7 days or 7 billion years?

Smart Bug

It's 200 years since Darwin's birth & 150 since the publication of 'On the Origin of Species'.

So, how far have we come? Have we evolved or are we still superstitious idiots, hmm?

What's your view on life on earth & how it got here...

keano_afc

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=316566

bluto63

While I believe in Evolution, it doesn't fully explain what we're doing here. The HLR might help explain things, but I would think we're never going to know

Twilightning

You can't 'believe' in evolution since it's not based on faith. It's actual fact. If you don't adhere to it, there's something wrong.

Smart Bug

keano_afc wrote: »

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=316566

This is a link to the Christianity forum - a forum I don't believe would be condusive to an un-biased/humourous debate on evolution theories.

ScumLord

Evolution is the only theory there that's made any attempt to explain itself and try and prove it's correct. The rest fall apart with even the slightest examination and the people that support it turn to the, stick your fingers in your ears and jump up and down on the spot shouting "it's true, it's true" then run out of the room screaming method of maintaining their beliefs.

AnonoBoy

I don't understand the question. Can we have class outside today?

My name is URL

What's the difference between intelligent design and evolution tbh?

I believe in evolution, but I'm pretty sure there's some form of intelligence behind it... Certainly not a creator though

ScumLord

My name is URL wrote: »

What's the difference between intelligent design and evolution tbh?

I believe in evolution, but I'm pretty sure there's some form of intelligence behind it... Certainly not a creator though

So whats the intelligence then? I could accept a creator but maybe not an administrator. It's possible something started off the big bang knowing that it would end up something like the universe we have now. But I don't think he spends his day watching every little thing we do judging us so he can punish us when we die.

Twilightning

People who argue in favour of intelligent design use an argument from ignorance, i.e. it's true since it's not been proven false. It's not considered a real science either since it's never been published in a single scientific journal to date.

Evolution on the other hand, has the evidence stacked in its favour.

WindSock

Smart Bug wrote: »

So, how far have we come? Have we evolved or are we still superstitious idiots, hmm?

Being superstitious doesn't make you less evolved or an idiot. In fact, it requires an imagination which is something that separates us from other species.

My name is URL

ScumLord wrote: »

So whats the intelligence then? I could accept a creator but maybe not an administrator. It's possible something started off the big bang knowing that it would end up something like the universe we have now. But I don't think he spends his day watching every little thing we do judging us so he can punish us when we die.

I defo don't believe in an administrator of life, imo physics is what created intelligence. The same way it created planets etc

The intelligence of life is simply an extension of natural physics. Life formed through the rules of physics, and for something to be able to do that takes some kind of intelligence imo

Makes my head hurt when I think about it, but it's probably exceptionally simple

Mena

I know the thread title is probably a play on words, but it's 14.5 ish billion years ("start" of the known universe) or 4.5 ish billion years ("start" of the earth).

Also, evolution does not deal with the "spark of life", but the development of existing life through the ages, so the poll is a little skewed.

/pedantic

Overheal

Nobody who follows the Old Testament ever seems to think that maybe, just maybe, a day for god is like 24 billion years? Or that maybe, just maybe, god created evolution?

Smart Bug

WindSock wrote: »

Being superstitious doesn't make you less evolved or an idiot. In fact, it requires an imagination which is something that separates us from other species.

Being superstitious does not necessarily equate to an active imagination. When writing this I had in mind ultra right-wing creationist mentalists, I shouldn't have used the word idiots as I have no probs with un-assuming religious (sic superstitious) folk.

Also, how the hell can you tell if other species are imaginative or not?

Stercus Accidit

WindSock wrote: »

Being superstitious doesn't make you less evolved or an idiot. In fact, it requires an imagination which is something that separates us from other species.

Plenty of animals have imaginations and have dreams etc.

Don't cod yourself, belief in nonsense drags you further back down towards the animals.

ScumLord

My name is URL wrote: »

I defo don't believe in an administrator of life, imo physics is what created intelligence. The same way it created planets etc

The intelligence of life is simply an extension of natural physics. Life formed through the rules of physics, and for something to be able to do that takes some kind of intelligence imo

Makes my head hurt when I think about it, but it's probably exceptionally simple

lol, ya it's hard to put anything describing this sort of stuff into words. I still use the word God to describe what ever caused the universe to start (pre-big bang) and to describe whatever keeps the universe running ie: god would be that equation or the theory of everything that allows all things in the universe to work.

I like to call it God because it annoys atheists and theists equally.

Seaneh

Smart Bug wrote: »

This is a link to the Christianity forum - a forum I don't believe would be condusive to an un-biased/humourous debate on evolution theories.

You aren't going to get an unbiased debate on anything anywhere on boards.ie.

everyone has their own vested interests.

humanji

Twilightning wrote: »

You can't 'believe' in evolution since it's not based on faith. It's actual fact. If you don't adhere to it, there's something wrong.

It's not fact, it's a theory.

Smart Bug

Overheal wrote: »

Nobody who follows the Old Testament ever seems to think that maybe, just maybe, a day for god is like 24 billion years? Or that maybe, just maybe, god created evolution?

You see, that's where Neo-Creationism comes in.

Neo-Creationist theories attempt to tie-in with scientific fact and evidence to throw all (or most) responsibility for life at the Flying Spaghetti Monster'sGod's door.

Examples include Progressive Creationism (God nudging evolution along at particular stages), Day-Age Creationism (equating the days in Genesis to ages of the earth) etc etc etc etc.........

Convenient, huh? Discarding traditiional views in light of modern rational scientific evidence.

Twin-go

WindSock wrote: »

Being superstitious doesn't make you less evolved or an idiot. In fact, it requires an imagination which is something that separates us from other species.

Being superstitious I think involves less imagination. It is looking for the easy answer to things. It takes a lot more to work out how we actually got here by using science than thinking it was all created by a God figure.

General Zod

God of the gaps nonsense.

Do the evolution, baby.

cianl1

Jesus, this thread started gathering fast. As a scientist, I agree with Twilightning since, you can't believe in evolution since it's based on fact and evidence. That is recognising or knowing. Beyond that, it explains how we arrived at the point we're at now but it doesn't explain where life came from or how it even began. There are plenty of theories on that most of which I don't buy into e.g. panspermia.

From what I've experienced in my life, I feel like there is something bigger than whatever exists on Earth, something which we can't comprehend. As such, I believe in God and I acknowledge evolution for what it is.

I really don't get why people only see one side of things in this case. Think everything through thoroughly, find where they overlap and separate.

Also, note to Humanji: Look up the meaning of 'Theory' on wikipedia. Theories have been tried and tested to the point of madness. The word 'theory' has been taken by the scientifically challenged and perverted into something unpure. Theories within the scientific communtiy are taken very seriously.

Dravokivich

Smart Bug wrote: »

Have we evolved or are we still superstitious idiots, hmm?

I'll leave it too yourself...

- Drav!

humanji

cianl1 wrote: »

Jesus, this thread started gathering fast. As a scientist, I agree with Twilightning since, you can't believe in evolution since it's based on fact and evidence. That is recognising or knowing. Beyond that, it explains how we arrived at the point we're at now but it doesn't explain where life came from or how it even began. There are plenty of theories on that most of which I don't buy into e.g. panspermia.

From what I've experienced in my life, I feel like there is something bigger than whatever exists on Earth, something which we can't comprehend. As such, I believe in God and I acknowledge evolution for what it is.

I really don't get why people only see one side of things in this case. Think everything through thoroughly, find where they overlap and separate.

But you can believe in it. It hasn't been proven, so you have to put your faith in the assumption that it's true. The same with gravity. I'm putting my faith in people who are smarter than me to not be taking the piss with all this "falling" malarky.

Overheal

Smart Bug wrote: »

You see, that's where Neo-Creationism comes in.

Neo-Creationist theories attempt to tie-in with scientific fact and evidence to throw all (or most) responsibility for life at the Flying Spaghetti Monster'sGod's door.

Examples include Progressive Creationism (God nudging evolution along at particular stages), Day-Age Creationism (equating the days in Genesis to ages of the earth) etc etc etc etc.........

Convenient, huh? Discarding traditiional views in light of modern rational scientific evidence.

Yeah! Just like those filthy blasphemers who think the Earth is round when confronted with overwhelming evidence :mad:

bleg

google "evolution is both a fact and a theory"

Earthhorse

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

WindSock

Smart Bug wrote: »

Also, how the hell can you tell if other species are imaginative or not?

Because their art sucks.

WindSock

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

We build them from trees :pac:

humanji

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

Because it's too expensive to have the plumbing fitted.

Smart Bug

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

The birds kicked us out. Damn birds.

WindSock

Maybe I am wrong about the species/imagination front, I guess it it hard to tell.

Stercus Accidit wrote: »

Don't cod yourself, belief in nonsense drags you further back down towards the animals.

Codswallop. Believing in nonsense makes the world more interesting. Ever wonder why so many species, especially humans love to trip?

WindSock

Twin-go wrote: »

Being superstitious I think involves less imagination. It is looking for the easy answer to things. It takes a lot more to work out how we actually got here by using science than thinking it was all created by a God figure.

Those type of people who blindly believe things without question, only because it was what they were taught at school and their communities, I agree have no imagination.

antodeco

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

Oh my God. I'm back. I'm home. All the time, it was... We finally really did it
The Maniacs! They blew it up! Ah, damn them! God damn them all to hell.

(slight edit! )

Earthhorse

WindSock wrote: »

We build them from trees

Bricks are made from trees now?

antodeco

Earthhorse wrote: »

Bricks are made from trees now?

Yup! conkerete!

TheTubes

humanji wrote: »

It's not fact, it's a theory.

www.notjustatheory.com

WindSock

www.notjustafact.com

minidazzler

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

Also... if we're descended from Apes...Why do we still have apes????

Earthhorse

minidazzler wrote: »

Also... if we're descended from Apes...Why do we still have apes????

And another thing; if man came out of the ocean billions of years ago...how come apes don't live in the water?

keano_afc

Smart Bug wrote: »

...
What's your view on life on earth & how it got here...

That was in the OP. I think its safe to say the thread has strayed somewhat.

humanji

TheTubes wrote: »

www.notjustatheory.com

That doesn't make it fact.

Twin-go

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

Not all Apes live in trees.

My name is URL

minidazzler wrote: »

Also... if we're descended from Apes...Why do we still have apes????

We're not descendant from any particular species of ape, the apes of today and humans had one common ancestor

bleg

humanji wrote: »

That doesn't make it fact.

for the second time, google "evolution is both a fact and a theory"

General Zod

Earthhorse wrote: »

If we're descended from apes then how come we don't build our houses in trees? Can someone please just answer that question for me?

we're not decended from apes. we share a common ancestor.

cianl1

I find myself asking, why is this even on AH? This is supposed to be a fun and light-hearted forum, is it not? People are taking this issue way too seriously. In all fairness, we should be making fun of both positions, not trying to prove which is right.

Pherekydes

Evolution now means survival of the fattest.

I went for the Rastafarian option.

humanji

bleg wrote: »

for the second time, google "evolution is both a fact and a theory"

If you can prove that it's 100% fact then there are a whole load of evolutionary biologists who would like you to explain it to them.

Sam Vimes

humanji wrote: »

That doesn't make it fact.

Animals have been observed to adapt gradually over generations. The best explanation for this observable fact is what we call evolution. There might be some small details of the theory that are not totally accurate, such as how the theory was updated because Darwin's original theory didn't take account of genes, but the fact remains that animals have been observed to adapt over generations and all of the evidence says that they do it by the process of natural selection.

Why do we need a new flu vaccine every year? That's right, evolution :P

As has been suggested, google evolution is both a theory and a fact