Posted by Templar on May 13, 1999 at 13:18:40:
In Reply to: Origins, yes. Theories, no. posted by Pat on May 12, 1999 at 22:30:01:
I was a biology major in college and I know there are quite a few $50 words to try to explain how several laws of physics and biology are trampled over in order to allow the sudden genesis of something as intricately complex as DNA, instinct and cellular regeneration but the simple fact is - broken down into basic, quantitative terms - you would have to believe that machines more complex than today's computers complete with operating systems suddenly popped out of nowhere.
Evolution is as much a religion as Chritianity. There is little or no evidence in the fossil record, virtually no evidence - in fact evidence to the contrary when it is studied in a lab. But, as you say, it is the only, current, nonreligious explanation so therefore it must be followed with the blind faith of a Franciscan Monk. In the future our decendants will look at those who believe in evolution today as quaint and entertaining just as we look back at those who believed in Mithraic myth.
I choose to refuse to believe that the universe was designed by a big Sky God but I also choose to believe (along with the scientist who discovered DNA) that infinitely complex systems absolutely cannot be the result of randomness.
I didn't want this to turn into a discussion on evolution but I am absolutely outraged by the obtuse arrogance of it's current disciples. Claiming that evolution is akin to gravity is asinine and betrays your lack of knowledge on the subject. Many scientists (one of whom is a friend of mine and works for Nasa) neither believe in the spontaneous generation of complex systems or a religious explanation yet you would rule them out immediately - I'm certain.
Anyway, I'm not interested in hearing from a pack of selfsatisfied, brainwashed disciples of the True Faith (evolution) - I want to hear some other options.