Posted by Gunnar on July 07, 1999 at 05:28:47:
In Reply to: evolution? posted by Greg on July 07, 1999 at 00:17:44:
Your post above is a prime example of the kind of blind, intolerant "faith" that has done the most to turn me and others off from religion in general and Mormonism in particular. I am deeply sorry that you seem incapable of seeing that.
:"Honest Intellectual
: Inquiry" . . . is neither Honest,
: Intellectual, nor Inquiry. . .
I take exception to the above. I know for a fact that I, at least, am honest, or striving to be (though you may consider me a liar for saying so). As for my own intellectuality, it may well be that I, personally, may not be intelligent or knowledgeable enough to qualify as an intellectual, but I recognize and admire the intellectual prowess of others who have posted here, on both sides of the issues discussed, even some with whom I disagree. As for inquiry, I know that I have an inquiring mind, and it is obvious to me that many others who post here also have one. I wonder if you have noticed that rpcman often seems just as quick to provide links to pro-religious and pro-Mormon sources as to sources that support his own views. He obviously does not object to anyone becoming thoroughly acquainted with both sides of the issues.
: . . . raise questions in the minds of Mormons, and ultimately
: lead them out of their "delusion" to the ranks of
: the bitter, born again, secular humanists (with a
: very thin disguise).
You may not like reading this, but rigid, unthinking attitudes like yours and other deeply religious friends I know have done more to raise questions in my mind about the validity of religious faith than anything said by the likes of rpcman.
: Hi there, rpc. Go ahead, give this
: poor wanderer some quality evolution crap. I gotta
: see this.
Well, did you really look at the references he listed? I have already encountered and read many of them before I ever encountered this website, and they seem quite convincing to me. Whether you like it or not, the vast majority of highly competent biologists, including those with religious beliefs (even Mormons) accept the fact that evolution has occurred. Even the biology and paleontology professors at BYU teach that,
and acknowledge that biology cannot be fully comprehended except in the light of evolution. If they taught otherwise, BYU science departments would deserve to lose academic accreditation.
In short, IMHO, your diatribe above, casts more doubt on your own capacity for "honest, intellectual inquiry" than on that of this website. I apologize if you are offended by that conclusion (I really do not like to offend), but that is how I honestly feel.
Your friend (I hope);
GUNNAR