This is an exerpt from a recent e-mail I received
from a friend of mine, a
biochemist professor at a state university.
I thought his ideas on "definitions" were worth passing along.
"... abiogenesis ... means different things to different people,... To some
it means, God went POOF, and a living complete animal or plant was formed.
... To others it means, God went POOF, from ORGANIC MATERIALS, and a new,
complete organism was formed. These ideas are in contrasts to BIOgenesis,
which proclaims that living things come from PREXISTING LIVING THINGS. Of
course one still has to deal with the idea that something either comes form
SOMETHING, or from NOTHING, and many of us have problems dealing with the
idea that SOMETHING comes from NOTHING. The question then becomes, "WHAT
something ???".
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Obviously I do not agree with his "definition", mostly because it is
ridiculous and juvenile and smacks of "I can't believe it happened so it
didn't happen."
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... "vitalism " was a widely held belief, for a long period of time, that
something in air had the ability, SPONTANEOUSLY to give rse to living
things. "
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That definition is just patently false; a perfect strawman for easy defeat.
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I have invited my friend to join this group -- and he may well do so, in
time.
I look forward to it, he said sharpening his fangs.
Kevin L. O'Brien