WidowMakers wrote:
Plus too many times people say "well the Big Bang is not part of evolution so we are not going to talk about it. We only want to talk about Mutations or radiometric dating, etc..." But the truth is that all areas need to be talked about.
Why? It is not anything that can be proven either way. Even the most ardant supporter of the Big Bang Theory will admit it is basically speculation. Speculation based on some evidence, but far from a full and unquestionable answer.
It is similar to the issue of "does God exist". We can talk about it, but not prove anything either way ... it is a matter of belief. Maybe some day it will be proven, but not now.
Plus too many times peopel would look at a minute area and say "BAM! This proves evolution." But they ignored the larger implications of that "proof" and did not look at the whole picture.Then all those areas need to be looked at together as then we see what makes more logical sense.
Actually, NO scientist will say that Evolution ... big "E", the scientific theory, is proven. If it were, it would be fact, not theory.
HOWEVER, that it is theory does not mean that any and all competing theories are equally viable. Evolution does answer the evidence that is available.
Now, "evolution" ... small "e", IS fact, as is the concept of Natural Selection. Things DO change over time in various ways. Things do adapt gradually to their environment. These things are facts and CAN be proven. But, they are not the only factors involved in Evolution.
What does science actually tell us.
And what do we MAKE science say to support out ideas.
True, but, sorry, a lot of what you put forward is not really science. Sorry, but that is the truth. I would like to pin point some exact divergences.. but that requires looking at certain points, not the whole you have presented.
I am fully willing to take part in this debate. Now cannot guarantee that i can respond on a daily or weekly basis (especially depending on the topic and scope of each particular area of discussion) But I will continue as long as a TRUE debate takes place.
Agreed, however, you put forward so many divergent ideas and address topic from so many fields of science that I doubt any one person can really and truly answer them all. Nor is it really necessary.
This is actually a big point of misunderstanding for Creationists. NO one is claiming that Evolution (the theory) has "all the answers" or "cannot be wrong". Nor is it a theory that was just put out and then is unable to change. ALL science changes. We get new information and change our view. This is a fundamental differance between the scientific approach and the Scientific Creationist approach. Science starts out with, basically, "everything" being possible. Scientists put forward ideas, then try to disprove them (NOT prove them!!!). Only when something is unable to be disproven again and again, is it finally accepted as a real possibility. Understand, in some cases this is complicated. In other cases quick. There are ALWAYS those going back and trying to challenge even the most "basic" and fundamental theories and facts. This is how science works. So, that some folks want to say Evolution is wrong ... is not a problem ... at ALL!
The problem comes when those folks put forward evidence that either is misunderstood, plain false or irrelevant.
How does this happen? Bias. EVERYONE is biased to an extent. It is plain and simply part of being human. However, scientists spend years learning procedures and processes to get around that bias. We learn good sampling techniques, use specific procedures known to give the most empirical results possible, AND subject studies to peer review (because, let's face it, can the average person really understand a treatise on nuclear energy??). Even so, bias exists. Scientists know this. It is known, for example that scientists who work for a company -- say Dupont, are less likely to publish studies highly critical of that company. Why? Are they lying? Sometimes .. absolutely, but usually not. Begin with the company is more likely to fund research for which they see a benefit (including studies that are required). But, even though scientists try to use the most unbiased procedures, the most empirical evidence possible, there is still always an element of subjectivity. Take "outlyers". What do you do when you get one piece of data out of 30 that does not fit the pattern. Usually you disgard it. Most likely there was some problem. BUT, sometimes those outlyers are where the most phenomenal insights begin. For example, it is said that Pastuer discovered penicilin by accident. He was trying to grow mold and one of his samples became contaminated. How many other scientists saw that and simply pitched the sample? Pasteur said "aha" (at least, that is the story..) and revolutionized medicine. However, if you are working under pressure to put forward results, you may not have the time or money to pursue those strange anomolies.
Then there is another kind of bias. The veliger larva is a juvenile form of crabs. How did it manage to get its own name? Because for years and years the experts in crab research considered these things parasites to crabs. There was, reportedly, a younger scientist who felt these were actually juvenile crab. However, the prominant scientist had such power that this younger scientist was not able to get his research recognized until that older scientist had retired. Why? Was that older scientist an evil guy? No, he just had so much vested in that one result that he was plain incapable of admitting fault. All he had at stake was his scientific reputation. How much greater the pressure when it is religion at stake.
When you START with the assumption that you already "know" the "truth", and go out of your way to seek out a particular kind of data only, and disgard anything that disagrees... yes, you will "prove" your case. BUT, it is not really science.
As a point in fact, Creation Science has had to go through quite a few changes because many of the very initial assumptions just could not be accepted by anyone. Dinosaurs, for example. Thirty years ago, parents taught their kids that dinosaurs were "pretend". They were not mentioned in the Bible, so "could not have existed". I saw publications asserting that fossils were "put there by the devil to confuse". It was not long before this changed to the current assertion that dinosaurs were killed in the flood.
3) NO adding questions not relevant to the current issue
yes, but you have to be careful that you are not simply framing the debate to only one answer. For example-- you may not like the fact that I am a Christian and still believe Evolution, but I am... and am EXTREMELY offended, will challenge any assertion you try to make that "only nonChristians believe Evolution". It is simply not true!