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How Intelligent Design Hurts Conservatives (By making us look like crackpots)
The New Republic ^ | 8/16/05 | Ross Douthat

Posted on 08/18/2005 5:17:34 PM PDT by curiosity

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To: Dimensio
Interesting...

Your words...

Nothing in science is "irrefutable". That's the nature of science.

Behe's "Irreducably Comples" writings have been debunked countless times. Dembksi's arguments of probability are based upon faulty assumptions
So, the science that supposedly debunked Behe (and I say supposedly because it is clear that if he had been thoroughly debunked he would not still be in the position he is in), and the belief that Dembksi's assumptions were false is irrefutable?

I honestly do not think so, and based on what you said the nature of science is, I do not believe you think so either. Therefore, in answer to your original question to point to some of the science that is part of ID, I have done so. You simply do not believe it.,

...and that falls right in line with what I have been saying. If a person (through scientific method and their own objective reasoning) has a disposition (or call it faith) to believe it one theory or another, they will look at it from that perspective and...short of absolute, irrefutable fact to the contrary...they will seek to expand it. Same is true on the other side of the equation.

Elements of science and belief are equally used on both sides of this equation IMHO. I still believe that the objective reasoning arguements are stronger for ID...but that is my perspective, disposition and faith in the matter. You are perfectly free to believe otherwise.

281 posted on 08/18/2005 7:56:18 PM PDT by Jeff Head (www.dragonsfuryseries.com)
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To: WildTurkey

The Uncertainty Principle operates even before we are conceived. I suppose God could have created a Universe with rules that allowed perfect prediction, but it seems She created a Universe that provides only for probabilities.


282 posted on 08/18/2005 7:56:59 PM PDT by muawiyah (/ hey coach do I gotta' put in that "/sarcasm " thing again?)
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To: WildTurkey
other than what he has already planned for you to do

Its obvious that you don't read the posts but have a pre-fab answer

So I'll try to explain for the last time so even you can understand it

Fore knowledge is just the knowledge of an event before it occurs

IT IS NOT planning, interferring or controlling...its just KNOWING

Free will is....just that... free

free adj. fre·er, fre·est

Not imprisoned or enslaved; being at liberty.
Not controlled by obligation or the will of another: felt free to go.
Not subject to arbitrary interference
Not affected or restricted by a given condition or circumstance
Not subject to a given condition
Not subject to external restraint
Costing nothing; gratuitous: a free meal
Publicly supported: free education
Not taken up by scheduled activities
Unobstructed; clear: a free lane.

283 posted on 08/18/2005 7:57:06 PM PDT by apackof2 (In my simple way, I guess you could say I'm living in the BIG TIME)
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To: aculeus

It won't just be a boon to libs and deadly to conservatives.

If one views our culture from a critical standpoint and forgets politics, it is a kind of return to the Dark Ages.

I am aghast at the ID movement. I am aghast that some conservatives embrace it as the Truth. Because of a Book.


284 posted on 08/18/2005 7:57:10 PM PDT by cajungirl (no)
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To: WildTurkey

Pre-ordained is to say he is making that decision for me, which is wrong, omniscience is not all-controlling knowledge of a matter does not automatically infer control over it.

As I replied to another fellow here, I know tomorrow the sun will rise, or tonight a metoer will wipe us out, or maybe the sun will be covered by clouds or even raining. Knowing all of these does that mean I have control over them if they happen?


285 posted on 08/18/2005 7:58:14 PM PDT by aft_lizard (This space waiting for a post election epiphany it now is: Question Everything)
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To: aft_lizard
Take for instance I know that tomorrow the sun will rise, or maybe tonight a meteor will destroy the earth, or clouds will cover the sky or it might rain. Knowing all these could happen, if any of them do does that imply I have control over them?

You do not "know" these things as God does. You did not create them and you do not control them. You miss the point. God created man and when he created man he knew what they would do. That is the control. Man has no free will. Free-will would imply that he could change his destiny from that which God thought he knew.

286 posted on 08/18/2005 7:59:09 PM PDT by WildTurkey (When will CBS Retract and Apologize?)
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To: Jeff Head
So, the science that supposedly debunked Behe (and I say supposedly because it is clear that if he had been thoroughly debunked he would not still be in the position he is in), and the belief that Dembksi's assumptions were false is irrefutable?

I should be more specific. Theories are never "irrefutable", however they can be proven false through contrary observation. Behe's claims to IC have been shown to be flawed. The examples that he has presented were shown to be bad examples. Irreducable Complexity might be true, but thus far Behe has failed to demonstrate that it is.
287 posted on 08/18/2005 7:59:40 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: WildTurkey
Uh, you miss the point. God has already chosen your path for tomorrow. You have no choice. We will find out tomorrow what God has planned for you.

Right. We are all programed robots who have no individual choice.

And all those warnings by God against "sin" are jokes because of course God is the one who programs us and causes all our words and actions.

This of course is a poison doctrine straight from the Devil who hates God and would do anything to smear Him.

288 posted on 08/18/2005 7:59:47 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: Friend of thunder
If the supernatural exists than science must be able to explain it.

No, because science can only deal with the natural.

Or is it specific aspects of ID that you object to?

Those too. For instance, the claim that "irreducibly complex" biochemical systems could not have evolved. That claim is simply false.

But my stongest objections to it are theological. The god of ID is an incompetent engineer, who is constantly coming up with new, flawed designs and then scrapping them.

It's also claiming that God is constantly performing "signs" in his tickering with life. That borders on blasphemy.

That is NOT the God of the Bible.

289 posted on 08/18/2005 8:00:07 PM PDT by curiosity (.)
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To: curiosity

Until someone can explain how life just magically "began" out of nothing with the ability to duplicate itself, the average person (especially conservatives) will continue to believe that God has a hand in developing and overseeing life on earth, and everything in this universe.

I am of the belief that God created life on earth and continues to have a hand in its development.


290 posted on 08/18/2005 8:00:23 PM PDT by Edit35
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To: Jorge

Are you saying that God does NOT know what you will do tomorrow?


291 posted on 08/18/2005 8:01:11 PM PDT by WildTurkey (When will CBS Retract and Apologize?)
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To: WildTurkey
"Since God knew when he created man that they would sin, he created that sin. There was no free will since it was all determined when God created man. When God created man, he knew he was also creating the BTK murderer and all the pain he would inflict on those innocent victims."

God created man with a Free will. He gave men the gift of life and the means with which to sustain it for a time on Earth.

The idea that he created sin is bogus. He no more created sin than the person that becomes a father does when he creates a kid, knowing full well the kid will sin. He created the life and gave the person Freedom. god even came to teach, just as any parent does. Each person is responsible for their own acts. The responsibility, or guilt for sin never extends beyond the individual that sins. That's what God holds. See Ezekiel 18 and John 9.

292 posted on 08/18/2005 8:01:17 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: WildTurkey
Only after Adam 'tried' each partner for 'compatibility'

What a charming comment (/sarcasm)

293 posted on 08/18/2005 8:01:21 PM PDT by apackof2 (In my simple way, I guess you could say I'm living in the BIG TIME)
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To: curiosity

Even if Intellegent design were TRUE and Darwinism false, I understand the Atuhor's point that the left will use conservatives belief in it to their political advantage.


294 posted on 08/18/2005 8:01:47 PM PDT by TAdams8591 (Member since December 1998)
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To: aft_lizard
Omniscience is not to say all-controlling, prior knowledge of something does not preclude control of it.

That's true. The argument regarding a lack of free will is based in God's alleged omniscience, omnipotence and the premise that He is the ultimate creator of all things.
295 posted on 08/18/2005 8:01:50 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: WildTurkey
If you have free will, then you weren't created by God.

Please explain.

296 posted on 08/18/2005 8:01:58 PM PDT by curiosity (.)
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To: MojoWire
Until someone can explain how life just magically "began" out of nothing with the ability to duplicate itself, the average person (especially conservatives) will continue to believe that God has a hand in developing and overseeing life on earth, and everything in this universe.

You hit the nail on the head on why the creos are fearful of science and what science may find ...

297 posted on 08/18/2005 8:02:35 PM PDT by WildTurkey (When will CBS Retract and Apologize?)
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To: balrog666

I guess you can take the chance and find out after you die but then of course its too late then for a change of heart


298 posted on 08/18/2005 8:03:28 PM PDT by apackof2 (In my simple way, I guess you could say I'm living in the BIG TIME)
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To: GSHastings
Regarding Buddhism, since you doubt it has any connection to Western Divine revelations, examine Jonah ~ there's a lot of story-line in there, but no sermons ~ yet, that's what he's credited with ~ sermons. How does that book end? Isn't there something about a vine growing up to shade him from the Sun as he slept?

Now, turn to the Buddha. He achieved enlightenment while seated, drowsing, ad a vine grew up to shade him from the Sun.

There's very little about God, or even gods, motivating Buddha to pursue enlightenment ~ on the other hand, we have hundreds of what are purported to be his sermons.

The two stories, Jonah, and the origins of Buddhism, fit together like Ying and Yang.

Do not be so hasty to dismiss this religion from the category of those with a legitimate origin.

299 posted on 08/18/2005 8:03:49 PM PDT by muawiyah (/ hey coach do I gotta' put in that "/sarcasm " thing again?)
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To: spunkets
He no more created sin than the person that becomes a father does when he creates a kid, knowing full well the kid will sin.

uh, would a father sire a kid knowing he would grow up to be the BTK killer? God did.

300 posted on 08/18/2005 8:05:04 PM PDT by WildTurkey (When will CBS Retract and Apologize?)
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