A few questions for atheists...

[VirOptimus]

And which party would that be?

The appendix.

-Edit- It was funnier in my head.....

 

[Strathos]

Where will we be when a large asteroid hits and destroys the earth?

There are no asteroids in the solar system large enough to literally destroy the Earth, at least not while moving at reasonable orbital velocities.

 

[Renee Tahass]

Question 1: Do you believe that there was a chance merging of organic materials necessary at just the right time, circumstance, and environment to produce a living entity?

It's what must have happened because it was not caused by magic?

 

[Renee Tahass]

There are no asteroids in the solar system large enough to literally destroy the Earth, at least not while moving at reasonable orbital velocities.

It doesn't need to destroy the earth just the life on it.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I'd like to ask the atheists here a few questions, one at a time, and get your responses to them. I have no "agenda" or big buildup to a "gotcha" at the end, I would just like your responses to each of the questions in this thread if you don't mind. I won't be arguing/debating what you say; they're just questions. Ok? Let's start...

Question 1: Do you believe that there was a chance merging of organic materials necessary at just the right time, circumstance, and environment to produce a living entity?

This appears to be a poorly formed question implying that the OP does not understand abiogenesis. My answer is "No.". The meeting of materials occurred due to the "laws of chemistry" and was not chance. Any time that you see an odds argument by a creationist you can bet dollars to donuts that they used a strawman to develop their "odds".

 

[Kylie]

Let me clarify. The part of you which is immortal and is the evolved result of billions of years of evolution does not decay.

Still wondering what part of any of us is immortal and lives forever.

Also wondering why an atheist thinks there is any part of us that was "designed".

 

[Speedwell]

Also wondering why an atheist thinks there is any part of us that was "designed".

Take the scare quotes off and it simply means 'organized towards a function,' something evolution is reasonably good at.

 

[Kylie]

Take the scare quotes off and it simply means 'organized towards a function,' something evolution is reasonably good at.

But it carries with it the implicit concept of a designer.

 

[Speedwell]

But it carries with it the implicit concept of a designer.

Not necessarily an "intelligent" designer--that's the problem we have with the term. When a scientist talks about the design of a biological system what is generally meant is merely organization and function. but the creationists pounce on it and impose the colloquial meaning of 'intention' which does indeed imply an intelligent designer.

 

[Kylie]

Not necessarily an "intelligent" designer--that's the problem we have with the term. When a scientist talks about the design of a biological system what is generally meant is merely organization and function. but the creationists pounce on it and impose the colloquial meaning of 'intention' which does indeed imply an intelligent designer.

That's why I dislike the word in that context.

In any case, I'm still wondering about the part of us that is... "immortal and is the evolved result of billions of years of evolution [and] does not decay"

 

[Renee Tahass]

Let me clarify. The part of you which is immortal and is the evolved result of billions of years of evolution does not decay.

If something is alive it will eventually die and decay no matter how much it wishes it didn't.

 

[TLK Valentine]

It doesn't need to destroy the earth just the life on it.

It doesn't even need to do that -- just change the environment drastically enough to make the Earth uninhabitable -- natural selection will do the rest.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

That's why I dislike the word in that context.

Me to. But only in environments such as this one, where you can literally get surrounded by dishonest creationists.

Over here in the real world, where I'm not in the proximity of bronze-age-literal-story-believers, when we refer to the "design of life" - everybody understands that we mean "designed by the process of evolution; natural design". Not unlike the "design" we find on beaches in the form of sand ripples.

In any case, I'm still wondering about the part of us that is... "immortal and is the evolved result of billions of years of evolution [and] does not decay"

Yea... me to.
Also the statement that bacteria are as good as "immortal", that bacteria in your gut are the same bacteria that lived in the gut of dino's.

Last I checked, bacteria reproduce, just like all other living things.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Last I checked, bacteria reproduce, just like all other living things.

And mutate...

 

[Ophiolite]

But it carries with it the implicit concept of a designer.

Or a design mechanism, which natural selection is.

 

[Kylie]

Or a design mechanism, which natural selection is.

The term "design" still very strongly implies a conscious force behind it, which does not exist with Natural Selection.

 

[Ophiolite]

The term "design" still very strongly implies a conscious force behind it, which does not exist with Natural Selection.

Clearly it is a strong implication for you. It is not even a weak implication for legions of fellow evolutionists. As TM noted in post #193 it is only an issue when confronting hard core creationists. I have no intention of compromising my vocabulary to accommodate the prejudices of extremists. (For further views on the matter consult my signature.)

 

[dad]

Still wondering what part of any of us is immortal and lives forever..

The part that is really us. If you cut off a fingernail. or another part of the temporary phyiscal body we dwell in, it does not affect the real spirit in us. We still love, for example.

 

[TLK Valentine]

The part that is really us. If you cut off a fingernail. or another part of the temporary phyiscal body we dwell in, it does not affect the real spirit in us. We still love, for example.

Ah, the brain, then.

Alas, cut that off, and unlike a fingernail, it won't grow back.

 

[dad]

Ah, the brain, then.

Alas, cut that off, and unlike a fingernail, it won't grow back.

Yes it will. In a new body!