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What is the greatest evidence against the theory of evolution...?

ClothedInGrace

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The theory of evolution does quite well with explaining the appearance of design. There is no actual "design" when one looks closely at life.
How does evolution explain the complexity of protein synthesis or DNA replication? Can evolution work knowing that these incredibly complex mechanisms exist?
 
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Subduction Zone

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Look, I'm no biologist, but it doesn't take much explaining to see that life at the very least looks designed. DNA is a language of sorts, and isn't language a form of intelligence? Dawkins' book The Blind Watchmaker is based on the idea that everything looks designed but somehow isn't. Can you prove that we aren't designed in any way: that there is this blind watchmaker you call evolution?

Correct, life has the "appearance of design". Please note the word "appearance". That means it only seems like it was designed. If you look at life more closely it was clearly the product of evolution. Talk to a biologist. They may be able to help you.

And no, DNA is not a language in the sense that you are using the word. You just performed an equivocation fallacy.

Yes, we can prove our case. But no, I won't. Not at this hour of the night.
 
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Subduction Zone

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How does evolution explain the complexity of protein synthesis or DNA replication? Can evolution work knowing that these incredibly complex mechanisms exist?

Actually you are asking questions that are more in the realm of abiogenesis. And it is far too late to get into this more difficult subject. What you just did was the logical error of moving the goal posts. When someone does this I will usually not discuss the topic until they admit that evolution occurred. Understanding how life itself works is a subject that biologists are just beginning to understand. What you don't seem to understand is that we don't need to know how life started exactly to know that it evolved.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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If you look at life more closely it was clearly the product of evolution. Talk to a biologist. They may be able to help you.
Where is your evidence?

And no, DNA is not a language in the sense that you are using the word. You just performed an equivocation fallacy.
It is certainly a set of instructions which allows the cell to perform all of it's functions, and instructions are always written in some kind of language.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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I'm curious, you admit that life appears designed, but how does not not indicate design? We admit that everything beautiful and complex that we have made (art, technology, etc) is designed, but heavens forbid we ourselves were! I guess I should just wait for that evidence you all have.
 
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Subduction Zone

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Where is your evidence?

The evidence for evolution is everywhere. The most obvious to beginners is the fossil record. The fossil record can only be explained by using the theory of evolution. Then there are the many independent nested hierarchies observable in nature. Again, these can only be explained by the theory of evolution. It is too late and I am too tired, but here is a link to a Christian group of scientists that accept reality:

http://biologos.org/

It is certainly a set of instructions which allows the cell to perform all of it's functions, and instructions are always written in some kind of language.

No, DNA just causes a series of chemical reactions. People put the meaning into it. It does not have an inherent meaning. Once again you are trying to commit an equivocation error.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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Actually you are asking questions that are more in the realm of abiogenesis. And it is far too late to get into this more difficult subject. What you just did was the logical error of moving the goal posts. When someone does this I will usually not discuss the topic until they admit that evolution occurred. Understanding how life itself works is a subject that biologists are just beginning to understand. What you don't seem to understand is that we don't need to know how life started exactly to know that it evolved.
Well, abiogenesis is quite the problem without God, isn't it? I suppose if you want to prove there is no designer needed for life, then that of all places should be where you start.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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The fossil record can only be explained by using the theory of evolution... Again, these can only be explained by the theory of evolution.
Yes, says the scientists who refuse to believe the global flood. Where did all of these fossils come from? Don't bones need to be covered quickly to fossilize? Is evolution really the only viable model of interpretation, or is that simply your bias?
 
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Subduction Zone

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I'm curious, you admit that life appears designed, but how does not not indicate design? We admit that everything beautiful and complex that we have made (art, technology, etc) is designed, but heavens forbid we ourselves were! I guess I should just wait for that evidence you all have.

Because when one looks closely at life one sees only bad design that is overcome with what are basically kludges. The recurrent laryngeal nerve of the giraffe goes all the way down to its heart and circles around and goes back up to its larynx which is just past its mouth. The original setup made sense in our fish ancestors, and once a "design" is set it is almost impossible to rewire it. As a result life is stuck with inefficiencies that could have been actually designed in a far superior way.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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No, DNA just causes a series of chemical reactions. People put the meaning into it. It does not have an inherent meaning. Once again you are trying to commit an equivocation error.
How do simple chemical reactions cause cells to make proteins and replicate as needed by the rest of the body? How do cells communicate without a language?
 
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Subduction Zone

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Well, abiogenesis is quite the problem without God, isn't it? I suppose if you want to prove there is no designer needed for life, then that of all places should be where you start.

No, it is merely complex. We first need to understand how life itself works before we can understand how it occurred on its own. And we are barely beginning to do that. Meanwhile more and more questions about abiogenesis keep getting answered. There are not enough answers to take it out of the realm of the hypothetical, but scientists are getting rather close.
 
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Armoured

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Indeed. Is it logical to believe that man came from soup? Do computers come from junkyards?
If there was a selection mechanism in place, computers could indeed om from junk yards.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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Because when one looks closely at life one sees only bad design that is overcome with what are basically kludges. The recurrent laryngeal nerve of the giraffe goes all the way down to its heart and circles around and goes back up to its larynx which is just past its mouth. The original setup made sense in our fish ancestors, and once a "design" is set it is almost impossible to rewire it. As a result life is stuck with inefficiencies that could have been actually designed in a far superior way.
Pulling from Dawkins I see. Can you prove that the way this giraffe's nerve loops around the heart is somehow a bad design? What is a good design, in your view?
 
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Armoured

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How do simple chemical reactions cause cells to make proteins and replicate as needed by the rest of the body?
Hormones, mostly. Sometimes the sympathetic nervous system
How do cells communicate without a language?
Messenger RNA.
 
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ClothedInGrace

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No, it is merely complex. We first need to understand how life itself works before we can understand how it occurred on its own. And we are barely beginning to do that. Meanwhile more and more questions about abiogenesis keep getting answered. There are not enough answers to take it out of the realm of the hypothetical, but scientists are getting rather close.
I'd appreciate a non-hypothetical example of life arising without a creator.
 
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SteveB28

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Look, I'm no biologist, but it doesn't take much explaining to see that life at the very least looks designed.

And it doesn't take too much explaining to see that the earth looks flat. Until you provide the evidence of viewing it from space!

DNA is a language of sorts, and isn't language a form of intelligence?

No and no. DNA is not language and language is not intelligence.

Dawkins' book The Blind Watchmaker is based on the idea that everything looks designed but somehow isn't. Can you prove that we aren't designed in any way: that there is this blind watchmaker you call evolution?

Again you attempt to shift the burden. I do not have to prove that we are not designed. You are making the claim that we are, so you must provide the evidence.

And if you wish to view the evidence in favour of evolution, I suggest that you enrol in a basic, free online course. The volume of evidence is too massive to present it in a discussion forum!
 
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Armoured

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Pulling from Dawkins I see. Can you prove that the way this giraffe's nerve loops around the heart is somehow a bad design? What is a good design, in your view?
Well, things like the human retina are clearly inferior in layout to other examples, like the octopus' retina.
 
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Subduction Zone

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Yes, says the scientists who refuse to believe the global flood. Where did all of these fossils come from? Don't bones need to be covered quickly to fossilize? Is evolution really the only viable model of interpretation, or is that simply your bias?

You use such poor language at times. No one is "refusing" to believe in the flood. The evidence clearly tells us that there never was a worldwide flood. The first geologists were actually Christians looking for evidence of the flood. They found that the evidence said "No".

And yes, evolution is the only model that has not been thoroughly refuted. Today's scientists put their work through the process of "peer review" that is where experts in the field submit their ideas for publication. Not all mistakes are removed, but articles that are obviously wrong are sent back for correction. Writing an article that passes peer review is a relatively low hurdle, and creationists cannot get over that hurdle.
 
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