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Why Do People Believe So Strongly in Evolution?

  

Category:  Health, Science & Technology

Via:  heartland-american  •  8 years ago  •  355 comments

Why Do People Believe So Strongly in Evolution?
Belief in a False Doctrine

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



Prior to the nineteenth century, most geologists and paleontologists believed that the earth’s land features and fossil rocks were the result of the biblical global flood. With the publication of Origin of Species by Charles Darwin in 1859, the theory of evolution gained wide acceptance in university circles. Geologists began to assume evolution and old earth as established fact—and subsequently, began to interpret geological land features and their fossils, and even the origin of life, based on the assumption of evolution.

As evolutionary theory spread, so did the idea of uniformitarianism—that physical processes have remained constant during earth’s history. For more than a century, such beliefs have been taught as fact in schools and universities, and students (who are teachers today) rotely accept such doctrine without independent study and unbiased research of their own. Teachers today continue to march to the evolutionary mantra: “Darwin said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” 53 And students continue to be taught evolution and the old earth model as “proven fact,” and they carry this erroneous belief throughout their lives without question. Acceptance of evolution as fact is one of the “one of the biggest, if not the biggest, stumbling block to people being receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” 54

Evolutionary theory is completely contrary to natural laws—including the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics, Law of Biogenesis, and Law of Causality . Yet people are willing to accept unknown evolutionary processes—chaos to cosmos all by itself—without question. The sudden appearance of the universe without cause, complex genetic machinery (heart, stomach, teeth, nerves, brain, skin, muscles, bones, and the other organs, all working together), and human consciousness could not have arisen by random chance without a Creator.

Although many people reject evolution for these very reasons, particularly with the knowledge that there are no transitional types anywhere in the fossil record, the possibility of creation in six literal days and a young earth seems a difficult barrier for many. Again, this is because people today have been indoctrinated with the idea of evolution and an ancient earth by secular teachers or professors.

Consider the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1877. 55 “What is science? The method by which man tries to conceal his ignorance… Former explorers once adored are now ridiculed; the continual wreckings of false hypotheses is a matter of universal notoriety. You may tell where the learned have encamped by the debris left behind of suppositions and theories as plentiful as broken bottles.” [Read full quote]

Secular scientists (as well as some misguided theologians) underestimate the God of creation and judgments. In the words of Jesus Christ, “ You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God. ” (Matthew 22:29, NAS)

The fact of the matter is, an overwhelming majority of scientific evidence (i.e., geology, biology, physics, astronomy, anthropology, archaeology, etc.) supports creation and a young earth. So why do people (scientists and laymen) believe so strongly in evolution? Essentially, there are four reasons:

1.         In 2 Peter 3:5 (NIV and KJV), it states, “they deliberately forget” and “they willfully are ignorant.” In today’s world, the term “supernatural” or the concept of God or creation is considered outside the realm of real science. Life is here on earth, so secular scientists feel they must explain life “naturalistically”—consequently, they believe that evolutionary doctrine and ignoring data contrary to evolution is legitimate. Thus, any evidence that supports a young earth or creation is automatically rejected or ignored. There is overwhelming scientific evidence supporting a young earth and Divine Creation—yet such evidence has been ignored by secular scientists because they would have to admit that evolution is wrong.

2.         Most scientists hold to the evolutionary doctrine for fear of being ridiculed. As one good naturalist put it, “Any hint of teleology [i.e., intelligent design or purpose] must be avoided.” 56 A geneticist once said that the scientific community requires the scientist to maintain two insanities at all times. “One, it would be insane to believe in evolution when you can see the truth for yourself. Two, it would be insane to say you don’t believe in evolution. All government work, research grants, papers, big college lectures—everything would stop. I’d be out of a job, or relegated to the outer fringes where I couldn’t earn a decent living.” 57

3.         Evolution is taught in school (science, history, philosophy, and even religion courses) as “proven fact”—and then later in life, students perpetuate this false doctrine without question as teachers, journalists, and parents. Teaching evolution is upheld by the man-made concept of “separation of church and state” and, consequently, opposing arguments are rarely, if ever, presented to students. For example, most students have never been taught or even considered the merits and scientific evidence of global catastrophism, which support creation and a young earth. Evolution is widely accepted because many leading scientists and educators, as well as some progressive-minded clergymen, voraciously assert evolutionary doctrine and exclaim that only the ignorant would believe otherwise.

4.         But there is an even more ominous reason for belief in evolutionary doctrine. Humanity, ever since the rebellion of the first man, Adam, has had an inborn tendency to oppose the Creator’s rule or sovereignty over their lives as foretold in Genesis 3:6 and Romans 5:12. Rebellious and idolatrous history of humanity is graphically portrayed in the Bible (pagan antediluvian and postdiluvian times); the Dark Ages; World War I and World War II; and by today’s continual worldwide ethnic conflicts. It is also tied to the repugnant (more appropriately, evil) behavior of some clergymen over the ages—physical cruelty, collusion with political dictators, and abhorrent sexual abuses—all of which has alienated many from the Christian faith. The problem has never been with the God of the Holy Bible but with the corruption and moral depravity of humankind. The Bible speaks of it in Romans 1:18–22.

In spite of all known physical and biological laws and principles and overwhelming geologic evidence of worldwide flood and sedimentary flood deposits, scientists continue to devise various schemes and false assumptions to explain and uphold evolution . Despite the impossible improbabilities of evolution, scientists continue to adhere to Darwinian evolution from primeval chaos to a state of high organization and complexity.

The concept of creation and a Divine Creator is utterly avoided in all secular scientific literature (except creation research journals, papers, and creation-science books). Because of atheistic views of university academia today, the belief that life spontaneously generated from nonlife has been universally accepted as the explanation for all life forms including man. The most impossible improbabilities are considered more probable than the preponderance of scientific evidence for creation and a Divine Creator .


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epistte
Junior Participates
2  epistte    8 years ago

Creation science? LOLOLOLOL

 
 
 
Dig
Professor Participates
3  Dig    8 years ago
Evolution is widely accepted because many leading scientists and educators, as well as some progressive-minded clergymen, voraciously assert evolutionary doctrine

Actually, evolution is accepted because of an astonishingly large amount of cross-disciplinary evidence. Evolution might just be the most supported theory of all time. We're talking mountains of evidence for evolution (pun fully intended), and ZERO for some kind of supernatural 'design'.

That's what makes anti-evolution arguments such garbage. It's just embarrassing at this point.

and exclaim that only the ignorant would believe otherwise.

Yes. Ignorance. The only way to deny it is to not understand it. Once the evidence and basic mechanisms are understood, it becomes impossible for any intellectually honest person to deny.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
3.1  Gordy327  replied to  Dig @3    8 years ago

It's not just embarrassing, it's just plain sad.

 
 
 
charger 383
Professor Silent
4  charger 383    8 years ago

Evolution makes more sense and has more evidence than anything else   

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
4.1  Gordy327  replied to  charger 383 @4    8 years ago

But some people still prefer their dogma over actual science . Go figure.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
4.1.2  epistte  replied to  XXJefferson51 @4.1.1    8 years ago
Too bad so sad.  The belief in creation science will never go away.  Not ever.

Just like flat earthers. 

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.3  TᵢG  replied to  XXJefferson51 @4.1.1    8 years ago
The belief in creation science will never go away.

Yes, and that is in good company with those who continue to believe in:

  • a young Earth
  • prosperity gospel 'men of God'
  • faith healers
  • psychics
  • conspiracy theorists (many varieties)
  • ...

Being proud that one believes something in spite of clear, formal findings to the contrary is just bizarre.   ' I am a proud Flat Earther !'   Face Palm

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
4.1.4  Gordy327  replied to  XXJefferson51 @4.1.1    8 years ago

Key word there is "belief," as that's all it is.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
4.1.6  epistte  replied to  XXJefferson51 @4.1.1    8 years ago
Too bad so sad.  The belief in creation science will never go away.  Not ever.  

Like the belief in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy? 

There is no science to support the story of Genesis.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
4.1.7  Gordy327  replied to  XXJefferson51 @4.1.5    8 years ago
Young earth as we know it does not fit in with any of that other stuff.  

Young Earth doesn't fit with any evidence or semblance of rationality.

 
 
 
Atheist יוחנן בן אברהם אבינו
Junior Quiet
4.2  Atheist יוחנן בן אברהם אבינו  replied to  charger 383 @4    8 years ago

Ah,  is this the classic fall-back myth of "common sense."  As in, it was  just "common sense" for thousands of years to think the earth was the center of the universe.  It just had to be.  Just look at how the stars and the moon and the sun revolve around us.  And it was just good common sense that disease was due to the imbalance of the four "humors" or demon possession or the will of the gods.  Etc., etc., etc.

Or, is this just the regular ol' "this doesn't make sense to me so it can't be true" fallacy?

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
5  Gordy327    8 years ago

Whenever someone equates evolution with belief, it's clear they don't any idea what they're talking about, much less actually understands evolution and possibly science in general.

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
6  sandy-2021492    8 years ago
The fact of the matter is, an overwhelming majority of scientific evidence (i.e., geology, biology, physics, astronomy, anthropology, archaeology, etc.) supports creation and a young earth.

I'm sure you'll be presenting the evidence for this, right, HA?

Or is it a flat-out lie?

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
6.1  Gordy327  replied to  sandy-2021492 @6    8 years ago

A link to the National Academy of Sciences to support that assertion would be nice too. But I'll go with the flat out lie option.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
7  Bob Nelson    8 years ago

Faith in creationism inevitably implies a trickster God. The only "logical" way to have a thirteen-billion year history in a six-thousand year-old universe is to have God create "fake proof of age" along with the universe.

That is to say... God is at best a trickster, at worst a liar... if Biblical "creation" is literally true.

"Creationists" create their own contradiction.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
7.1  Gordy327  replied to  Bob Nelson @7    8 years ago

Creationists also seem to have a need for the emotional comfort or security of a god. They have a need or desire to feel special. The idea of an omnipotent god creating you special and will be with you in a heavenly afterlife makes for quite an emotionally satisfying story. Reality, including the scientific understanding of it including but not limited to evolution, might be too harsh for some to accept.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
7.1.1  Bob Nelson  replied to  Gordy327 @7.1    8 years ago

I agree... but it mystifies me.

The only way to hang on is to make God into a nasty trickster. A very ugly person.

And for what? Why do this?

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
7.1.2  Gordy327  replied to  Bob Nelson @7.1.1    8 years ago
The only way to hang on is to make God into a nasty trickster. A very ugly person.

Well, at least god has a sense of humor.

 
 
 
Galen Marvin Ross
Sophomore Quiet
7.1.3  Galen Marvin Ross  replied to  Gordy327 @7.1.2    8 years ago
Well, at least god has a sense of humor.

Well, that's obvious,

The_Platypus_Project_aims_to_harne123449.jpg

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
7.1.4  TᵢG  replied to  Bob Nelson @7.1.1    8 years ago
Why do this?

The same reason some argue that slavery is not always immoral (in reference to the God of the Bible never condemning the owning of a person as property) - to preserve the illusion of an inerrant, divine Bible at all costs.   

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
7.1.5  Gordy327  replied to  TᵢG @7.1.4    8 years ago
to preserve the illusion....

Or delusion.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
7.1.6  Bob Nelson  replied to  TᵢG @7.1.4    8 years ago
... to preserve the illusion of an inerrant, divine Bible at all costs.  

Yes... but why?

Is the Bible more important than God?

In order to preserve a perfect Bible, these people are transforming God into a reprehensible trickster.

I can only suppose that they have not thought through their own arguments...

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
7.1.7  TᵢG  replied to  Bob Nelson @7.1.6    8 years ago
Is the Bible more important than God?

To some the divinity (and inerrancy) of the Bible is the core of their belief system.  Their 'God' comes crashing down if the Bible is merely the words of ancient men.

God, to them, is what is described in the Bible (and other holy books).   I wish people were more deistic but that does not seem to be the case thus billions run their lives thinking that words in an ancient book is divine guidance from the grandest possible entity.

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
7.1.8  sandy-2021492  replied to  Gordy327 @7.1.5    8 years ago
Or delusion.

Or to troll, which I believe is what's going on here.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
7.1.9  Bob Nelson  replied to  TᵢG @7.1.7    8 years ago

There’s a word for it: "bibliolatry".

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
7.1.10  TᵢG  replied to  Bob Nelson @7.1.9    8 years ago

I did not know that!   Thanks.

 
 
 
Bob Nelson
Professor Guide
7.1.11  Bob Nelson  replied to  TᵢG @7.1.10    8 years ago

Thumbs Up 2

 
 
 
Freefaller
Professor Quiet
7.1.12  Freefaller  replied to  sandy-2021492 @7.1.8    8 years ago
Or to troll

Bingo!

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
7.1.14  devangelical  replied to  XXJefferson51 @7.1.13    8 years ago

The OT is documentation of religious incest and pedophilia. The NT is a reward promise for not killing religious hypocrites in this life.

 
 
 
Galen Marvin Ross
Sophomore Quiet
7.1.15  Galen Marvin Ross  replied to  XXJefferson51 @7.1.13    8 years ago
Because that is exactly what The Holy Bible is.

No, the Bible of today is a bunch of story's put together first by the Roman Emperor Constantine, 300 years after the death of Jesus, then it was changed again 400 years later, then it was changed again and, again and, again, etc., etc. Even the books purporting to describe what Jesus said can't be trust to be true since the first one of those was written 100 years AFTER Jesus died.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
7.1.16  epistte  replied to  TᵢG @7.1.4    8 years ago
The same reason some argue that slavery is not always immoral (in reference to the God of the Bible never condemning the owning of a person as property) - to preserve the illusion of an inerrant, divine Bible at all costs.   

How can a book of plagiarized myths written by ancient men possibly be divine?

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
7.1.17  TᵢG  replied to  XXJefferson51 @7.1.13    8 years ago
Because that is exactly what The Holy Bible is.  

The Bible defines an omniscient God who is surprised when the creatures He created disobey.   Explain, logically, how an omniscient entity could be surprised by anything.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Participates
7.1.18  Split Personality  replied to  Galen Marvin Ross @7.1.15    8 years ago

I'm going to argue that the origins of hundreds, if not thousands of years of oral story telling preceded the first attempts by the Sumerians and Egyptians to write these stories down.

The Egyptian "Book of the Dead" precedes the Old Testament by 350 years.

Stories of great calamities like floods, genesis and even virgin births and resurrections are common in ancient texts.

 
 
 
Galen Marvin Ross
Sophomore Quiet
7.1.19  Galen Marvin Ross  replied to  Split Personality @7.1.18    8 years ago
Stories of great calamities like floods, genesis and even virgin births and resurrections are common in ancient texts.

Of course, the creation story and, the story of the flood are told in the tales of Gilgamesh and, that story predates the Genesis story by hundreds of years if not thousands, in fact there's a lot of historians that believe the story of Noah is nothing but Gilgamesh retold.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
7.1.20  epistte  replied to  TᵢG @7.1.17    8 years ago
The Bible defines an omniscient God who is surprised when the creatures He created disobey.   Explain, logically, how an omniscient entity could be surprised by anything.

You're not supposed to read the Bible and think critically.  

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
7.1.21  TᵢG  replied to  epistte @7.1.20    8 years ago

IMO most who hold the Bible divine and inerrant have not read it.   To wit, they do not know what they are talking about and have not even bothered to look under the covers at the foundation of their belief system.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
7.1.22  Gordy327  replied to  XXJefferson51 @7.1.13    8 years ago
Because that is exactly what The Holy Bible is.  

Yeah, a book of fairy tales and superstitions which some people are clearly unable to discern fact from fantasy.

 
 
 
livefreeordie
Junior Silent
9  livefreeordie    8 years ago

It is a false accusation that no scientists believe in creation science

Furthermore there is no conflict between the Biblical record and the age of the earth being approximately 5 billion years

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
9.1  Gordy327  replied to  livefreeordie @9    8 years ago

Who said scientists do not believe in creationism? But no credible scientist will posit creationism as a valid explanation for anything either. Neither is creationism a science.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
9.2  TᵢG  replied to  livefreeordie @9    8 years ago
It is a false accusation that no scientists believe in creation science

Who made that claim?

Furthermore there is no conflict between the Biblical record and the age of the earth being approximately 5 billion years

For the old Earthers you are correct.   But have a chat with HA (or another young Earther) who accepts Archbishop Ussher's analysis which places the planet at ~6,000 years old.   These people reject all forms of scientific dating and insist everything we see came about over the past 6,000-10,000 years.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
9.4  epistte  replied to  livefreeordie @9    8 years ago
It is a false accusation that no scientists believe in creation science

Where is the evidence to support "creation science"?

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
9.4.1  MrFrost  replied to  epistte @9.4    8 years ago
Where is the evidence to support "creation science"?

giphy.gif

 
 
 
livefreeordie
Junior Silent
9.4.2  livefreeordie  replied to  MrFrost @9.4.1    8 years ago

I’m traveling currently. Canada and US and little time or internet connection to post. Saw this while having breakfast. On the road until I return to Canada in October for two months

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
9.4.3  Gordy327  replied to  MrFrost @9.4.1    8 years ago
Where is the evidence to support "creation science"?

In theists imaginations, along with their god.

 
 
 
Atheist יוחנן בן אברהם אבינו
Junior Quiet
10  Atheist יוחנן בן אברהם אבינו    8 years ago

Here we go again....another one of this NTer's BS bombs.  It's trolling.  Best to just ignore him which I'm now going to do on this seed. 

 
 
 
Freefaller
Professor Quiet
10.1  Freefaller  replied to  Atheist יוחנן בן אברהם אבינו @10    8 years ago

Divisiveness and rhetoric do seem to be what this NTer does best

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
10.1.1  sandy-2021492  replied to  Freefaller @10.1    8 years ago

Whining.  You forgot the whining.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
10.2  devangelical  replied to  Atheist יוחנן בן אברהם אבינו @10    8 years ago

teavangelical persecution complex

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
12  MrFrost    8 years ago

Can't even prove god exists much less that 'god' created everything... Literally ZERO proof...none. There is evidence of evolution. 

Prove that "God" exists...then we can entertain the myth of creationism. 

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
12.1  devangelical  replied to  MrFrost @12    8 years ago

scorch marks on the ground where religious hypocrites once stood would lead to my instant conversion

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
13  MrFrost    8 years ago

The Flintstones is NOT a documentary! 

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
13.1  devangelical  replied to  MrFrost @13    8 years ago

Quest For Fire is the documentary on the evolution of teavangelical xtianity.

 
 
 
Old Hermit
Sophomore Silent
13.1.1  Old Hermit  replied to  devangelical @13.1    8 years ago
Quest For Fire is the documentary on the evolution of teavangelical xtianity.

Ah,"Quest For Fire"! 

Most accurate documentary on human evolution ever? Related image

Related image

Or would the first BJ be definitive proof that there really IS a god?

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
13.1.2  devangelical  replied to  Old Hermit @13.1.1    8 years ago

his religious conversion was complete with the introduction to missionary

 
 
 
lady in black
Professor Silent
14  lady in black    8 years ago

The remains have been dated to between 18,000 and 28,000 years ago.

So according to creationists the scientists are wrong and they are right in their assessment of the earth only being 6,000 years old....LOLOLOLOLOLOL

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
15  MrFrost    8 years ago

Evidence of Evolution


The Nobel Prize winning scientist Linus Pauling aptly described science as the search for truth.  Science does this by continuously comparing its theories objectively with evidence in the natural world.  When theories no longer conform to the evidence, they are modified or rejected in favor of new theories that do conform.  In other words, science constantly tries to prove its assumptions to be false and rejects implausible explanations.  In this way, scientific knowledge and understanding grow over time.  Religious explanations for the order of things are not science because they are based primarily on faith and do not subject themselves to be objectively falsified.  Because of this fundamental difference in the approach to understanding our natural world, the U.S. Supreme Court in effect decided in 1987 that the Biblically based "creation science" is not a science and cannot be taught as such in public schools as an alternative or in addition to the mainstream evolutionary theory of the biological sciences.  However, religious creation stories and the idea of "intelligent design" can be taught in philosophy, religion, or history courses.  Religion and Science provide different approaches to knowledge.  It is important to understand both.

What Is Evolution?

Biological evolution is genetic change in a population from one generation to another.  The speed and direction of change is variable with different species lines and at different times.  Continuous evolution over many generations can result in the development of new varieties and species.  Likewise, failure to evolve in response to environmental changes can, and often does, lead to extinction.

When scientists speak of evolution as a theory they do not mean that it is a mere speculation.  It is a theory in the same sense as the propositions that the earth is round rather than flat or that our bodies are made of atoms are theories.  Most people would consider such fundamental theories to be sufficiently tested by empirical evidence to conclude that they are indeed facts.  As a result of the massive amount of evidence for biological evolution accumulated over the last two centuries, we can safely conclude that evolution has occurred and continues to occur.  All life forms, including humans, evolved from earlier species, and all still living species of organisms continue to evolve today.  They are not unchanging end-products.

For those who have difficulty in accepting evolution because of what they perceive as contradictions with their fundamental religious beliefs, it may be useful to distinguish the ultimate origin of life from its later evolution.  Many, if not most, biological scientists accept that primordial life on earth began as a result of chance natural occurrences 3.5-4 billion years ago.  However, it is not necessary to believe in that view in order to accept that living creatures evolved by natural means after the origin of the first life.  Charles Darwin modified his religious beliefs, as did many others, as a result of the discovery of convincing proof of evolution.  Darwin's religious faith was also severely challenged by the death of his 10 year old daughter Annie in 1851.  Apparently, he came to believe that his God created the order of the universe including the rules of nature that result in biological evolution.  His famous book,   On the Origin of Species , was not a denial of his God's existence.  However, he did reject a literal interpretation of the Judeo-Christian Bible.  His religious beliefs were probably very similar to those who advocate "theistic evolution" today.

We now understand that there are a number of different natural processes that can cause evolution to occur.  These are presented in a later tutorial of this series ( Modern Theories of Evolution ).


How Do We Know That Evolution Has Occurred?

The evidence for evolution has primarily come from four sources:

1.    the fossil record of change in earlier species
2. the chemical and anatomical similarities of related life forms
3. the geographic distribution of related species
4.  the recorded genetic changes in living organisms over many generations

The Fossil Record

 
Geological strata containing an
 evolutionary sequence of fossils

Remains of animals and plants found in   sedimentary     rock deposits give us an indisputable record of past changes through vast periods of time.  This evidence attests to the fact that there has been a tremendous variety of living things.  Some extinct species had traits that were transitional between major groups of organisms.  Their existence confirms that species are not fixed but can evolve into other species over time.

The evidence also shows that what have appeared to be gaps in the fossil record are due to incomplete data collection.  The more that we learn about the evolution of specific species lines, the more that these so-called gaps or "missing links in the chain of evolution" are filled with transitional fossil specimens.  One of the first of these gaps to be filled was between small bipedal dinosaurs and birds.  Just two years after Darwin published   On the Origin of Species , a 150-145 million year old fossil of   Archaeopteryx     was found in southern Germany.  It had jaws with teeth and a long bony tail like dinosaurs, broad wings and feathers like birds, and skeletal features of both.  This discovery verified the assumption that birds had reptilian ancestors.
 

Since the discovery of  Archaeopteryx , there have been many other crucial evolutionary gaps filled in the fossil record.  Perhaps, the most important one, from our human perspective, was that between apes and our own species.  Since the 1920's, there have been literally hundreds of well-dated intermediate fossils found in Africa that were transitional species leading from apes to humans over the last 6-7 million years.  This evidence is presented in the last 3 tutorials of this series.

The fossil record also provides abundant evidence that the complex animals and plants of today were preceded by earlier simple ones.  In addition, it shows that multicelled organisms evolved only after the first single-celled ones.  This fits the predictions of evolutionary theory.

Chemical and Anatomical Similarities

Living things on earth are fundamentally similar in the way that their basic anatomical structures develop and in their chemical compositions.  No matter whether they are simple single-celled protozoa     or highly complex organisms with billions of cells, they all begin as single cells that reproduce themselves by similar division processes.  After a limited life span, they also all grow old and die. 

All living things on earth share the ability to create complex molecules out of carbon and a few other elements.  In fact, 99% of the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and other molecules of living things are made from only 6 of the 92 most common elements.  This is not a mere coincidence.

All plants and animals receive their specific characteristics from their parents by inheriting particular combinations of genes.  Molecular biologists have discovered that genes are, in fact, segments of   DNA     molecules in our cells.

section of a DNA molecule

These segments of DNA contain chemically coded recipes for creating proteins by linking together particular   amino acids     in specific sequences.

simple protein molecule
      

Human arm bones
(typical vertebrate pattern)

All of the tens of thousands of types of proteins in living things are mostly made of only 20 kinds of amino acids.  Despite the great diversity of life on our planet, the simple language of the DNA code is the same for all living things.  This is evidence of the fundamental molecular unity of life.

In addition to molecular similarities, most living things are alike in that they either get the energy needed for growth, repair, and reproduction directly from sunlight, by   photosynthesis   , or they get it indirectly by consuming green plants and other organisms that eat plants.

Many groups of species share the same types of body structures because they inherited them from a common ancestor that had them.  This is the case with the   vertebrates   , which are the animals that have internal skeletons.  The arms of humans, the forelegs of dogs and cats, the wings of birds, and the flippers of whales and seals all have the same types of bones (humerus, radius, and ulna) because they have retained these traits of their shared common ancient vertebrate ancestor.

All of these major chemical and anatomical similarities between living things can be most logically accounted for by assuming that they either share a common ancestry or they came into existence as a result of similar natural processes.  These facts make it difficult to accept a theory of special and independent creation of different species.

Geographic Distribution of Related Species

Another clue to patterns of past evolution is found in the natural geographic distribution of related species.  It is clear that major isolated land areas and island groups often evolved their own distinct plant and animal communities.  For instance, before humans arrived 60-40,000 years ago, Australia had more than 100 species of kangaroos, koalas, and other   marsupials     but none of the more advanced terrestrial   placental mammals   such as dogs, cats, bears, horses.  Land mammals were entirely absent from the even more isolated islands that make up Hawaii and New Zealand.  Each of these places had a great number of plant, insect, and bird species that were found nowhere else in the world.  The most likely explanation for the existence of Australia's, New Zealand's, and Hawaii's mostly unique biotic environments is that the life forms in these areas have been evolving in isolation from the rest of the world for millions of years.

Genetic Changes Over Generations

The earth's environments are constantly changing, usually in subtle and complex ways.  When the changes are so great as to go beyond what most members of a population of organisms can tolerate, widespread death occurs.  As Charles Darwin observed, however, not all individuals always perish.  Fortunately, natural populations have genetic diversity.  Those individuals whose characteristics allow them to survive an environmental crisis likely will be the only ones able to reproduce.   Subsequently, their traits will be more common in the next generation--evolution of the population will have occurred.

This process of natural selection resulting in evolution can be easily demonstrated over a 24 hour period in a laboratory Petri dish of bacteria living in a nutrient medium.  When a lethal dose of antibiotic is added, there will be a mass die-off.  However, a few of the bacteria usually are immune and survive.  The next generation is mostly immune because they have inherited immunity from the survivors.  That is the case with the purple bacteria in the Petri dishes shown below--the bacteria population has evolved. 

Evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria     

This same phenomenon of bacteria evolution speeded up by human actions occurs in our own bodies at times when an antibiotic drug is unable to completely eliminate a bacterial infection.  That is the reason that medical doctors are sometimes hesitant to recommend an antibiotic for their patients and insist that the full dosage be used even if the symptoms of illness go away.  They do not want to allow any potentially antibiotic resistant bacteria to survive.

............

Much more of this article at..

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
18      8 years ago

E.A Questions::

CDC says what about the 1- 4% of Pathogenic carriers? is that 74 - 99 % Of Transmissions ? so is the CDC Right Wrong or Indifferent?

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
18.1  A. Macarthur  replied to  @18    8 years ago

If a pathogen is initially mitigated by an antibiotic, then subsequently ceases to be adversely affected by that antibiotic, it has necessarily mutated (evolved) to an immune state.

Your statistics in no way negate my comments.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
18.1.1    replied to  A. Macarthur @18.1    8 years ago
If a pathogen is initially mitigated by an antibiotic, then subsequently ceases to be adversely affected by that antibiotic, it has necessarily mutated (evolved) to an immune state. Your statistics in no way negate my comments.

E.A  False as Usual No matter  your Font SIZE.

 Question::

 Can a Virus be Killed? if not!

A Reduction to the CD 4 T Cell count means what?

Does " Blood Mary " ring a bell?

Ebola and ZIKA are now proving what about " Sex Tourism "?

 
 
 
lennylynx
Sophomore Silent
18.1.2  lennylynx  replied to  @18.1.1    8 years ago

Font size adjusted by EA and AMac...

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
18.1.3  A. Macarthur  replied to  @18.1.1    8 years ago

We're not talking "viruses" necessarily … there are other pathogens such as bacteria …

Spell out your argument instead of dumping bits of unexplained innuendo that neither clarify your "reasoning" nor explain themselves.

About Resistance

Antibiotic / Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of microbes to resist the effects of drugs – that is, the germs are not killed, and their growth is not stopped. Although some people are at greater risk than others, no one can completely avoid the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections. Infections with resistant organisms are difficult to treat, requiring costly and sometimes toxic alternatives.

Bacteria will inevitably find ways of resisting the antibiotics developed by humans, which is why aggressive action is needed now to keep new resistance from developing and to prevent the resistance that already exists from spreading.

And get off the font business; it's what is used to cover weakass commentary.

Pretend the fonts make words and the words give information.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
18.1.4    replied to  A. Macarthur @18.1.3    8 years ago
We're not talking "viruses" necessarily … there are other pathogens such as bacteria …

E.A   LOL so You say!

 Read what I said without ANY distortions, and I take your " Medical " Opinion on Ebola and ZIKA, and then " spread further " but note  stick to the Truth!!!

18.1.1 Eagle Averro replied to A. Macarthur @18.1

Question::

 Can a Virus be Killed? if not!

NOTE::: 

 Above just a reminder that a VIRUS is what I asked about, while you do the tap dancing!

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
18.1.5  sandy-2021492  replied to  @18.1.4    8 years ago

Does this have anything at all to do with the topic at hand?

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
18.1.6    replied to  sandy-2021492 @18.1.5    8 years ago
Does this have anything at all to do with the topic at hand?

E.A                                                devil

 As some one interested in a search for " truth " I am sure  you  read the  topic heading " believe-so-strongly-in-evolution "

 So tell US, if " Mutation " and Pathogens have no Input in " Evolution " what does?

IF CD 4 T Cell Count means nothing to Human metabolism what is APOPTOSIS 

If Truth does not need Facts, what are YOU after?

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
18.1.7    replied to  sandy-2021492 @18.1.5    8 years ago
Does this have anything at all to do with the topic at hand?

E.A ask the same to ::

19 A. Macarthur

LOL  " The Higher they are the harder they fall!! "?

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
18.1.8  sandy-2021492  replied to  @18.1.6    8 years ago
 So tell US, if " Mutation " and Pathogens have no Input in " Evolution " what does?

Where did I say they didn't?

Now, how about you actually make your point, instead of expecting all of us to fill in the blanks of your disjointed and incoherent comments?

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
18.1.9  sandy-2021492  replied to  @18.1.7    8 years ago

Mac's comment's relation to the topic is clear, because Mac comments coherently and rationally.

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
18.1.10  A. Macarthur  replied to  @18.1.7    8 years ago

Pronouncements, condescension, allusion, and font-critiquing makes for poor dialogue.

But I must confess, those who attack fonts reveal their troll-I.D. .*

* I urge everyone to take close notice of the nature of the comments that include the font-police objections … and, the general type of commentary seen from those who regularly express such objections.

Very revealing.

AMac

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
18.1.11    replied to  A. Macarthur @18.1.10    8 years ago
Pronouncements, condescension, allusion, and font-critiquing makes for poor dialogue.
But I must confess, those who attack fonts reveal their troll-I.D. .*

* I urge everyone to take close notice of the nature of the comments that include the font-police objections … and, the general type of commentary seen from those who regularly express such objections.

Very revealing.

AMac

E.A  Yes Thank YOU also, yes ALL read and note the Scientifically Truthful answers to the questions posed and who voted for what, Please do!!

                                            Digging a wholeDigging a wholeDigging a whole

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
18.1.12  A. Macarthur  replied to  @18.1.11    8 years ago

And yet, you still have not explained your position … and the cartoon additions are favorites among the font-folk.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
18.1.13  epistte  replied to  @18.1.6    8 years ago
As some one interested in a search for " truth " I am sure  you  read the  topic heading " believe-so-strongly-in-evolution "

 So tell US, if " Mutation " and Pathogens have no Input in " Evolution " what does?

IF CD 4 T Cell Count means nothing to Human metabolism what is APOPTOSIS 

If Truth does not need Facts, what are YOU after?

Where and when did you get your education in molecular biology?

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
18.1.15  sandy-2021492  replied to  Kathleen @18.1.14    8 years ago
Can't we change the subject?

Then we'd be off topic :)

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
19  A. Macarthur    8 years ago

How do bacteria become resistant?
Some bacteria are naturally resistant to certain types of antibiotics. However, bacteria may also become resistant in two ways: 1) by a genetic mutation or 2) by acquiring resistance from another bacterium.

Mutations, rare spontaneous changes of the bacteria's genetic material, are thought to occur in about one in one million to one in ten million cells. Different genetic mutations yield different types of resistance. Some mutations enable the bacteria to produce potent chemicals (enzymes) that inactivate antibiotics, while other mutations eliminate the cell target that the antibiotic attacks. Still others close up the entry ports that allow antibiotics into the cell, and others manufacture pumping mechanisms that export the antibiotic back outside so it never reaches its target.

Mutations are manifestations of evolutionary changes for the purposes of adaptation.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
20      8 years ago

[delete]

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
20.1  sandy-2021492  replied to  @20    8 years ago

You know, there's a place to discuss meta.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
20.1.1    replied to  sandy-2021492 @20.1    8 years ago

[deleted]

 
 
 
sandy-2021492
Professor Guide
20.1.2  sandy-2021492  replied to  @20.1.1    8 years ago

Your comment is meta.  That doesn't mean it's blocked, and I have no power to do so.  But there is a forum for the discussion of meta, which is as available to you as to anybody, and this isn't it.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
20.1.3    replied to  sandy-2021492 @20.1.2    8 years ago

Deleted, again

 
 
 
igknorantzrulz
PhD Silent
20.1.4  igknorantzrulz  replied to  @20.1.3    8 years ago

annoyance

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
20.1.5  A. Macarthur  replied to  @20.1.3    8 years ago

Apoptosis is the death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development. In-and-of-itself it is not a disclaimer of evolution nor of natural selection. In fact, it seems to have no direct relationship to this discussion.

Many pathogens are unicellular and consequently, there is a distinction between the death of cells within a multicellular organism and the death of the organism itself … but I must ask why you introduced apoptosis into the thread.

Further, you have yet to definitively explain whether or not you believe organisms evolve; FYI, I have a degree in biology with a specialty in aquatic ichthyology, limnology, lotic ecosystems, and, ornithology.

As for "creationism," I personally find the term "intelligent design" to preclude any explanation of life-on-earth to have proceeded from "creation" to the present … in the absence of evolution and natural selection.

See if you can address that in complete thoughts.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
22  TᵢG    8 years ago
Teachers today continue to march to the evolutionary mantra: “Darwin said it, I believe it, and that settles it.

No.  Wrong.   Absolute bullshit.

Portraying the science of evolution as a religion again.   Scientists and science teachers do not operate based on the statement of any scientist.   It is the actual demonstrated science that convinces, not what someone says.   Science is not a belief system no matter how much YECs want this to be so.   Science is based on well-founded evidence and logic.   Science follows the evidence to where it leads.   Religion finds 'evidence' to support where it wishes to go.

This is the kind of glaring nonsense that YECs seek to teach.   They seek to indoctrinate the next generation with a totally confused view of science ('science is just another belief system but ours is better because we go by the Bible').

The USA makes a good home for the YECs.   No other nation is so accepting of YEC's methodical disinformation on science.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
22.1  Gordy327  replied to  TᵢG @22    8 years ago

Talk about the "dumbing down" of America. It's the indoctrination of creationist nonsense and the  rejection of established science that does it.

 
 
 
A. Macarthur
Professor Guide
23  A. Macarthur    8 years ago

The first reference to "the dumbing of America" came from Ralph Waldo Emerson … in 1837 …

"The mind of this country, taught to aim at low objects, eats upon itself."

Ralph Waldo Emerson offered that observation in 1837, but his words echo with painful prescience in today's very different United States. Americans are in serious intellectual trouble -- in danger of losing our hard-won cultural capital to a virulent mixture of anti-intellectualism, anti-rationalism and low expectations. 

Susan Jacoby

Sunday, February 17, 2008

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
25      8 years ago

It Says it all :-)

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Eagle_Averro/media/bWVkaWFJZDoxOTA2MzAwNQ==/?ref=1

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
25.1  epistte  replied to  @25    8 years ago

How does that rock disprove anything? 

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
25.1.2    replied to  epistte @25.1    8 years ago
How does that rock disprove anything?

E.A  One has to start with reading what is posted with it!

Then one has to have basic comprehension level, on Geology and Petrology!

Then it follows one has to know what is a " Mother lode " and how and where that is used.

And use Earth Geology to make a Scientific evaluation.

eg: They claim ~17 " Martian Meteorites " that are on Earth, the Morphological spectrum on them can be studied, and one can then see how " Close " they are to one another.'

 Then Take Seventeen Location on Planet Earth, Pick a Rock and do the same analysis, the Odds that they all would have the same " Rate of Similarities " then the so called " Martian Meteorites " would  Make a Point!

If one does not comprehend what 16 MILLION Years orbiting the Solar system would do to the changing the Morphology, then I recommend one does not even bother to start on the above Task!

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
25.1.3    replied to  XXJefferson51 @25.1.1    8 years ago
It proves nothing.

E.A  It Proves, that ALL Science is FAITH Based, they make Arse U Mptions that best suit what they are " Looking for " Read what is posted on the Photo and Comments under it and also what I posted as a reply to  Epistte and was deleted!

Italics seems a server error occurred it is now there!
 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
25.1.4  epistte  replied to  @25.1.2    8 years ago
If one does not comprehend what 16 MILLION Years orbiting the Solar system would do to the changing the Morphology, then I recommend one does not even bother to start on the above Task!

Geologically 16 million years is not a long time.  What do you think would have happened to the rock in that time period? The firey entry into Earth's atmosphere would have been the biggest change to the rock, despite the time that it spent in space.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
25.1.5    replied to  epistte @25.1.4    8 years ago
Geologically 16 million years is not a long time.  What do you think would have happened to the rock in that time period?

E.A Thank YOU

 I rest my Case.

[deleted]

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
25.1.6  epistte  replied to  @25.1.3    8 years ago
E.A  It Proves, that ALL Science is FAITH Based, they make Arse U Mptions that best suit what they are " Looking for " Read what is posted on the Photo and Comments under it and also what I posted as a reply to  Epistte and was deleted!
Italics seems a server error occurred it is now there!

Science cannot be faith-based because the very basis of science is empirical knowledge. 

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
25.1.7  epistte  replied to  @25.1.5    8 years ago
E.A Thank YOU

 I rest my Case.

 Now go and play elsewhere!

What is your point? If the universe is only 6000 years old than rocks cannot be 16 million years old. 

 
 
 
Skrekk
Sophomore Quiet
25.1.8  Skrekk  replied to  XXJefferson51 @25.1.1    8 years ago
It proves nothing.  All about its origins is nothing more than theoretical guess work just like evolution is.

Heck, there are trees in California which are older than your sky fairy.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
25.1.9  Gordy327  replied to  XXJefferson51 @25.1.1    8 years ago

Speaking of proving something, let us know when you can prove creationism is true! BTW, evolution isn't a guess. It's a scientific theory which has empirical evidence, unlike your creacreationism nonsense. It's comical that you don't seem to know the difference.

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Participates
25.1.10  Gordy327  replied to  @25.1.3    8 years ago

Claiming science is "faith based" is almost as laughable as claiming creationism is true or evolution is "pseudoscience." 

jrSmiley_10_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Participates
25.1.11  epistte  replied to  Skrekk @25.1.8    8 years ago
Heck, there are trees in California which are older than your sky fairy.

So is the Chinese civilization. How does creationism explain that?

During excavations near Peking (Beijing), China, between 1929 and 1937, researchers discovered several partial skulls of the species Homo erectus. These hominids lived around 400,000 years ago and came to be known as Peking Man.

The first complete skullcap discovered at the Peking Man site was unearthed by a Chinese team in a candlelit pit in 1929. The sloping forehead and thick brow ridge in front and protruding occipital torus in back are typical Homo erectus features.

 
 
 
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Freshman Silent
26      8 years ago

The New Health Care
Congratulations. Your Study Went Nowhere.
Researchers should embrace negative results instead of accentuating the positive, which is one of several biases that can lead to bad science.

By Aaron E. Carroll
Sept. 24, 2018

 
 
 
user image
Freshman Silent
27      8 years ago

"I want to be useful. I wanted to do something that had some practical value to humanity," he said.

Australian doctors say it is time for a radical new approach to Alzheimer's disease after more than 100 drug trials and studies have failed to find a treatment that stops the devastating brain condition.

The leading hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease is that it's caused by an accumulation of a sticky plaque known as beta amyloid, which strangles healthy brain cells and destroys memory function.

Over the past 30 years, with all the drugs that have been developed globally to flush out this plaque, the failure rate has been nearly 100 per cent.

Now a small, but growing group of scientists is examining everything from gut health to hormone imbalance and insulin resistance as the new possible frontiers of understanding Alzheimer's.

"There's no point flogging the same dead horse," associate professor Stephen Macfarlane, head of clinical services at HammondCare, said.

"If you try too many failed attempts, the drug companies back out of drug development and don't pursue it.

10299550-3x2-700x467.jpg

Photo: Barrie Pittock said he joined an experimental trial in Alzheimer's research to "be useful". (ABC News: Danielle Bonica )

Font Bold and Colour added by E.A

 
 

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