>Could you please elaborate why the fossil record, nested morphological
>similarities (cladistics), DNA/protein homologies among species and
>commonalties of metabolism and biochemistry do not support common descent
>but rather your idea of "development in stages." What do you mean by
>development of life "in stages"?
>
First of all, I only mentioned the fossil record, and I didn't say "does
not support," but does not unequivocally support". All of the other lines
of evidence you mention are legitimate supporting data for common descent,
just as the fossil record is. But none of them completely eliminates all
competing explanations.
Getting back to the fossil record, what does it show? It shows that
different kinds of animals existed at different times, and that there is a
progression of development -- ammonites were here before birds, for
example. (This is what I mean by development in stages) Common descent is
a reasonable inference from the fossil record, but I would quibble with the
assertion that it's the _only_ reasonable inference.
So what does that leave? As a Christian who is not a biologist or a
paleontologist, the alternative is some form of progressive creation.
_That_ is _not_ a scientific inference, but it seems to me a reasonable
belief for a Christian to hold. For scientific alternatives, if any exist,
I suppose you have to nudge the intelligent design crowd to do some real
science.
I don't propose that creationism has any place in the science curriculum,
but I do believe that creationists _could_ do science -- if they would
realize that studying the creator's methods is quite different from
studying the creator.
At least that's how it looks to this nonexpert.
Bill Hamilton | Chassis & Vehicle Systems
GM R&D Center | Warren, MI 48090-9055
810 986 1474 (voice) | 810 986 3003 (FAX)
hamilton@gmr.com (office) | whamilto@mich.com (home)
Bill Hamilton | Chassis & Vehicle Systems
GM R&D Center | Warren, MI 48090-9055
810 986 1474 (voice) | 810 986 3003 (FAX)
hamilton@gmr.com (office) | whamilto@mich.com (home)