Is evolution necessary?

[Pete Harcoff]

This is kind of based on my "Evolution in Schools" post (since both questions came from reading the same article), but I was wondering, just how important is evolution in relation to biology as a whole?

In the article I was reading, a biologist stated evolution is required in biology "every bit as much as you need numbers to teach mathematics."

Is this true? Is evolution really that important? And what would the effects on modern biology be if evolution were suddenly stripped out? Would it have the same effect as stripping numbers out of mathematics (which I guess would render math pretty useless)? What would be the effect on things like modern medical treatments, medicine, etc?

Kind of broad questions, but I'm quite curious.

 

[Humanista]

Since evolution is considered to be the foundation of modern biology, I would say it would be pretty useless without it.

The relationships between species as reinforced in DNA , knowledge of how viruses evolve and change....these are very necessary to the advancement of medicine and of general understanding of how the living world works.

If evolution disappears from schools and universities, biology and related fields would suffer, as gradually the knowledge would die out--or be remote---kind of like the dark ages.

 

[Hector Medina]

Evolution is not necessary for anything else besides the ridiculous theoretical origins of life.


True Biology(proven) does not at all need it.



In Christ,

Hector

 

[Hector Medina]

And-

I DON'T CARE what you evolutionists say to refute me Kent Hovind,Jack Chick,etc.........

We(both you and I) all have the right to speak(even know I'm right and your wrong) soooooo refute all you want ,your NOT bothering me!



In Christ,

Hector

 

[Humanista]

Originally posted by Hector Medina
Evolution is not necessary for anything else besides the ridiculous theoretical origins of life.


True Biology(proven) does not at all need it.



In Christ,

Hector

Since evolution does not concern itself with the origins of life, perhaps you should find out what evolution really is, instead of building a strawman.

 

[Morat]

  HAve you noticed that he's made the same post on numerous threads? (Second post in this thread I've seen in at least one other thread). 10 points there.

Pete: Yeah, it is that important. Without it, biology simply becomes unconnected facts. No explanation for why nested classification works (why, in fact, should you be able to create clades or Linnean taxons). No explanation for the differences and similarities in proteins and non-coding DNA among species. No explanation for the weird and funky 'designs' you see (like the Panda's thumb).

   Just useless facts (and probably far fewer of them at that). Why are birds more similar to alligators than alligators are to turtles? Why are mice a good model of this human system, but a bad one for this one? Why are human knees the way they are? Why do we have a coccyx?

   Evolution unifies biology. It ties all these disparate facts under one explanation. Something that can explain peacock feathers, the human coccyx, the panda's thumb, why retroviral insertions formed nested patterns, why Linnean (and now pattern systematics) is such an effective way to classify life, why species is fuzzy but higher groups are more clear, why you find a sub-optimum solution in one species, yet another has a much better one, why antiobiotics stop working after awhile...

 

 

[Kookaburra]

Originally posted by Hector Medina
And-

I DON'T CARE what you evolutionists say to refute me Kent Hovind,Jack Chick,etc.........

Who are these people?

We(both you and I) all have the right to speak

Thanks for clarifying that, even though I have similer opinions.

(even know I'm right and your wrong) soooooo refute all you want ,your NOT bothering me!

Somehow, by you saying this, I gather that you are bothered by this but don't want people to know that so you vehnemently deny it which makes it kind of...strange....

In Christ,

Hector

Now there is something I definately like. I like it when people sign off with a friendly statement. It makes my day, and I am not being sarcastic.

 

I don't believe in evolution myself, although I do know several thiestic evolutionists.

I think it's a good move to abolish evolution in schools--if they take out that factor, maybe then the scientific 'dark ages' will arrive, but that may in turn lead to a spiritual revival!

 

God Bless ya'all,

Pray4Me,

--Kookles

 

[Morat]

Kookaburra: Do you go to the doctor? Ever been given antiobiotics? Vaccinations? Ever taken any drug that was tested on animals?

  Evolution is a vital part of any doctor's visit, because human biology is explained in light of evolution.

   If you don't want science taught in schools, feel free to remove your children from class. The rest of us will happily enjoy the smaller class sizes are our children learn science. And go on to make the biological breakthroughs (using evolution) that your children will enjoy.

  I hear it's bliss. We'll see.

 

 

[Kookaburra]

Errr, I'm not going to have any kids anytime soon. Dunno if I want to bring anyone into a world so tormented and dangerous as this one.

 

[Kookaburra]

I gave you a couple blessings, hector.

 

[seebs]

Originally posted by Kookaburra
Errr, I'm not going to have any kids anytime soon. Dunno if I want to bring anyone into a world so tormented and dangerous as this one.

Given that you're 14 according to your profile, no offense, but I sure *hope* you don't have kids anytime soon.

I used to wonder about bringing kids into the world, but then I realized - *I'm* happy... All I can do is have faith that, eventually, they would be too. Well, that and try to raise them well. So, I do plan to have kids. Eventually.

 

[Kookaburra]

that's very nice and 'realistic', and I was referring to my age as the reason I'm not getting married anytime soon. I know how much I struggle in this life, I'm just wondering about how bad the future's going to be....

 

[Chris H]

Originally posted by Kookaburra
that's very nice and 'realistic', and I was referring to my age as the reason I'm not getting married anytime soon. I know how much I struggle in this life, I'm just wondering about how bad the future's going to be....

Why does the future have to be bad?

If you have faith surely you believe that God will tae care of You?

Chris

 

[Chris H]

..And I mean this in a good way. I have some doubts as a christian but I believe that God has always taken care of me and my children.


Children are a good thing. I wouldn't be afraid to become a parent in say, Ohm ten years or so...

Chris

 

[Nathan Poe]

A short response, hardly worthy of Rant Mode....

Originally posted by Hector Medina

I DON'T CARE what you evolutionists say to refute me Kent Hovind,Jack Chick,etc.........

We(both you and I) all have the right to speak(even know I'm right and your wrong) soooooo refute all you want ,your NOT bothering me! 

We're not trying to "bother" you. We're just trying to have an intelligent discussion. You're free to join in anytime. Of course you have the right to speak; we all do. (A right granted to us by the government, not the Bible)

BUT when you speak "truth," you have to expect that the rest of us are going to ask for some supporting information. And when your only proof comes from a pair of well-documented quacks and frauds, the rest of us have little incentive to believe what you have to say.

But by all means, speak all you want. You're not bothering us. Actually, you're my entertainment for the day.

 

[seebs]

I would argue that the right of free speech is an inherent right, and all the government does is *recognize* it. Note that it is not an unlimited right, merely an inalienable one.

 

[LewisWildermuth]

Originally posted by Kookaburra
I think it's a good move to abolish evolution in schools--if they take out that factor, maybe then the scientific 'dark ages' will arrive, but that may in turn lead to a spiritual revival!

--Kookles [/B]

Kind of funny that you should mention the "dark ages"...

It is the monks that saved the books and writings and even continued to experiment on their own that are remembered in a good light. The removal of "evil" science and independent thought lead not only to a break down of understanding that killed millions because of diseases and the like but also lead to a massive spiritual apathy in europe as well.

But everyone is entitled to their beliefs. Have you ever concidered joining an amish colony to see if giving up science and all it has to offer is a good thing for you?

Blessings
L.W.

 

[Pete Harcoff]

Originally posted by Nathan Poe

Of course you have the right to speak; we all do. (A right granted to us by the government, not the Bible)

Actually, in the case of these forums it's a privilege granted by the people running the forum. Since these forums are private (in a manner of speaking), they'd have the right to censor or remove any posts they want. Hence, they have certain rules of conduct (like no spamming, trolling, etc), to keep things from getting out of hand. Violate those rules, though, and you could end up losing your privilege to post here.

 

[Nathan Poe]

Originally posted by Pete Harcoff
Actually, in the case of these forums it's a privilege granted by the people running the forum. Since these forums are private (in a manner of speaking), they'd have the right to censor or remove any posts they want. Hence, they have certain rules of conduct (like no spamming, trolling, etc), to keep things from getting out of hand. Violate those rules, though, and you could end up losing your privilege to post here.

You're right, of course. I was speaking in more general terms regarding free speech when I answered hector. I couldn't resist feeding the troll.

 

[Lacmeh]

Please all of yoou not believing in evlution stop taking any form of medicine. Never go to a doctor again. Because all the medicine advancement would not have been possible if not for applying the same mechanics, that evolution uses.