Maybe this will clarify: can I encourage my offspring's instinct for Evolution?

[AV1611VET]

How do you reinforce Evolution?

By finding missing links.

See something in the ground, categorize it as a missing link, give it a binomial, sell the story to the fourth estate, and update your science textbooks accordingly.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

By finding missing links.

See something in the ground, categorize it as a missing link, give it a binomial, sell the story to the fourth estate, and update your science textbooks accordingly.

I don't think he means it in that sense. From every context, he means something to a person reinforcing their own evolution. Like... mentally willing themselves to keep an adaptation.

 

[AV1611VET]

I don't think he means it in that sense. From every context, he means something to a person reinforcing their own evolution. Like... mentally willing themselves to keep an adaptation.

Do you think he may be referring to hypnosis as a way of obtaining healthy results (e.g., quit smoking, lose weight, etc.)?

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Do you think he may be referring to hypnosis as a way of obtaining healthy results (e.g., quit smoking, lose weight, etc.)?

No, Gott fully believes that a person can have full, mental control over their own personal adaptation and thus evolution.

 

[AV1611VET]

No, Gott fully believes that a person can have full, mental control over their own personal adaptation and thus evolution.

:\

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

:\

Yeah. It's quite out there...

 

[Gottservant]

Evolution is not something you reinforce. It is not a faith or belief system, nor a religion or a moral philosophy.

It is simply the name given to a facet of biological science.

Accept this for the simple fact that it is, and you will find all of your problems regarding evolution will disappear.

Meanwhile I wonder to myself, how can I be like Steve Irwin was - enthusiastic and energized about Creation? He was an Evolutionist, why don't you learn from him?

Your comment about reinforcement, is ridiculous. What's the point of learning something, if you can't reinforce the best bits?

At the very least, you repeat the best bits, where you can?

 

[Gottservant]

:\

They're all to ready to say that they have chosen to believe Evolution, how then do you encourage them, but by working out what an Evolutionary choice is? Or was?

I mean, "I believed in Evolution" being forever in your past from that point on, is not much of an encouragment (on their part).

 

[Gottservant]

You really should prepare for the possibility, that my children will be greater Evolutionists, than you as children were, in your day.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

Meanwhile I wonder to myself, how can I be like Steve Irwin was - enthusiastic and energized about Creation? He was an Evolutionist, why don't you learn from him?

Your comment about reinforcement, is ridiculous. What's the point of learning something, if you can't reinforce the best bits?

At the very least, you repeat the best bits, where you can?

If you want to be like Steve Irwin, being a creationist or 'evolutionist' has no bearing on it. Just approach things with a sense of wonder and love. Evolution has nothing to do with that.

Stop treating evolution as something that can influence your outlook and just see it as the fact and facet of science that it is.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

You really should prepare for the possibility, that my children will be greater Evolutionists, than you as children were, in your day.

Except that there is no such thing as an 'Evolutionist'. Evolution is not a belief system, a morality system, or religious belief. It is simply a descriptor for a fact of biological science.

Why do you refuse to acknowledge this point?

 

[Gottservant]

Except that there is no such thing as an 'Evolutionist'. Evolution is not a belief system, a morality system, or religious belief. It is simply a descriptor for a fact of biological science.

Why do you refuse to acknowledge this point?

I refuse to deny that I am "an agent" culpable for "my decisions".

It's not wrong of you to deny this of me, but you are obliged to explain at length what it is that I will be missing out on, if I don't believe Evolution (the way you do, at least).

 

[Shemjaza]

I refuse to deny that I am "an agent" culpable for "my decisions".

No one is denying that.

It's not wrong of you to deny this of me, but you are obliged to explain at length what it is that I will be missing out on, if I don't believe Evolution (the way you do, at least).

If you don't accept evolution all you will be doing is ignoring something that is evidenced about the physical world and the origin and history of the diversity of life.


You are an individual agent who can make decisions.

Evolution as a process does not occur to individuals so it is not relevant to decisions or agents.

 

[Gottservant]

Evolution as a process does not occur to individuals so it is not relevant to decisions or agents.

Yes, but if you are saying "You are evolved" that is something that has happened to me.

Well if it "happened to me" I am responsible for it!

The Bible teaches that the decisions we make are passed on to those who come after us, I don't want to be remiss in passing on something that I shouldn't.

Maybe I'll be dumber, maybe I'll be less agile, but if I pass it on in humility, then ultimately I will be the winner.

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

I refuse to deny that I am "an agent" culpable for "my decisions".

It's not wrong of you to deny this of me, but you are obliged to explain at length what it is that I will be missing out on, if I don't believe Evolution (the way you do, at least).

Again, evolution isn't something that a person believes in. I have explained this at length again and again and again. Why do you refuse to acknowledge what I say?

 

[Shemjaza]

Yes, but if you are saying "You are evolved" that is something that has happened to me.

Not true.

It's a process that has happened to your species, but not a process that happened to you.

You didn't choose where you were born and you didn't choose your evolutionary history.

Well if it "happened to me" I am responsible for it!

Not true.

The Bible teaches that the decisions we make are passed on to those who come after us, I don't want to be remiss in passing on something that I shouldn't.

Except evolution is not a choice you or any of us makes.

Maybe I'll be dumber, maybe I'll be less agile, but if I pass it on in humility, then ultimately I will be the winner.

If any of that is under your control then it's irrelevant to evolution.

Your genetics are the relevant thing you can pass on and those were not your choice either.

 

[Gottservant]

[...]
It's a process that has happened to your species, but not a process that happened to you.
[...]

Where (is the happening)? How did you find it, without finding me?

Your genetics are the relevant thing you can pass on and those were not your choice either.

Not true, the Bible says that when we pay tithes, our seed pays tithes in our loins. (Hebrews, I believe)

 

[Shemjaza]

Where (is the happening)? How did you find it, without finding me?

You can't, because it doesn't happen to you personally.

It's the process of variation of genes across humanity.

Not true, the Bible says that when we pay tithes, our seed pays tithes in our loins. (Hebrews, I believe)

Which is not relevant to evolution.

 

[Gottservant]

You can't, because it doesn't happen to you personally.

It's the process of variation of genes across humanity.

Yes but how do you know I didn't do something differently? Which change is evolved for the species and which not? Where is it recorded ('no this is for an individual', 'yes this is for a species')?

Which is not relevant to evolution.

Yes it is, my seed goes on to define my young, how much they mate, for example.

 

[Gottservant]

I think fundamentally what I want: is a choice I can pass on to my young.