The Delusions of Richard Dawkins

[paul becke]

Below are links to interesting articles concerning a certain light-weight gadfly of the evomalutionist persuasion. The second one is a more detailed demolition of His Nibs' pretentions to rational competence:


The delusions of Richard Dawkins - Journey

Darwin's Rottweiler and the Public Understanding of Scientism - Peter S. Williams

Both links are cited in this thread on the 'uncommondescent.com' site.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

Which books of Dawkins have you read?

 

[JamesKurtovich]

I'm not the biggest fan of Dawkins's MO (though I read his work), but I love the reactions he gets.

"Atheistic abiogenesis"

 

[nuttypiglet]

I've watched a few recordings of dawkins debates and to be honest I'm a bit shocked how he uses old material which has been proved false. For example, the tiny bones on a Whales pelvis, claimed as remnants of legs. The human eye being a bad design because it is back to front. The remnants of a human tail. The human appendix. He keeps saying how there is overwhelming evidence of ape like creatures to man, yet the mainstream are walking around scratching their heads trying to see what he sees. The debates I particularly like are the ones where he is against John Lennox.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

I've watched a few recordings of dawkins debates and to be honest I'm a bit shocked how he uses old material which has been proved false. For example, the tiny bones on a Whales pelvis, claimed as remnants of legs. The human eye being a bad design because it is back to front. The remnants of a human tail. The human appendix. He keeps saying how there is overwhelming evidence of ape like creatures to man, yet the mainstream are walking around scratching their heads trying to see what he sees. The debates I particularly like are the ones where he is against John Lennox.

Except that he would be right about everything you've listed here. I would take everything AiG says with a large dose of salt.

 

[nuttypiglet]

So you haven't read research, such as on the human appendix which reveals it trains the immune system in developing babies? It also functions with a purpose in adults.

 

[PaxThroughX]

I've always wondered why he recieves hate mail?

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

I've always wondered why he recieves hate mail?

Because when people are more concerned with what they believe, instead of believing what's real, become irate and hostile.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

So you haven't read research, such as on the human appendix which reveals it trains the immune system in developing babies? It also functions with a purpose in adults.

So do you know what the appendix did before it evolved into a vestigial organ with secondary functions?

 

[paul becke]

Which books of Dawkins have you read?

You insult my intelligence. You can learn enough about his 'thought' processes online without descending to such a sorry state.

 

[Loudmouth]

So you haven't read research, such as on the human appendix which reveals it trains the immune system in developing babies? It also functions with a purpose in adults.

The human appendix does not house commensal microorganisms that are required for the digestion of cellulose. Therefore, the human appendix is vestigial. What function it does have is completely rudimentary compared to the same organ in other species.

You have been hoodwinked by creationist organizations. They have tried to convince you that vestigial means that the organ has no function. They lied to you.

 

[nuttypiglet]

So do you know what the appendix did before it evolved into a vestigial organ with secondary functions?

Oh I see, so first it was an appendix, then it wasn't, then it was and perhaps it was and became something different. Sheesh no wonder the theory of evolution is a mess. So, where is your evidence it used to function as an appendix? Have you actually read the details of what the appendix does in the human body? It's a bit like you saying the Pancreas used to be a crop, when we were birds. Heck we can make stuff up like this all day really. My left leg used to be my tongue when I was a Dolphin in my past life.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

You insult my intelligence. You can learn enough about his 'thought' processes online without descending to such a sorry state.

So you're content with the fact your opinion of Dawkin's books are based on Wiki and online reviews?

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

Oh I see, so first it was an appendix, then it wasn't, then it was and perhaps it was and became something different. Sheesh no wonder the theory of evolution is a mess. So, where is your evidence it used to function as an appendix? Have you actually read the details of what the appendix does in the human body? It's a bit like you saying the Pancreas used to be a crop, when we were birds. Heck we can make stuff up like this all day really. My left leg used to be my tongue when I was a Dolphin in my past life.

The primary function of the vermiform appendix was to digest cellulose, which humans can't any longer, which is how we know it's a vestigial structure. That and the fact, when it becomes inflamed, explodes, causes septicemia, you die. And if you surgically remove the appendix, humans do absolutely fine.

Vermiform appendix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[PaxThroughX]

Because when people are more concerned with what they believe, instead of believing what's real, become irate and hostile.

What someone believes is truth to them. So anything that contradicts that is false by default. I know this because I was under a disillusion. However, I don't understand why such people make a comment about something (that they don't agree with) on a public forum and expect to not get an opposing response?

 

[CabVet]

What someone believes is truth to them. So anything that contradicts that is false by default.

Only if you are extremely close-minded.

 

[KWCrazy]

You have been hoodwinked by creationist organizations. They have tried to convince you that vestigial means that the organ has no function. They lied to you.

Vestige: Biology . a degenerate or imperfectly developed organ or structure that has little or no utility, but that in an earlier stage of the individual or in preceding evolutionary forms of the organism performed a useful function.

Apparently Dictionary.com is a creationist organization.

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

Vestige: Biology . a degenerate or imperfectly developed organ or structure that has little or no utility, but that in an earlier stage of the individual or in preceding evolutionary forms of the organism performed a useful function.

Apparently Dictionary.com is a creationist organization.

/

 

[JamesKurtovich]

Vestige: Biology . a degenerate or imperfectly developed organ or structure that has little or no utility, but that in an earlier stage of the individual or in preceding evolutionary forms of the organism performed a useful function.

Apparently Dictionary.com is a creationist organization.

I don't think you read the definition.

 

[TemperateSeaIsland]

Also general dictionaries can be quite vague when it comes to specialist subjects.

Here's biology online's definition:

vestigial
refers to an organ or part (for example, the human appendix) which is greatly reduced from the original ancestral form and is no longer functional or is of reduced or altered function.
Vestigial structures provide a clue to the evolutionary history of a species because they are remnants of structures found in the ancestral species.