Question about Evolution

Not an expert, but you might say some of both. In every generation there are some mutations. Some are harmful, some are neutral, and a few are beneficial. Pressure from the surroundings tends to eliminate the harmful are spread the beneficial. But I am not really the one to ask. Others can describe more accurately and eloquently than I can.

You might make a good theistic evolutionist.

No. A diverse cross section accepts evolution.

Welcome to the fray!

 

Well, cross breeding is a vague term. If you mean two different species getting together and having a crossbreed baby, well, that might happen once in a while, but it is not usually thought of in terms of evolutionary theory. But if you mean that breeding occurs among members of the same species that have variation between them - well sure, that's an important part of evolution. Selection pressures are also a part of evolution theory, but there has to be something to account for the variations that selection has to work with, so that brings in - mutations!

And then there is the fact that VIRUSES can actually insert whole genes into a species from another species once in a while.

And don't forget - there are monkeys WITH tails and apes WITHOUT tails. Also, even us "hairless" humans REALLY have fine hair all over - honest, just take a look with a magnifying glass.

 

If this is honest, and I have no reason to believe that it is not, then you at least seem to have an open mind and understand that there is the possibility that God could have worked through evolution to bring us the wonderful world which we have. As long as you are willing to weigh the evidence you have a good shot at coming to the correct conclusion. Lots of denomination have lots of different beliefs on a wide range of subjects. They cannot all be correct.

As Paul pointed out, look closely and you will see that you are in fact covered in hair. An evolutionist might point out that we have a better developed cooling system using more sweat glands than other apes and that a lot of hair interferes with that process. So as we gained more sweat glands for cooling we lost hair to make it more efficient. Do you see how two small changes can then come together through sexual reproduction and give the offspring a greater advantage?

When speaking of tails, remember that apes are a division within primates. The primates with tails (and other characteristics) are monkeys. Apes do not have tails. And you are an ape. Apes, including humans, still have some of the structure for a tail under the skin. You have heard of your tail bone, the coccyx? Occasionally, babies will even be bone with true tails with cartilage and muscle and nerves and all. See the abstract below.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6373560&dopt=Abstract

Primates also have a larynx. Recent genetic testing has shown a change in only two amino acid base pairs in a gene called FOXP2 from the version in other apes allow for the differences in the lips, tongue, and mouth that allow for speech. The research started when it was noticed that people who have bad copy of this gene have facial structures that make speech much more difficult and they also have a harder time understanding speech. Such a small change. Evolution usually works by making small changes to existing structures.

http://www.signaling-gateway.org/update/updates/200210/nrg913.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=12192408&dopt=Citation

 

Proofs are for math, not science. There is no 'proof' of gravity, but no one questions that it works. Evolution has been repeatedly demonstrated to be true, real scientists actually no longer question whether or not evolution is in action. What exactly are you expecting?

I'm not exactly sure I know what you are asking. Scientists are no longer arguing about whether or not evolution happens, the only people who are arguing against evolution are people with religious agendas (for the most part). There isn't a single scientifically peer reviewed journal that refutes evolution.

Sure there are people who disagree with evolution, again primarily for religious reasons, that doesn't mean that they have evidence against evolution.

 

The "wonderful world" we have is supposed to be
in worse shape than when GOD created it and not
progressing, improving, moving up the ladder.
This is where theistic evolution totally falls
flat on its fat....

 

S-T-R-A-W-M-A-N

Why are we in "worse" shape? How does the "wonderful world" effect evolution?

It doesn't.

AND

Um...evolution doesn't exclude a belief in Christ. In fact the *majority* of Christians actually accept evolution.

 

So you believe the world is "ruined"?

How does this relate to evolution?

 

servant4him, am I correct in assuming you are a Missouri Synod Lutheran?

Most of the world's Lutherans accept that evolution is consistent with God's creation.

http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/creation/voices/RELIGIOU/LUTH.htm

 

servant4him, am I correct in assuming you are a Missouri Synod Lutheran?

Most of the world's Lutherans accept that evolution is consistent with God's creation.

http://www.don-lindsay-archive.org/creation/voices/RELIGIOU/LUTH.htm

 

If you were, today, to drive down to the nearest University, walk into the biology department, and start asking around, I would imagine that you would be hard pressed to find a scientist who did not agree that evolution is true. Scientists do say that it is true and the evidence is solid. Your claim is not substantiated. I kindly corrected the idea that other apes do not have a larynx. Your statement above is at best a misunderstanding of the science or a misrepresentation.

As Meatros has already pointed out, the formal proof you want is not to be found in science. But, those scientist who have studied the available are no longer in doubt about the truth of evolution. The work now is understanding how it happened and what benfit we can obtain today from understanding evolution, especially in the medical field.

Gravity is an excellent analogue. You toss a ball up, it comes down. The Law of Gravity. But no one knows how it works. There is a lot of work trying to understand the Theory of Gravity. Same thing. There is no doubt in the minds of scientists about whether evolution happened. It is settled. The work now is on the theory of evolution: how it happened, what is related to what, etc.

 

I'm sorry you do not like what God gave you. I think that this is a marvelous place to live. I wonder at the beauty around me and at the opportunity to live here. Does sin worsen the human condition? Of course! But hey, When I was standing on top of Fred's Mountain a few months ago looking east towards Grand Teton only a handful of miles away, it took my breath away.

 

According to this ABC News Link, the majority of Americans believe in YEC, per a 1997 Gallup Poll.

Edit -- Whoops, read the poll wrong. 44% of Americans believe in YEC. Still, given that figure, how do you get the majority of Christians believing in evolution?


Andy

[ June 18, 2003, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: aefting ]

 

Did you look at the poll?

A majority is greater than 50%. YEC did not get 50%. It is not even a plurality. 44% say YEC and 49% say evolution.