Kansas proves how primitive we are...

When I read this thread title, I though it was going to be something barbaric... you know, Kansas released a convicted yada yada... but instead it was a jab.



I am always amazed when the "other" side isn't presented. I a biology major and also believe in a higher being. I believe in evolution but also the said higher being had a great deal to do with it (basically what Corax said). This side is rarely discussed though... who'd a thunk it someone could actually believe this "theory?" Believe it or not... there is a whole culture of scientists who believe in higher being(s)... but, of course, they are never mentioned. Science and religion aren't black and white... there's a whole lot of grey.



Personally, I think the term "aetheist" and "scientist" are confused.
 
If evolution was true, where are all of the animals that are/were half one species and half another? You would think that after1,000,000,000,000,000 years , we should of seen it by now. :huh:



Kim
 
PumaWard said:
..
I am always amazed when the "other" side isn't presented. .... there is a whole culture of scientists who believe in higher being(s)... but, of course, they are never mentioned. .... there's a whole lot of grey. ....
Click to expand...
Did you mean there are a whole lot of "greys"? :D

PumaWard said:
... ....
Personally, I think the term "aetheist" and "scientist" are confused.
Click to expand...
I agree on that... Obviously with this topic.
 
Last edited:
LittlePuff said:
If evolution was true, where are all of the animals that are/were half one species and half another? You would think that after1,000,000,000,000,000 years , we should of seen it by now. :huh:



Kim
Click to expand...



There are some examples of "in-between" animals out there in the fossil record. However, in paleontological circles a popular and more current theory is not that naturally selection is always slowly and constantly taking place, but instead that punctuated equilibrium is occurring. This theory of punctuated equilibrium states that most evolution takes place in times of great stress. A time when most of the world undergoes (or recently underwent) a mass extinction or biological crisis. This Forces all sort of relatively quick adaptations, and because many organisms die it leaves room for new organisms to take over. It could still take hundreds, thousands, or even a million years. But geologically that’s an instant. So, because the in-between organisms are not around for very long they rarely get fossilized. Also many scientists believe that all of the environmental stress might encourage genetic mutation. This would be more likely for plants (plant genetics can be really weird) and “simple” animals than for mammals. This could mean that some of those in-betweens could be really fantastic. It is also controversial, and because I know we have an expert in genetics around here I won’t even try to explain how or if that would work.

If anyone is really interested in taking a look at evolution and other interesting science, take a look at Stephen Jay Gould. He was one of the people who created the theory of punctuated equilibrium, and was well versed in all sorts of science. His books are essay collections that are pretty easy to read and cover a variety of topics. He gives a scientific and a personal view. I think some essays really bring out a beautiful personable view of science. I haven’t read all of his works, but Eight Little Piggies and Wonderful Life both have some interesting evolution essays.
 
Last edited:
jennypenny said:
This theory of punctuated equilibrium states that most evolution takes place in times of great stress. A time when most of the world undergoes (or recently underwent) a mass extinction or biological crisis. This Forces all sort of relatively quick adaptations, and because many organisms die it leaves room for new organisms to take over.
Click to expand...

Like right now for instance. We are in the midst of a huge mass extinction.
 
It's more like the start of a biological crisis (not that the terminology is the most important thing). Thankfully this crisis has been relatively short lived, and if slowed down or stopped it may not be the crisis that it otherwise could be. I would also like to say that if we did have a full out biological crisis we wouldn't see all the effects or any major evolution for generations. We will most likely just see a lot of stuff die and some generalist (oganisms that can live in many different conditions, like rats) spreading out.
 
Since I made the initial choice to leave this open, I'm going to step in and close it. My initial reading of the very first thread made me think this was criticism of trying to legislate what could and could not be taught in school. That the topic was evolution/ID, I really didn't interpret it to relate to religion, but rather if any State should pass laws that restrict education.

Clearly, I was wrong. For that, I'm sorry. for those who felt the initial post was bashing religion, I honestly did not read it that way, nor did I read it as an endorsement of evolution versus intelligent design. Sorry. Dropped the ball, and should have closed this immediately.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom