Evolution — No longer inspiring the confidence it once did

Uncommon Descent ^ | 10/15/06 | William Dembski

[jennyp]

Here's the important question I'm pondering: Have I become smarter or dumber for having read these kinds of threads?

[ml1954]

I guess it depends on what you mean by smarter. If you mean more informed and wiser, then yes.

I used to think that people who thought the earth and the universe were 6000 years old were rare and only to be found in isolated enclaves of extremist religious fanatics. I thought that they were generally regarded as irrational and to be ignored and avoided by the vast majority of people.

I've learned there are an awful lot of them on this site, that they are loud and aggressive in promoting their reality denying irrational anti-science religious fanaticism. I’ve learned they are questioned by only a relatively small number of scientists and science literate posters here. I've learned they routinely reply with outrageous and vile slanders. And when challenged too stridently or answered in kind by scientists and science literate posters, a lot of the scientists and science literate posters have gotten banned, while all but the most extreme of the creationists remain. I’ve learned how outright dishonest these people can be and what extremes they will go to in an effort to deny and/or mischaracterize the evidence and the science behind the theories that do not support their religious belief in a 6000 year old universe.

Am I smarter for this? I think so. Is there much more to be learned reading these threads? Well, the amount of science information, analysis, and scientifically based opinion and argument that manages to get through the increasingly loud and shrill noise level has been diminishing. But I've also learned there are a massive number of other sources of scientific information, news, and available on the Internet. However, I’ve got a real bad taste in my mouth about an apparently large militant faction within the conservative coalition.

[Revolting cat!]

Ouch Dude! They (the scientists referenced in the article) must all be card carrying Moonies, right?, and Revvy Moon, as we all "know", claims to be Jesus Christ. Therefore, Hail Darwin!

The Cat calls it Darwinist Dopes on the Ropes!

[stands2reason]

How do you mean?

[stands2reason]

The creos are already here with their snide remarks.

[stands2reason]

My religion is Gnostic Theravadan Buddhism.

But don't let that stop you from spreading untruths.

[stands2reason]

Is it not possible for you to be pleasant?

[stands2reason]

Where's the evidence?

[stands2reason]

Show me the evidence.

[mdmathis6]

The leeches reduce the swelling that would cause microstitching to suppurate and to reduce the possibility compartmental syndrome on the newly repaired arterioles and veins in the affected area. The leeches also release micro-quantities of anti-coagulants which discourage microembolization in the delicately repaired tissues and there-by maintain oxygenation and feeding of healing tissues.

There-fore referring to Democrats as leeches is unfair to leeches!

[stands2reason]

It's called "evolution" not "evolutionism".

So did the designer design each species all to live at the same time, like YEC's believe, or did he design them slowly over millenia?

[stands2reason]

Which creation account? There are several.

[stands2reason]

What do you mean, "stands on its own"?

And how is it more legitimate than any other creation story?