Amazing facts about evolution

[CabVet]

Amazing to come back here after MONTHS and see the same people making the same mistakes about evolution and spreading the same misinformation over and over again. For the creationists that keep repeating those, here are some pro tips:

1) A cat giving birth to a dog (or a chimp to a human) would disprove evolution. Don't ask us to show it to you.

2) Evolution is gradual change, and that is the same as your "kind after kind", so don't say that "kind after kind" disproves evolution.

3) "Scientific theory" has a very specific meaning and that meaning is not the same as the popular use of the word "theory". For the millionth time, here is what a scientific theory is: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

4) Evolution is a scientific theory. So is gravity. Creationism is not, and neither is intelligent design.

5) Stop asking for missing links. Actually, you should stop asking for evidence for evolution entirely until you answer YES to the following question: would any evidence make you stop believing in creationism and accept evolution?

6) Stop asking people if they believe in evolution. Scientific theories (like evolution, gravity, germ theory, etc) don't require belief, they require acceptance and that in turn requires the support of empirical evidence.

 

[Oafman]

5) Stop asking for missing links. Actually, you should stop asking for evidence for evolution entirely until you answer YES to the following question: would any evidence make you stop believing in creationism and accept evolution?

In addition to this, I might add that every single species, that has ever lived or will ever live, is or was or will be a transitional species. That includes you, me, your dog, the bacteria in your gut, and the plant on your window ledge.

So please stop asking to be shown a 'transitional species'. Just look in the mirror.

 

[driewerf]

7) The ToE is a scientific theory. It's purpose is to give us an accurate description of the physical world, not to give us a moral guide. The correctness of the ToE (as for any scientific theory!) does not depend on -- real or imaginary -- moral consequences.

 

[DogmaHunter]

5) Stop asking for missing links. Actually, you should stop asking for evidence for evolution entirely until you answer YES to the following question: would any evidence make you stop believing in creationism and accept evolution?

This. A thousand times this. And then some.

 

[juvenissun]

5) Stop asking for missing links. Actually, you should stop asking for evidence for evolution entirely until you answer YES to the following question: would any evidence make you stop believing in creationism and accept evolution?

What is the link between chimp and human? An idiot?

 

[Oafman]

What is the link between chimp and human? An idiot?

Just look in the mirror

.

 

[AV1611VET]

For the creationists that keep repeating those, here are some pro tips:

1) A cat giving birth to a dog (or a chimp to a human) would disprove evolution. Don't ask us to show it to you.

2) Evolution is gradual change, and that is the same as your "kind after kind", so don't say that "kind after kind" disproves evolution.

3) "Scientific theory" has a very specific meaning and that meaning is not the same as the popular use of the word "theory". For the millionth time, here is what a scientific theory is: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.

4) Evolution is a scientific theory. So is gravity. Creationism is not, and neither is intelligent design.

5) Stop asking for missing links. Actually, you should stop asking for evidence for evolution entirely until you answer YES to the following question: would any evidence make you stop believing in creationism and accept evolution?

6) Stop asking people if they believe in evolution. Scientific theories (like evolution, gravity, germ theory, etc) don't require belief, they require acceptance and that in turn requires the support of empirical evidence.

1) I'm going to disagree on principle. If a cat gave birth to a dog, I'm sure science's PR department would go to work and come up with something to keep the theory of evolution intact.

2) Deep time is required for that; and the Bible doesn't allow for deep time.

3) 74

4) I agree.

5) No, do ask for missing links. The fossil record is an fps book of instant arrival of species. QV: 1

6) Does that equally apply to those who say, "I believe in evolution"?

 

[AV1611VET]

So please stop asking to be shown a 'transitional species'. Just look in the mirror.

Are we also a transitional genus?

 

[AV1611VET]

7) The ToE is a scientific theory. It's purpose is to give us an accurate description of the physical world, not to give us a moral guide. The correctness of the ToE (as for any scientific theory!) does not depend on -- real or imaginary -- moral consequences.

But it does depend on deep time.

Something the Bible is not forthcoming with.

 

[AV1611VET]

What is the link between chimp and human?

A line on a piece of paper.

Macroevolution is nothing more than a game of connect-the-dots, and only looks good on paper.

 

[TLK Valentine]

A line on a piece of paper.

Macroevolution is nothing more than a game of connect-the-dots, and only looks good on paper.

And what is your precious Bible written on, again?

 

[selfinflikted]

"The Bible doesn't allow for deep time."

Your interpretation of the Bible doesn't allow for deep time.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

With no intermediate species evolution looks more like metamorphosis than anything else. Need another leg? My next litter will have young with that extra leg, and the ability to pass it on, and, provide more legs later if needed. Of course these changes take place unobserved within the organism for perhaps thousand of generations until one day out pops a critter with the extra leg. Of course these changes must take place at the genetic level, without trial and error (or the mistakes would be evident in the fossil record). In other words natural selection gets it right the first time, every time. Pretty smart design process.

 

[AV1611VET]

"The Bible doesn't allow for deep time."

Your interpretation of the Bible doesn't allow for deep time.

My calculator corroborates the Bible -- does yours?

 

[Split Rock]

With no intermediate species evolution looks more like metamorphosis than anything else. Need another leg? My next litter will have young with that extra leg, and the ability to pass it on, and, provide more legs later if needed. Of course these changes take place unobserved within the organism for perhaps thousand of generations until one day out pops a critter with the extra leg. Of course these changes must take place at the genetic level, without trial and error (or the mistakes would be evident in the fossil record). In other words natural selection gets it right the first time, every time. Pretty smart design process.

No. Just... no.

Scientists have actually changed the number of legs on arthropod species by altering developmental genes. It really isn't that hard. Also, natural selection does work by trial and error. The errors don't pass their DNA on to the next generation, so it is not very likely they will be found in the fossil record.

 

[Split Rock]

My calculator corroborates the Bible -- does yours?

I thought it was Bishop Ussher's calculator?

 

[DogmaHunter]

1) I'm going to disagree on principle. If a cat gave birth to a dog, I'm sure science's PR department would go to work and come up with something to keep the theory of evolution intact.

Whatever they would come up with as explanation, the current understanding on how the diversity of life came into being would be wrong.

There is nothing to disagree about. According to evolution theory as understood today, cats will not give birth to dogs. If exactly that would happen, then it would mean that the theory is in error.

2) Deep time is required for that; and the Bible doesn't allow for deep time.

And science doesn't allow for fundamentalistic religious dogma.

5) No, do ask for missing links. The fossil record is an fps book of instant arrival of species.

This is simply not true.

There is clear transition there. And there are lots of examples like this.

 

[DogmaHunter]

With no intermediate species evolution looks more like metamorphosis than anything else. Need another leg? My next litter will have young with that extra leg, and the ability to pass it on, and, provide more legs later if needed. Of course these changes take place unobserved within the organism for perhaps thousand of generations until one day out pops a critter with the extra leg. Of course these changes must take place at the genetic level, without trial and error (or the mistakes would be evident in the fossil record). In other words natural selection gets it right the first time, every time. Pretty smart design process.

Please educate yourself at least a little.

Literally nothing you said has anything to do with the mechanism of biology.

You couldn't be more wrong if you tried.

 

[SkyWriting]

don't require belief, they require acceptance

OK....now show how acceptance does not require belief. Or vice-versa.

Synonyms for acceptance
noun agreement, taking
acknowledgment admission approval
compliance
consent
cooperation
recognition
acquiring
assent
getting
go-ahead
rnod
okay
permission
rreceipt
reception

 

[AV1611VET]

I thought it was Bishop Ussher's calculator?

I did it too.

And although there was a difference, it was so miniscule that I just go with Ussher's calculations so as not to have to explain myself every time I give a date.