>> Says Jim Foley:
>> <<If you are saying that *mentally* modern humans appeared suddenly (by
>> an act of God), fine. I don't think any physical evidence could
>> contradict that position.>>
>> I agree with you. And the *mental* aspect was a quantum leap
>> forward. An explosion, sudden. Frustrating to the naturalist
>> view.
News to me. I don't find it frustrating, and don't even see why I
should. I consider it a cultural transition, like, say, the
Renaissance.
Jim, you said earlier that you thought my claim that this transition
probably took 1000's of years was "unreasonable". Why? I agree we
can't *prove* that it was naturalistic, but we similarly can't prove
that it wasn't.
>> << The boundaries between these are somewhat
>> arbitrary; modern man appears gradually, not suddenly.>>
>> That's the traditional, naturalistic view. But more recent molecular
>> evidence may provide the better evidence (paleontolgists admit
>> getting things mixed up all the time, and for good reason. There is
>> much that is speculative, even imaginative).
You're right about the "speculative" and "imaginative". But I didn't
know that molecular evidence has shed any light how gradually or
suddenly modern man appears. Any details? (The "Mitochondrial Eve"
studies are talking about earlier times).
-- Jim Foley Symbios Logic, Fort CollinsJim.Foley@symbios.com (303) 223-5100 x9765* 1st 1.11 #4955 * "I am Homer of Borg! Prepare to be...OOooooo! Donuts!!!"