Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
Well read "On the origin of species by the means of natural selection" it should both cover your rear against any sunday school teachers and definatly stop you from feeling like starting a crusade against Darwin since he probably was more faithul than you are (read the book and you will see that it isn't ment as an insult, he was just very religious).
__________________ "The problem isn't stupid people, the problem is that lightning bolts aren't distributed properly".
"We are both Atheists.. I just believe in one less god than you do."
"God made me an atheist, who are you to question his wisdom?"
Write down a forty digit number using only 0, 1, 2, and 3. You now have a very poor representation of the genetic code. Now, under that line, copy the number, but make a change - Either add a digit in a random location, subtract a digit, swap the positions of two digits, or replace a single digit with a different one. Repeat this process, say, fifty million times. The end result will only vaguely resemble the original.
You have just demonstrated alteration by way of random mutation, in a very crude, unimaginative manner.
Now, play a little game. Natural selection will "save" any random mutation that results in a benefit. So write out a line 28 symbols long, using a possible 27 symbols - Our alphabet and a blank space. Now, compare that line to this line (also 28 symbols long):
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
Do any of your letters align to the letters in the Weasel sentence? If so, those are the letters that our "unnatural selection" will "save," i.e., they are favorable mutations. So, copy your line with a random copying error, but this time, any letters or spaces that matched the weasel sentence should be left immune to change.
Continue this process a few thousand times, and you'll be left with "METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL." Congratulations, you just evolved a sentence using random mutations and natural selection. It's not a perfect analogy to nature and evolution, but it works well enough to demonstrate how and why evolution can work on a massive scale.
__________________ --Zadok001, aka Greater Good fanatic
Looking back at what has been written, I do see some sense. I was taught as a small child that evolution and God "don't mix," and was actually genuinely worried when my faith seemed to contradict what seems to actually make quite a bit of sense (evolution). Perhaps evolution is just God demonstrating his artistic licenseas a creator!? Thanks.
Murray, here's something to help you out with your faith.
The OT is fine and good, but you should always live by the NT. The NT stresses love and sacrifice. If you have those covered, you're fine.
Actually, there is important and profound theology in the OT that culminates with Christ in the NT. When interpreted correctly, we can clearly see our own reflection in the OT and also God's love for us expressed in very powerful ways.
None of the OT is incompatible with NT theology when you put Christ's 'glasses' on while you are reading it. (in other words, let God speak to you...I have found it very enriching in my Christian life).
The OT and NT are contracts. The OT is outdated and is superceded by the NT. Wherever the two contradict, go with the NT, in the case of no contradiction, go with the OT.
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"Arguing with idiots is like banging your head on a rock. All you end up with is a headache and nothing to show for it." - Brian H. West (1986-?)
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Evolution seems to be one of those subjects which initially appears to contradict The Bible and Church traditional teaching...e.g. The Earth apparantly at the centre of the universe, with the sun rotating around it. The fact that The Bible doesn't really talk about evolution doesn't help.
Do you take the creation story in Genesis literally, or do you believe that "a day" as written in Genesis, could relate to thousands of our years, which would have given us enough time to evolve from simple organisms? Somebody told me that the Hebrew word for "day" just means "Period of time".
lf so, how is it possible for an organism with one chromosone, to evolve into an organism with 46?! I can understand the random mutation theory, but is it actually possible to gain more chromosones...I'm sure that some of you will point out that yes, there are people with downs syndrome i.e. they have an extra chromosone, but would other organisms with a similar sort of thing really be "the fittest" and would they be more likely to survive than the rest of their species?
Jacobs syndrome is also like downs, in which the guy gets an extra Y chromosome. They can be hairy and tall (extra hormones), but otherwise normal
Mutations can copy a chromosome, merge chromosomes, and double or triple chromosomes. Plants double their chromosomes all the time, it seems to harm them less then animals.
Case in point.
That is Human, Chimp, Gorrilla, and Orangutang. Our chromosome 2 is a merging of their 2 and 3.
The OT and NT are contracts. The OT is outdated and is superceded by the NT. Wherever the two contradict, go with the NT, in the case of no contradiction, go with the OT.
But Jesus says he is the fullfillment of the law and prophets...this doesn't fit well with 'contract' theology. Its clear that Jesus does not stand in contradiction of OT, but in *affirmation* of it.
Looking back at what has been written, I do see some sense. I was taught as a small child that evolution and God "don't mix," and was actually genuinely worried when my faith seemed to contradict what seems to actually make quite a bit of sense (evolution). Perhaps evolution is just God demonstrating his artistic licenseas a creator!? Thanks.
yeap... what is more impressive, a God who has to make everythin by hand, or a God who can fire a proverbial arrow from the heart of a singularity and 14.7 billion years later have it hit the target of sentience. Robin Hood would be proud of a shot like that.
__________________ MSci MSc ARCS DIC PhD..... yes, I am bragging.
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