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Funny..no really..

POSTED BY: Connorflynn
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 19:25
VIEWED: 15726
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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 7:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rat:
Quote:

Originally posted by CALLMEATH:
How did symbiotic relationships evolve? I mean really, how did the whole bees pollinating floweres thing come to pass?



It's almost like someone planned it that way!

-Ratboy



Exactly my point.

"Invader's blood marches through my veins like giant radioactive rubber pants. The pants command me! Do not ignore my veins!"

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RAT
Wednesday, April 6, 2005 8:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CALLMEATH:
Exactly my point.



Just reinforcing it for anybody who missed it!

-Ratboy

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 8:58 PM

Here's an interesting point to ponder. . .


Did you know that 75.4% of all statistics are made up on the spot?

==================================================
http://burstsofstatic.blogspot.com/

Evil, Lecherous Hump

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 9:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rat:
Quote:

Originally posted by CALLMEATH:
How did symbiotic relationships evolve? I mean really, how did the whole bees pollinating floweres thing come to pass?



It's almost like someone planned it that way!

-Ratboy



I have a difficult time with the "I can't, off the top of my head, come up with an explanation for something, so it has to be God" line of argument. Look at how many other things originally assumed to be the province of religion/God have been proved to have a completely natural explanation once we got far enough to understand what it was - sunlight, the glowing of the moon, lightning, rain, etc.

"There's a big glowing ball in the sky, and I can't think of any reason for that, so it has to be God!"

"Bees and flowers coexist really nicely, and I can't think of any reason for that, so it has to be God!"

Besides which, I've read several articles and books on evolution specifically dealing with symbiotic relationships. They aren't as improbable as you'd think. Say, for instance, that flowers start off pollinating by the wind. Bees come along, and like to eat flowerparts. They happen to pick up the pollen along the way. Eventually (and I do mean *eventually* - evolution even on this small of a scale takes many, many years) the characteristics for pollenating by wind disappear, because they no longer make a difference. The flower is then dependant upon the bee.

There are similar explanations for the human eye, the system that causes blood to clot, and many other things that people often point to and say "that had to be God's will!"

Now, just to be clear, I'm not denying that there could be a God, and if nothing else you can always just say that God invented the processes of evolution, or induced the mutations that turned out to be beneficial, etc. I just don't see anything in this process that presupposes a God must exist, and I find that whole line of reasoning a bit...naive.

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rat:
Quote:

Originally posted by embers:
...didn't anyone hear their teachers when they said 'humans & apes evolved from a common ancestor'...

I find it odd that your teacher would present a theory as being fact.

The "theory" of evolution is so widely accepted, and so clearly the best explanation of the natural world, that I don't find it odd at all that a teacher would say such a thing. To suggest that every statement on evolution should somehow be qualified is to misunderstand the usage of the word "theory" in science.

---
"Suppose we've chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we're just making him madder and madder." - Homer Simpson

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 10:06 PM

Whoa. This thread got waaaaaay too serious. I swear it started out funny . . . .I swear!

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thrawn:
I have a difficult time with the "I can't, off the top of my head, come up with an explanation for something, so it has to be God" line of argument.

Do I detect somebody who's been Richard Dawkins? Sounds like you're talking about what he calls an "argument from personal incredulity" (may not have gotten the quote exactly right but you get the idea).

And can I just say: Richard Dawkins rocks! I know it's not the sort of thing that is usually said of Scientists, but maybe it should be.

---
"Suppose we've chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we're just making him madder and madder." - Homer Simpson

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starrbaby:
Whoa. This thread got waaaaaay too serious. I swear it started out funny

You're right, I'll try to make amends...

Why is there only one Monopolies Commision?

Why is dyslexia so hard to spell?

---
"Suppose we've chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we're just making him madder and madder." - Homer Simpson

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Wednesday, April 6, 2005 10:14 PM

You mock evolution, you will inevitably get people to explain why you're wrong. This brings out other people who will explain why they're wrong. Etc, etc, etc, and then three people are crying in the corner.

Mind you, I had several people at my school seriously argue that there couldn't have been a big bang because the planets would be shaped like fragments, not big round objects.

Anyone who wants to know answers to all the interesting questions posed about evolution, go read The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Or the Bible. Doesn't bother me.

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RAT
Wednesday, April 6, 2005 11:10 PM

Clearly there is no convincing you, and I,m not
changing my mind, so...


However, I would like to leave you with this thought...I have a difficult time with the "I don't want to admit that there's someone better then me! So I'll make something up off the top of my head." argument!

-Ratboy

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