Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Bromor Neckbeard]

I would estimate that 80% of the American military sees no contradiction there.  The vast majority of our military is some form of Christian, however, as far as I know, they don't track religious demographics within the military anymore.  At least, I was unable to find a reputable source by Googling.

[Strife26]

Strife, if you think Jesus is God, then why would you be joining the army?

Becuase I'm a filthy hypocrite.

[Strife26]

I've never actually answered the questions.

1 - Is Intelligent Design a valid scientific theory? Why or why not?
Yes. By definition, all theories are valid until proven otherwise.

2 - Is evolution a valid scientific theory? Why or why not?
Yes. See above.

3 - Do you consider evolution to be a theory, or a fact? Why?
It depends on the type. Evolution as creatures that die are unable to breed is a fact (natural selection) Evolution as the origin of life is theory, boardering on religion.

4 - Do you consider Intelligent Design a scientific way of thinking, or mainly a religious way of thinking? Why?
Depends on the person. For example, the razor says that the simplest answer is the best, in this way, something setting up the framework for the universe then watching it makes the most sense (God as a watchmaker). At the same time, it was a definite retool of creationism. Draw your own opinion

5 - Should evolution be taught in public schools? Explain.
Yes. The theory of evolution is the primary idea of biology. As a creation theory though, it's limitations must be examained.

6 - Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools? Explain. As a small section saying 'Evolution isn't God."


7 - Should Intelligent Design and evolution both be taught alongside one another? Explain.
Yes. It is not acceptable for a government to unfairly promote one belief over another (in this case I'm assuming the question is refering to the total theory of evolution).

8 - Is it possible to believe in a divine being, as well as Evolution?
Yes. See above.

[inaluct]

Evolution as the origin of life

Evolution has nothing to do with the origin of life.

[Strife26]

It did in my biology class, and the survey didn't specify which case it was talking about.

[inaluct]

I would accuse you of being a liar and an idiot, if not for the fact that you live in South Dakota.

Seriously, though, I doubt that. I doubt that your biology teacher could have such a poor grasp of the theory of evolution that he or she wouldn't even know what it was.

[Strife26]

North Dakota, thank you very much.
It wasn't so much the teacher as the book.

I'm fine with evolution as a facet of biology, I just think that 'origin of life/universe' doesn't really belong in schools (unless there's a theology option).

[inaluct]

Okay, North Dakota. Close. I live in California, so I have a habit of lumping all the unimportant states together. No offense intended to anyone.

Anyway, what book were you using? Evolution is seriously just the change over time of organisms. It has nothing at all to do with the origin of life.

[SolarShado]

*looks around* No one seems to care that we've been going against the OP's wishes, so I'll join.

As i understand it, evolution can be used to explain the origin of life. simple cells eventually developed into more complex organisims.

and at strife specificly, in your answer to question 3, it sounds like you consider natural selection and evloution to be very different, but to my knowledge, evolution mostly deals with the ramafications of natural selection.

[Strife26]

But where did the simple cells come from? Or reltatedly, where did the singularity that created the universe that created those simple cells come from?

[inaluct]

Just saying; neither of those questions is intended to be answered by evolution.

[SolarShado]

Just saying; neither of those questions is intended to be answered by evolution.

Very true, althought i have read a couple of theories as to how the cells came about. Don't remember any details ATM, and i'm too lazy to look anything up.

"Origin of the Universe" is the realm cosmology, not biology. Hince the big bang theory (which has some obvious holes, no argument there) and string theory.

Oh, yes, string theory... There's a big bang alternative in there. Something to do with membrenes coliding in higher-dimensional space.

EDIT: I have read many (perhaps too many) issues of Discover and Scientific American... But i don't clain to understand it all.

[Strife26]

Just saying; neither of those questions is intended to be answered by evolution.

Exactly. I only get huffy when it gets claimed that it does.

[inaluct]

Just saying; neither of those questions is intended to be answered by evolution.

Exactly. I only get huffy when it gets claimed that it does.

Who claims that it does?

[Jude]

Evolution is a process that kicks in once replicators exist. Once a replicator exists then evolution takes place, but before then, evolution doesn't exist.

Evolution thus explains everything SINCE the origin of life

And I'll say it again: everyone who insists that evolution is "just a theory" or "bordering on religion" or that the evidence for it is shaky, either has no clue how evolution works, or has a preconceived notion and an agenda about not believing simple facts. The evidence for evolution is so overwhelmingly that you have to intentionally ignoring it not to believe it.