Creationists: How does creation explain the existence of parasites?

[pitabread]

Edited to add: Before responding, please read this Wikipedia page on the Leucochloridium paradoxum - Wikipedia. A few responses so far don't seem to understand exactly what this organism's lifecycle really entails.

Many parasitic organisms have complex lifecycles; in some cases they are dependent on multiple species for their reproductive cycle.

Take for example, Leucochloridium paradoxum. It's a parasitic organism that reproduces via eggs inside of birds. Then the fecal matter containing the eggs are consumed by snails. The eggs hatch inside the snail and then proceed to develop into a sporocyst with various branches throughout the snail's body. The ends of the branches then develop into a broodsac which infest the snail's eyestalk.

In a highly disturbing aspect of mimicry, the broodsacs will pulsate to attract predation by birds while simultaneously mind-controlling the snail:

(Look up "Leucochloridium" on Youtube if you want to see this in action. Warning: it's a bit gross.)

Birds will then attack the snail, ripping out the broodsac from the eyestalk and then the whole cycle starts over.

This is obviously a highly complicated lifecycle that clearly defies biological evolution. Therefore it must have involved the hand of an intelligent designer.

That said, how and why would an intelligent designer create such an organism? Imagine having a parasite in your eyeball that forces you wait around until it's pecked out by a bird. What purpose does such a parasite serve?

 

[Landon Caeli]

Many parasitic organisms have complex lifecycles; in some cases they are dependent on multiple species for their reproductive cycle.

Take for example, Leucochloridium paradoxum. It's a parasitic organism that reproduces via eggs inside of birds. Then the fecal matter containing the eggs are consumed by snails. The eggs hatch inside the snail and then proceed to develop into a sporocyst with various branches throughout the snail's body. The ends of the branches then develop into a broodsac which infest the snail's eyestalk.

In a highly disturbing aspect of mimicry, the broodsacs will pulsate to attract predation by birds while simultaneously mind-controlling the snail:

(Look up "Leucochloridium" on Youtube if you want to see this in action. Warning: it's a bit gross.)

Birds will then attack the snail, ripping out the broodsac from the eyestalk and then the whole cycle starts over.

This is obviously a highly complicated lifecycle that clearly defies biological evolution. Therefore it must have involved the hand of an intelligent designer.

That said, how and why would an intelligent designer create such an organism? Imagine having a parasite in your eyeball that forces you wait around until it's pecked out by a bird. What purpose does such a parasite serve?

That is truly bizarre and yet amazing at the same time.

 

[Dale]

Many parasitic organisms have complex lifecycles; in some cases they are dependent on multiple species for their reproductive cycle.

Take for example, Leucochloridium paradoxum. It's a parasitic organism that reproduces via eggs inside of birds. Then the fecal matter containing the eggs are consumed by snails. The eggs hatch inside the snail and then proceed to develop into a sporocyst with various branches throughout the snail's body. The ends of the branches then develop into a broodsac which infest the snail's eyestalk.

In a highly disturbing aspect of mimicry, the broodsacs will pulsate to attract predation by birds while simultaneously mind-controlling the snail:

(Look up "Leucochloridium" on Youtube if you want to see this in action. Warning: it's a bit gross.)

Birds will then attack the snail, ripping out the broodsac from the eyestalk and then the whole cycle starts over.

This is obviously a highly complicated lifecycle that clearly defies biological evolution. Therefore it must have involved the hand of an intelligent designer.

That said, how and why would an intelligent designer create such an organism? Imagine having a parasite in your eyeball that forces you wait around until it's pecked out by a bird. What purpose does such a parasite serve?

You've asked a very good question.
Creationists will probably say that parasites are a result of the Fall at the time of the Expulsion from Eden. However, God doesn't mention that as one of the curses pronounced when Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden.

 

[Tanj]

I'm a big fan of the mind controlling parasites.

Here's a virus that forces caterpillars to climb to the tops of trees, so the released virus splatters down onto the leaves below to be eaten by other caterpillars.
Zombie Caterpillars Rain Death From Treetops | Live Science

But surely the best example is toxoplasma, whose lifecycle involves cats and rats, so it makes the infected rats get attracted to cat odor
Parasite makes mice lose fear of cats permanently

And it controls us as well
Study: Cat Parasite Affects Human Culture | Live Science

 

[BeyondET]

Many parasitic organisms have complex lifecycles; in some cases they are dependent on multiple species for their reproductive cycle.

Take for example, Leucochloridium paradoxum. It's a parasitic organism that reproduces via eggs inside of birds. Then the fecal matter containing the eggs are consumed by snails. The eggs hatch inside the snail and then proceed to develop into a sporocyst with various branches throughout the snail's body. The ends of the branches then develop into a broodsac which infest the snail's eyestalk.

In a highly disturbing aspect of mimicry, the broodsacs will pulsate to attract predation by birds while simultaneously mind-controlling the snail:

(Look up "Leucochloridium" on Youtube if you want to see this in action. Warning: it's a bit gross.)

Birds will then attack the snail, ripping out the broodsac from the eyestalk and then the whole cycle starts over.

This is obviously a highly complicated lifecycle that clearly defies biological evolution. Therefore it must have involved the hand of an intelligent designer.

That said, how and why would an intelligent designer create such an organism? Imagine having a parasite in your eyeball that forces you wait around until it's pecked out by a bird. What purpose does such a parasite serve?

probably would be over run with snails, it isn't pretty but it's balance.

 

[AV1611VET]

That said, how and why would an intelligent designer create such an organism?

There could be any number of reasons.

 

[Ophiolite]

That said, how and why would an intelligent designer create such an organism? Imagine having a parasite in your eyeball that forces you wait around until it's pecked out by a bird. What purpose does such a parasite serve?

It ultimately generates Subscribers on select YouTube channels?

 

[pitabread]

You've asked a very good question.
Creationists will probably say that parasites are a result of the Fall at the time of the Expulsion from Eden. However, God doesn't mention that as one of the curses pronounced when Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden.

Yeah, "Fall did it" is the typical response for these things. That said, I'm hoping to get something a bit more in-depth in terms of how and why something like this would be created.

 

[Phred]

There could be any number of reasons.

And here is the standard creationist response.

Let us not forget that, in order for this to have survived, this had to be brought aboard the Ark.

Let me guess. Eyestalk parasite kind.

 

[AV1611VET]

Let us not forget that, in order for this to have survived, this had to be brought aboard the Ark.

What makes you say that?

Why couldn't God have created it later as a consequence of sin?

Exodus 8:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

[Phred]

What makes you say that?

Why couldn't God have created it later as a consequence of sin?

Exodus 8:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Oh, the entire lack of evidence thing. You know, no evidence god exists. No evidence of any special creation at any time, anywhere. Yeah... that.

 

[pitabread]

Why couldn't God have created it later as a consequence of sin?

Nobody is saying they couldn't. The question is why would they?

What does God have against snails?

This also begs the question of how many creation events there actually were. Per creationists, it seems like there were at least three: Creation Week, The Fall and The Flood.

 

[AV1611VET]

Oh, the entire lack of evidence thing. You know, no evidence god exists. No evidence of any special creation at any time, anywhere. Yeah... that.

So no Ark, I take it?

You think these things should have been on the Ark, then you'll claim the Ark never existed?

Are you even trying to understand?

 

[AV1611VET]

Nobody is saying they couldn't. The question is why would they?

Who's "they"?

What does God have against snails?

You're just assuming "against."

Do you know what a symbiotic relationship is in the animal kingdom?

This also begs the question of how many creation events there actually were.

One week of creatio ex nihilo.

Many days of creatio ex materia.

Remember how God fed the widow of Zarephath? or the 5000?

Per creationists, it seems like there were at least three: Creation Week, The Fall and The Flood.

There's a difference between creatio ex nihilo and creatio ex materia.

Remember the creationism test I made up?

1. Explain the difference between creatio ex nihilo and creatio ex materia; and give two examples of each.
2. Explain the difference between "God" and "LORD God".
3. Eden in the Bible is known as __________ on a secular map.
4. What literary device reconciles Genesis 1 and Genesis 2?
5. Put the following in order that they appeared in the universe: whales, stars, trees, sun, land, sea, outer space.
6. What day was Adam created on?
7. Was the universe created a closed system and, if not, what kind of energy did it run off of? if it was created open, what closed it?
8. Describe terra aqua and what kind of water it consisted of and why.
9. Photosynthesis required light from the sun prior to the Fall. true or false?
10. Explain how a 24-hour day could transpire before the sun was created.
11. Explain the difference between "miracles" and "magic."
12. When discussing Creationism, why should one never let himself stray from Genesis 1 or 2?
13. Why is "heaven" singular in Genesis 1, but plural in Genesis 2?

 

[pitabread]

Who's "they"?

We're talking about the creator, whomever you may believe that to be.

You're just assuming "against."

Then what is the other reason to create a parasite that results in direct harm to its host? In this case we're not talking lethal harm, but rather a maiming of sorts.

What is the purpose of this?

Do you know what a symbiotic relationship is in the animal kingdom?

There are different types of symbiotic relationships, many of which don't lead harm to the host. This is not one of those examples.

 

[pitabread]

probably would be over run with snails, it isn't pretty but it's balance.

This doesn't result in the death of the snails though, just a maiming.

 

[AV1611VET]

Then what is the other reason to create a parasite that results in direct harm to its host? In this case we're not talking lethal harm, but rather a maiming of sorts.

What is the purpose of this?

I don't know.

God works in mysterious ways.

Why did He create lightning that literally splits trees in half? or rivers that etch into His creation?

Dunno.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

God works in mysterious ways.

Yay! another tick on my creationist bingo card

 

[AV1611VET]

This doesn't result in the death of the snails though, just a maiming.

This line of questioning reminds me of Gandhi who, thanks to him and his religion, destroyed India.

People starve to death, while their "sacred cows" roam the streets right in front of them.

 

[pitabread]

I don't know.

God works in mysterious ways.

And thus we reach the limits of creationism.