Do you accept the theory of evolution? - Part 1

[Marvolo]

Proof?

Are you familiar with the fields of biology, chemistry, anatomy, genetics, anthropology etc? Scientists haven't been twiddling their thumbs all these years writing this stuff for ****s and giggles. All the accredited data and facts you could ever want on evolution and the development of this planet and its lifeforms is out there. Education is good for the mind. Pick up a science book. Or better yet, go be involved in science. Learn.

I just don't understand at all why evolution is taken so personally by people. People won't question quantum entanglement, M-Theory, the relativity of time etc., but you say evolution and they **** their pants. Makes no damn sense. M-Theory, quantum entanglement, and space/time are all far more radical ideas and have changed nearly everything we thought we knew about the universe and how it works yet they are ignored and something as relatively straightforward as evolution is cast off in favor of mysticism and magic.

 

[childeroland]

As far as proof, taxonomic and paleobiology studies have shown it, and as have the sequencing of our genome and that of the chimpanzee. Using the molecular clock (a technique that examines rates of molecular change to deduce the time in geologic history when two species diverged ) shows us how much time it would have taken for two lineages to diverge. Genetic evidence also enhances our understanding of our relation to the Neanderthals, to in fact reconstruct a genetic tree consisting of our species down to the last shared ancestor. A haplogroup (a group of haplotypes (haplotypes are groups of DNA sequences at specific locations on a chromosome that are transmitted together) that share a common ancestor having a certain type of mutation in both haplotypes) is formed every time a certain mutation is passed down from an individual to his/her descendents.

 

[Doctor Evo]

As far as proof, taxonomic and paleobiology studies have shown it, and as have the sequencing of our genome and that of the chimpanzee. Using the molecular clock (a technique that examines rates of molecular change to deduce the time in geologic history when two species diverged ) shows us how much time it would have taken for two lineages to diverge. Genetic evidence also enhances our understanding of our relation to the Neanderthals, to in fact reconstruct a genetic tree consisting of our species down to the last shared ancestor. A haplogroup (a group of haplotypes (haplotypes are groups of DNA sequences at specific locations on a chromosome that are transmitted together) that share a common ancestor having a certain type of mutation in both haplotypes) is formed every time a certain mutation is passed down from an individual to his/her descendents.

None of this means anything to somebody who is adamant that they didn't come from no monkey. If they didn't bother to seek out and to understand this information before this conversation, they probably never will.

Destructus86 isn't going to suddenly say, "Oh, ****! I forgot about haplotypes! It all makes sense!" He doesn't care.

 

[Doctor Evo]

I just don't understand at all why evolution is taken so personally by people. People won't question quantum entanglement, M-Theory, the relativity of time etc., but you say evolution and they **** their pants. Makes no damn sense. M-Theory, quantum entanglement, and space/time are all far more radical ideas and have changed nearly everything we thought we knew about the universe and how it works yet they are ignored and something as relatively straightforward as evolution is cast off in favor of mysticism and magic.

It's because evolution shatters our illusion of self-importance.

 

[Dr.]

It's because evolution shatters our illusion of self-importance.

But it also connects us - in a fundamental way - to every living thing.

 

[Doctor Evo]

But it also connects us - in a fundamental way - to every living thing.

There is grandeur in this view of life.

 

[BestGirl]

I accept micro-evolution, but not macro-evolution. The complexity of life, the universe, and everything just strikes me as too fine-tuned to have happened by chance. I mean, I can sit down in a Bio 101 class and my mind is blown by the intricacies of the tiniest little cell. It's amazing.

Plus...the universe is, what? 14.5 billion years old? And the earth only 4.5 billion. And in that 4.5 billion years there have been collisions, meteor bombardments, and who knows what else. I've seen some convincing math stats...the time just isn't there for life to just "appear" and then evolve into the mind-boggling diversity we see today.

So what do you think happened?

 

[Thundercrack85]

I find being the most advanced being to have evolved (at least on Earth), to be a status upgrade to being something designed by a god.

When the aliens show up, it'll be an ego check though.

 

[Doctor Evo]

I find being the most advanced being to have evolved (at least on Earth), to be a status upgrade to being something designed by a god.

In the latter scenario, the creator of the entire universe did so just for us. The existence of everything - with the exception of the creator itself - owes itself to us.

In the former scenario, our existence is rather inconsequential, in the grand scheme of reality.

 

[Thundercrack85]

In the latter scenario, the creator of the entire universe did so just for us. The existence of everything - with the exception of the creator itself - owes itself to us.

In the former scenario, our existence is rather inconsequential, in the grand scheme of reality.

The grand scheme of reality is what you make it.

I'd rather be the product of countless processes, over billions of years, than be the plaything of some petty god.

It remains to be seen how inconsequential we are. We may well become gods ourselves one day far, far down the line.

 

[Doctor Evo]

The grand scheme of reality is what you make it.

So you're arguing that there's no difference between the scenarios in terms of the significance of our existence?

I'd rather be the product of countless processes, over billions of years, than be the plaything of some petty god.

I agree with you, though we're obviously in the minority, at least in this country. I'm just trying to illustrate the mindset behind the resistance to the concept of evolution, not to invalidate your opinion on the matter.

It remains to be seen how inconsequential we are. We may well become gods ourselves one day far, far down the line.

What do you mean when you say "gods?"

It seems to me that the only way we can achieve significance equal to that of the "creation" scenario under the "evolved" scenario is if we are ultimately responsible for ending the universe's existence.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, for all intents and purposes. Just give it a thousand years, and we'll have science so advanced that it would be indistinguishable from magic to aliens on our current level.

I'd imagine there are some aliens like that already out there.

 

[Hawkingbird]

The boys on my bus make me believe we evolved from apes actually, that's an insult to apes...they're much more clever and civilized.

 

[Piper Maru]

9th Foundational Falsehood of Creationism

[YT]Qfoje7jVJpU[/YT]

Listing just a handful of the myriad transitional species we've found, and that creationists insist do not exist or somehow still don't count.

 

[Edguy]

What are you trying to say?

Good job?!

For science, and all that

 

[Doctor Evo]

Good job?!

For science, and all that

The point isn't to "kick [him] to the floor."

 

[TheBat812]

Well, for all intents and purposes. Just give it a thousand years, and we'll have science so advanced that it would be indistinguishable from magic to aliens on our current level.

I'd imagine there are some aliens like that already out there.

Prometheus...!

 

[tlbraund]

sure do!

 

[Edguy]

The point isn't to "kick [him] to the floor."

That's a good point.

 

[Breogan]

Neanderthals Went Extinct Much Earlier Than Previously Thought, Fossil Study Suggests - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/...er-fossil-study_n_2617477.html?ncid=webmail12

"...If the new evidence holds any weight, then the popular theory that modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed—and possibly even interbred—for millennia has just been shot down,..."

So they say.

Thoughts?

 

[Marvolo]

Neanderthals Went Extinct Much Earlier Than Previously Thought, Fossil Study Suggests - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/...er-fossil-study_n_2617477.html?ncid=webmail12

"...If the new evidence holds any weight, then the popular theory that modern humans and Neanderthals co-existed—and possibly even interbred—for millennia has just been shot down,..."

So they say.

Thoughts?

I think its fascinating. I fully accept evolution, but I love when theories are proven wrong or are improved with newly discovered data. It shows that we are on the right course of discovery. I look forward to what other discoveries we will make becuase of this discovery.

 

[Snow Queen]

One point heard often I would like to offer a response to:

If the universe was created by nothing, what made something out of nothing? Surely, God would have to set it into motion, otherwise how could nothing make something.

Alright, problems with this:
1) Where does God come from?
2) If you say you don't know or need to know, why do you need to know how the universe started?
3) God would have had to come from nothing himself so what makes the universe starting from nothing a stretch but your God coming from nothing a plausible theory in your eyes?

And before I get a response saying "Because the Bible says so", I ask those who would reply with that: if Harry Potter said in the first chapter that it was true, does that make it true too? You could explain the things we don't know by saying magic did it. Makes as much sense as saying God did it.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

i think its fascinating. I fully accept evolution, but i love when theories are proven wrong or are improved with newly discovered data. It shows that we are on the right course of discovery. i look forward to what other discoveries we will make becuase of this discovery.

this!

 

[NickNitro]

There's a fundamental flaw in this debate. As my roommate is Atheist and I am a Catholic you can see we tend to not talk about Evolution/Religion in our apartment ha.

The flaw is no matter how much we debate, there is still core speculation on either side.

1. No one can prove their is a higher being pulling the strings unless he/she/it reveals themselves in some way

2. The "missing link" has yet to be discovered to scientifically link all ape/humans together.

In the end we all just go in circles and it boils down to just personal views. You can CHOOSE to believe in a higher being, or CHOOSE to believe in Evolution.

Until there is 100% proof either way, we are all right and wrong at the same time.

Thats my view, carry on

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

You can be both a God believer and a Darwin believer.
Creationists are just people blinded by their religious view ( and maybe IQ ).