some of the news organizations published their crap without checking out either the information or the supposed organization, despite the outlandishness of much of the material being produced. Once that happened, then everyone else was more that pleased to chime right in and add to the mist of misinformation. Eventually, of course, the whole little scam was uncovered and the jig was up. But, the question is, why did any journalist ever fall for this nonsense in the first place?

The answer is simple. The stuff these kids were putting out fit the political and ideological agenda of the press. It also fit their prejudices and their ignorance. All the right people were being flayed. The press had no hint of the truth of the matter, and could have cared less. It was so very much emotionally satisfying that they were thrilled to pass on whatever they were told. When the game was finally up and the scam exposed, then all the press simply dropped the whole matter without so much as a sheepish grin. Why should they feel sheepish? They didn’t believe they had done anything particularly wrong, and it had served a good purpose in their minds.

This present situation is very similar. The press gets to stick a thumb in the eye of those evil Christians and those dumb knuckle-dragging conservatives. What else do they need to know.

765 posted on 08/19/2005 5:51:59 PM PDT by YHAOS (Western morons are more dangerous than Islamic lunatics)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 751 | View Replies]

To: Heartlander
It seems science has found a motive and philosophy.

Some who always have had a motive and a philosophy may have found science.

This is why I find the Boston Globe article rather fascinating. It has fallen into the chasm. In human affairs this is often the case. The story coming out of Harvard seems to be different from what we are told by our friends who defend science. Let us not flail them for this, however. Science is worth defending. A re-ordering and a re-alignment may be in the offing, but it will take years to unfold.

766 posted on 08/19/2005 6:46:35 PM PDT by YHAOS (Western morons are more dangerous than Islamic lunatics)
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To: YHAOS
"Well . . . that lying moron David R. Liu, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard ‘told them this,’ apparently (by ‘them’ I assume you mean the liars and the morons of the press)."

"According to professor Liu, not only can we disprove the existence of God, it’s going to be a rather simple matter to do so."

That is not what he said, and only a lair or a moron could get that from his statement. Is there a reason you felt compelled to change his statement? He said,

"My expectation is that we will be able to reduce this [origin of life] to a very simple series of logical events that could have taken place with no divine intervention."

As is plain, he did NOT say that the task would be easy, just that the steps that led to life would be simple and logical once they were discovered. It may take centuries to figure it all out.

And, as has been said before, NO scientific theory uses *divine intervention* as evidence. ALL scientific theories can ONLY use natural causes. Anything else would not be science. Singling out abiogenesis is just dishonest. Name ANY theory in science that uses Divine Intervention as a perfectly fine piece of evidence (ID doesn't count, I said scientific theory)

Also, the quote from Liu does NOT say he will be disproving God. He says his theory will only use natural causes to explain the origins of life on earth. That doesn't mean there is no God, as a theist can be perfectly comfortable with the idea that God created the laws of nature and those laws of nature are sufficient to run the Universe. God doesn't have to keep meddling at every turn. If he did, like ID claims, then there would be no way to be sure of anything in science.

"Surely, he does understand that the Origins of Life in the Universe Initiative was not instituted to logically demonstrate that origin of life is part of the theory of evolution. Yet the connection is made in the article."

By a reporter who is trying to get more readership from scientific illiterates like you. Not by Liu.

"But, it does seem that someone in Harvard PR perceives an advantage to leaving others with that impression."

Or, that some reporter sees an advantage in getting more readership.
767 posted on 08/19/2005 6:48:44 PM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: Oztrich Boy
Does Rowling exist? There may be a woman set up to act as the author of the Potter books, but is she really? Or is it all the carefully orchestrated work of a big corporation out to make millions? Something to contemplate.

bluepistolero

768 posted on 08/19/2005 8:33:46 PM PDT by bluepistolero (Pay me no mind, my critics say I have nothing of substance to contribute anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 728 | View Replies]

To: CarolinaGuitarman; Dimensio
I pinged you on Dimensio’s message because I didn’t want to say so much twice (and then wound up saying it twice anyway LOL!)

Actually, you missed my point entirely. I was talking about the people who use the article to promote the false claim that the scientists had linked abiogenesis with evolution. I would not have used the term shyster though; I think the term I used was liar.

No, I took your point. But, I was talking about what was actually in the article, whether you like it or not; whether you agree or not (I don’t - you don’t, I would guess).

It was either an ignorant claim, or a calculated claim. What it also was positively was an unfounded claim.

Unfounded and calculated, in my opinion. Like the article or not, there it is, like an elephant in the room. You can grumble about liars, fools and ignorami all you wish, but the fact is sometimes people use you for their own ends and then are perfectly content to leave you holding the bag. As I mentioned in my message to Dimensio, this is one of those times, IMO.

The Boston Globe article, what I could read of it online without paying, said the same things as the AP article.

The Globe article is much more extensive and elaborates considerably more than does the AP article. But then, AP gets bored easily. Check your private box after a bit. It looks like maybe we can call it the Allston Project.

They are trying to find a natural process that could have led to life. The fact they are not going to use supernatural causes as *evidence* only means they are doing what EVERY other field of science does.

But then professor Liu mentions ‘Devine Intervention.’ Why would he do that? According to you, and even me, supernatural causes have no relevance; zip, zero, nada. Not worthy of the least mention. And still, he mentions it. The million/yr Harvard is kicking in won’t be sufficient to fund this project. My guess is that there will be fund raising activities. What puts a zip in fund raising? CONTROVERSY!

Just a thought.

769 posted on 08/19/2005 8:52:53 PM PDT by YHAOS (Western morons are more dangerous than Islamic lunatics)
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To: YHAOS
"But, I was talking about what was actually in the article, whether you like it or not; whether you agree or not"

Except... no where do the Harvard scientists say what they are doing has anything to do with evolution. That's all added by the journalist to fill out the story and make it more salable.

" The Globe article is much more extensive and elaborates considerably more than does the AP article"

Except... the added material doesn't have any of the scientists say that their study will support evolution either. It talks in more detail about origin of life studies, not about evolution.

" But then professor Liu mentions ‘Devine Intervention.’ Why would he do that?"

Because it was true? Because the reporter asked him about ID? Or because the previous hypotheses about life's origins invoked divine intervention and their theory was going to be scientific and only use natural, material causes? I wasn't there and don't have the transcripts of the interview. Neither were you.

"My guess is that there will be fund raising activities. What puts a zip in fund raising? CONTROVERSY!"

What also can put a freeze on funding....?

Controversy!
770 posted on 08/19/2005 9:24:15 PM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
Singling out abiogenesis is just dishonest.

Gosh, I thought that was the topic generally at hand.

Also, the quote from Liu does NOT say he will be disproving God. He says his theory will only use natural causes to explain the origins of life on earth. That doesn't mean there is no God, as a theist can be perfectly comfortable with the idea that God created the laws of nature and those laws of nature are sufficient to run the Universe. God doesn't have to keep meddling at every turn.

But the good professor doesn’t say that, oh ye of the cut’em-no-slack school of discourse. Unlike many whom you oppose, you’ll cut Dr. Liu all the slack he needs to fully explain what he really means. Well, it so happens that I agree in this case. Cutting Dr. Liu some slack is not a matter of science; it’s a matter of simple justice. I let your personality disorder affect my judgment in refusing Dr. Liu even a little simple justice (and, after reading some of your more poisonous posts, I promised myself I wouldn’t do that ). My fault - not yours. So I looked up young Dr. Liu.

David Liu: born in Riverside, California; graduated first in his class at Harvard in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry; entered the Ph.D. program at U. C. Berkeley; studied tRNAs and the enzymes that aminoacylate them; initiated the first general effort to expand the genetic code in living cells; earned his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1999; became Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University the same year.

Professor Liu: head of the Liu Group; the group’s research applies evolutionary principles to the creation and evaluation of small molecules and macromolecules; research areas include;

“(i) the development and application of new approaches to the evolution of biological macromolecules, and (ii) the application of evolutionary principles to the discovery of synthetic small molecules, synthetic polymers, and new chemical reactions.”

Other research include; “evolution in living cells of RNA molecules with biological activities from random libraries, and the evolution of proteins with novel catalytic and regulatory activities,”leading to “the laboratory evolution of new macromolecular tools for studying biology,” and also the dissection of “the structural and functional requirements of natural proteins and small RNA (sRNA) molecules.”

Second area of interest; Professor Liu's group has developed “a new approach to the synthesis and discovery of synthetic molecules that captures fundamental advantages of biological evolution.”

So it seems Professor Liu’s plate is full without a project studying the origins of life. Also, it looks like Dr. Liu isn’t far enough up the food-chain to be involved with the politics of fund raising, faculty recruitment, and facility development on a new campus. So, I was wrong to go after Dr. Liu. It’s that politically correct gang who run Harvard like a re-education camp that I should have been pursuing. You have to wonder why Dr. Liu was even in the story unless Harvard PR turned to him to fill in for higher ups. It is summer and people are gone.

But, it is Harvard’s story and it is The Globe’s story, and it’s their responsibility to get it right. You’re supposed to be a no excuses - no slack kind of guy, but in falling all over yourself trying to excuse Harvard and The Globe and blaming this on evil-intentioned little people, you sound like the Clinton Administration: “I never worked so hard in my life trying to make those little weasels get this story straight, and their incompetence is not my fault! Now, I want you to listen close because I’m going to say this just once; I never, not once, ever had sexual relations with the Boston Globe, and neither did Harvard or Hilary. There’s some little evil-intentioned incompetent running around down there trying to torpedo my legacy, and that’s all there is to that story (in Rush’s best Bill Clinton voice).

So, you don’t like my interpretation of Dr. Liu’s remarks (or The Globe’s reporting thereof), huh? Scientifically illiterate, you call me. Yeah . . . that’s largely correct. And content I would have been to remain so (with a few notable exceptions) the rest of my life. But scientists are messing around in my areas of interest (natural rights, natural law, the rights of man, the theory of liberal republican government, the right of free inquiry, etc.), so I’m obliged to find out more about science than I really otherwise care to do. But, it looks like I’ll need to go somewhere else where I won’t need to deal so much with over-hormoned stuffed shirts.

Many scientists seem so self-absorbed in their own interests that I doubt it ever occurs to them there might be other understandings or applications. Or maybe they’re just plain scared. Do scientists actually think they have ultimate control over their work product if their work excites the interest of the politically correct who run most American college campi? Oh, scientists will bravely man the ramparts against the IDers (it’s pretty easy to tear into most IDers - there are some who can bite back), but they’ve allowed a nest of vipers to flourish within their academic walls without doing scarce a thing. The environmental lunatics and the ideological brown shirts have control of the campus administration and the ear of the conventional press, and they can hurt any academic who crosses them.

This thread has gone to dust and hot wind. If you wish, the last word is yours. I’m done.

771 posted on 08/21/2005 9:27:07 PM PDT by YHAOS (Western morons are more dangerous than Islamic lunatics)
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To: YHAOS
" Singling out abiogenesis is just dishonest."


"Gosh, I thought that was the topic generally at hand. "


When you single out abiogenesis for only admitting natural, material causes when EVERY scientific theory does the same, it IS dishonest.

"But the good professor doesn’t say that, oh ye of the cut’em-no-slack school of discourse. Unlike many whom you oppose, you’ll cut Dr. Liu all the slack he needs to fully explain what he really means"

Look, you put words in Lui's mouth by saying he said he was trying to prove God doesn't exist. That's an outright lie on your part. There is no Clintonesque word weaseling you can do to get out of that. Looking for a natural process to explain abiogenesis is not the same as saying there is no God, any more than looking for a natural process to explain the motions of the stars and planets was. That is what science does; that is ALL it can do.

"but in falling all over yourself trying to excuse Harvard and The Globe and blaming this on evil-intentioned little people,"

Another lie. I laid the blame mostly on the reporters like the one from the Globe. They just hoped that ignorant people like you would jump all over the story and cause a big stink. Helps their circulation.

" So, you don’t like my interpretation of Dr. Liu’s remarks (or The Globe’s reporting thereof), huh? "

Yes, because you lied about what he said. :)

"I let your personality disorder..."

Telling the truth is now a personality disorder? Not attributing words to people when they didn't say them is now a personality disorder?

" This thread has gone to dust and hot wind. If you wish, the last word is yours. I’m done."

You were done a long time ago, but thanks for playing! :)
772 posted on 08/22/2005 8:51:47 AM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: bobdsmith
If you understood anything about evolution you would realise that a modern mammal fossil found in the cambrian would make as much sense for evolution as 1 + 1 = 3.

I'm not claiming it would make sense. Apparently, you are completely missing the point, or it's just fun for you to go in circles.

As I have stated, evolutionists fit every piece of evidence into their theory, whether it makes sense or not. Your response has been to claim that you think evolutionists wouldn't try to fit some imaginary fossil you've dreamed up into the theory.

So basically, we have my opinion (which is based on examples I provided previously) and your conjecture about what might happen if something that hasn't been found is ever found.

Have a nice day. I'm getting off the merry-go-round.

773 posted on 08/22/2005 9:52:01 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: MEGoody

You mentioned "The so called 'refutations' of Behe's book. It's all embraced by evols whether it makes sense or not."

This has nothing to do with the fossil record, Behe does not produce any fossil that contradicts the tree of evolution. Please stay on topic.

I stand by the facts. One fact is that a rabbit fossil found in the cambrian is an example of a find that would majorly contradict the established evolutionary tree of life. Another fact is that no such majorly contradicting find has ever been made.

I don't think you grasp how contradictory a modern mammal fossil in the cambrian would be. It would totally demolish evolution. The general pattern of the fossil record is known, and it is an observable fact that cannot be manipulated. A modern rabbit found in the cambrian cannot be moved, nor can it be explained by evolution.

We know that primitive life existed in the cambrian about 550 million years ago, with traces of even more primitive life existing beforehand. The origin of mammals from synapsid reptiles about 300 million years ago is also pinned down in the fossil record. These mammals are primitive and not like modern mammals.

Modern mammals appear quite a bit later. The fossil record indicates that rabbits for example appeared just 65 million years ago, and even then these were "primitive" rabbits and not like modern rabbits.

So to have a modern rabbit fossil found all the way back in the cambrian 550 million years ago would be totally irreconcilable with evolution.

Not only would it show a modern rabbit existed before primitive rabbits, but it would show a modern rabbit had existed before mammals, and existed even before the earliest known land vertebrates.

If you cannot see this would be irreconcilable with evolution then frankly you don't understand evolution.


774 posted on 08/22/2005 10:25:22 AM PDT by bobdsmith
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To: bobdsmith
This has nothing to do with the fossil record

You are the one limiting it to the 'fossil record.' I never did.

Please stay on topic.

You first.

I don't think you grasp how contradictory a modern mammal fossil in the cambrian would be.

I see you are still riding that merry go round. I state my point, you come back with your opinion of what might happen if some fictional thing were found.

When you get off the ride, let me know.

775 posted on 08/22/2005 10:28:20 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: bobdsmith
I don't think you grasp how contradictory a modern mammal fossil in the Cambrian would be.

Actually, the creationists do know this, which is why they bring up fossilized spark plugs and human/dino footprints when nobody is watching.

But I suppose you are referring to a genuine anachronism and not a hoax.

776 posted on 08/22/2005 10:32:13 AM PDT by js1138 (Science has it all: the fun of being still, paying attention, writing down numbers...)
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To: MEGoody
Okay lets try an analogy to what you are doing (or rather a parody), and hope you see how unreasonable you are being.

Person A says that finding a boulder on earth that falls upwards would be irreconcilable with the theory of gravitation.

Person B responds that it is just Person A's "opinion of what might happen if some fictional thing were found". Person B further claim that no matter what observation is found, physicists "would just make it fit. They always do."

Person A tries to explain that a boulder falling upwards would be totally irreconcilable with the theory of gravitation.

Person B claims "this is just your opinion", and links to a book detailing the problem of dark matter as an example of how physicists ignore data that doesn't fit.

Peron A points responds that that is off topic.

Person B claims "You are the one limiting it to 'boulders' I never did."

777 posted on 08/22/2005 10:51:03 AM PDT by bobdsmith
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To: bobdsmith
Person B further claim that no matter what observation is found, physicists "would just make it fit. They always do."

So far, that is the case. All you have is speculation about what they would do with some fictional thing if it were found. Until my premise is proven wrong by actual change in behavior in the 'evol community,' then my premise is just as valid as that of evolution at this point. :)

Have a nice ride.

778 posted on 08/22/2005 11:39:13 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: MEGoody
Why are you singling out the theory of evolution then? You seem to be saying all theories in science cannot be potentially falsified. So why single out the theory of evolution? Can you name any scientific theory which you think is potentially falsifiable along with a description of how it could be potentially falsified?

Remember that all theories must be potentially falsifiable to qualifiy as scientific. You seem to be attacking all of science here.

Until my premise is proven wrong

[sarc]Surely it can't be proven wrong. Nothing that happens can disprove your premise. That is the flaw in your premise. No matter what changed in the 'evol community' you would just incorperate it into your premise. Go on describe an example which would disprove your premise[/sarc]

779 posted on 08/22/2005 12:44:15 PM PDT by bobdsmith
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To: bobdsmith
Why are you singling out the theory of evolution then?

Uh, it could be because I was responding on a thread about ID and evolution, and you'd already commented on ID. (Sheesh.)

Surely it can't be proven wrong.

It hasn't been so far. (Similar to your stance on evolution, it seems.)

780 posted on 08/22/2005 1:09:50 PM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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