Originally Posted By jonvn Darwin lived 100 years ago. He didn't even invent the idea. He did provide a very good set of ideas, not all of which are completely correct, but many are very valid to this day. In 100 years, science has progressed, and we use evolution as not a theory, but a reality, for which we don't fully understand the entire mechanism. But we do have knowledge that it exists, and we see that in biological sciences. Here, I found a website that explains it a bit better than me. <a href="http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/9008_why_teach_evolution_1_8_2005.asp" target="_blank">http://www.ncseweb.org/resourc es/articles/9008_why_teach_evolution_1_8_2005.asp</a>
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 "The one single most telling thing for me personally are the gaps in the fossil record." See, for me, that is not a big issue. I understand that there will be gaps, concidering we have barely scratched the surface in fossil excavation. Especially in countries that were adverse to dig sites previously. Just look at all the things being found in China lately. It's only been since the 90's that a bunch of "missing link" type fossils have been found over there because there wasn't anyone digging before. It's the same with ocean exporation; there is way more that we have not seen yet. So, to say that there are gaps in the fossil record doesn't make me dismiss evolution, it makes it just like a lot of science. We piece things together as best we can with the information we've got. It just gets more defined as we go.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 Oh, and science never seems to go backwards. When we learn something new, we revise the theory or whatever it is, but we don't ever go to an old way of thinking, like say, the world is flat, or everything revolves around the earth. So, the theory of evolution isn't going anywhere, it will just continue to get more defined and refined as time and discoveries go on.
Originally Posted By jonvn I guess you guys don't know, but when I was a kid, there were like 5 or 6 dinosaurs. Now there are dozens. We are unearthing new information all the time, and we are learning new stuff all the time. This is actual real stuff. If you do not incorporate reality as we know it into your belief structure, your beliefs will simply fall flat on their face.
Originally Posted By mrichmondj I don't understand this "gaps in the fossil record" piece. Don't people understand that fossilized remains of organic material can only form under certain conditions? Of course, there are gaps. Fossilization is not a phenomenon that just occurs to every single living organism that dies, its actually a rare occurrence.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Fossilization is not a phenomenon that just occurs to every single living organism that dies, its actually a rare occurrence.<< Exactly. The rarity of it is part of the evidence for evolution. That we have the fossils we do and can see such remarkable details of evolution is amazing, and points to how easily detectable evolution actually is. Again, scientists who specialize in evolution will tell you they see the evidence of it every single day in their work.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger >>I guess you guys don't know, but when I was a kid, there were like 5 or 6 dinosaurs.<< Hey, you're lookin' pretty good for such an old guy.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger What makes you think I'm not watching you right now? Nice shirt, BTW.
Originally Posted By CrouchingTigger >>That's not a shirt, it's body hair.<< Doh! Well, you're... um... well groomed.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'm coming in way late here, and I haven't read the whole thread, but IMO I don't really care what a candidate believes with regards to evolution anymore than I care about what, say, the CEO of Disney thinks about it. As long as the guy at the top is doing what I want him to do, that's all I care about. He can believe in evolution, creationism, aliens, or flying monkeys; I don't care as long as he can run the business or country the way I want.
