Evolution and "the Missing Link"

[Tony]

Skepticism is being shown evidence for something and being able to inculcate that information into your weltanschauung. Willful ignorance is being shown evidence for something and still rejecting it because it conflicts with your weltanschauung. One should never to be confused with the other.

What if someone finds the evidence lacking?

 

[aggle_rithm]

The proper response to this, then, is "Then you believe that the Almighty has no qualms about telling lies to you?"
Carbon dating works for some things but not others? Dinosaur bones were planted by this "Benevolent" God just to confuse us (and thus keep us on the straight and norrow path defined by priests/village elders)?
I hope not!
RW

In that case they would say, "The Lord works in strange and mysterious ways..." Their eyes would become glassy and raised to the heavens. They would not respond to further inquirys. You would begin to back away, slowly....

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

What is someone finds the evidence lacking?

If you're speaking personally, I and MartinM would love to go into details with you.

If you're speaking generally, then I'd ask, what exact details would this person be finding lacking, and then, I and MartinM would love to go into detail with "them."

Which is it? Then I can give you a more specific reply.

 

[BillyJoe]

Some people find the evidence lacking because.....they don't go looking for it because.....they don't want to find it because.....it might just muck up their nice and tidy view of the world.

 

[Tony]

If you're speaking personally, I and MartinM would love to go into details with you.

Yes, perhaps I should start a new thread?

 

[Martin]

Sounds good.

 

[3-toed-sloth]

I don't believe that there is really a country called "France". I've never seen it.

I have some evidence about the existance of France. Most of it is going to be in the form of testimonials about my trips to France, and some photos.

 

[rwguinn]

In that case they would say, "The Lord works in strange and mysterious ways..." Their eyes would become glassy and raised to the heavens. They would not respond to further inquirys. You would begin to back away, slowly....

Slowly, my a$$. "That dustcloud on the edge of town is me"

RW

 

[SlippyToad]

To clarify, this started out with a debate with someone who WAS a creationist, and then someone else jumped in to defend evolution itself.... he just basically doesn't believe there is any definitive answer about anything he couldn't observe himself, so he also doesn't believe the dinosaurs existed, for example, because he thinks the fossil evidence, etc. could be any number of things.

You might have said, "If this gets much worse, I'll have to ask you to stop helping me."

 

[BillHoyt]

Yeah, if I personally referred to this person as a creationist, it was a mistake. To clarify, this started out with a debate with someone who WAS a creationist, and then someone else jumped in to defend evolution itself, but then went on to say that he didn't believe humans and apes shared a common ancestor, etc. He made it pretty clear though that he isn't religious nor does he believe that God created man or anything else.... he just basically doesn't believe there is any definitive answer about anything he couldn't observe himself, so he also doesn't believe the dinosaurs existed, for example, because he thinks the fossil evidence, etc. could be any number of things.

-Elektrix

Elektrix,

If this person truly held the position he claims, then his every breath must come at great psychological peril. Who knows what is in that air? It could be poisonous. He can't observe its molecular composition. He also would need to stand still in an unfamiliar place until somebody else comes along to show him what steps can safely be made. How does he drive his car around a blind corner?

I have always found these claims to be more posturing than truth. And I usually find debates with such claimants to be wastes of time.

Cheers,

 

[Dymanic]

Originally posted by Elektrix

. He made it pretty clear though that he isn't religious nor does he believe that God created man or anything else.... he just basically doesn't believe there is any definitive answer about anything he couldn't observe himself, so he also doesn't believe the dinosaurs existed, for example, because he thinks the fossil evidence, etc. could be any number of things.

It is of course quite possible to argue that we don't really know anything with absolute, 100% certainty. Some people like to push this argument to its extreme -- it sort of 'cooks' any attempt to explain things, rendering useless (and therefore unnecessary) any effort to do so, freeing up the arguer's time for more enjoyable pursuits such as surfing.

 

[Elektrix]

Yeah, fortunately this discussion just died out, but it does seem more and more clear that this guy was just posturing..... I don't get the impression he REALLY holds these convictions as much as just liking to argue this point to the extreme.

-Elektrix