it's true we can't prove or disprove that angels pull things down to the
ground, but even if they do scientists are going to want to continue to
investigate the unproven theory of gravity just because it works so well.
>You state that macro evolution is no different in kind from micro evolution.
>This is merely an assertion, apparently based upon nothing more than no one
>has yet articulated any difference. This might be a point where even many of
>your materialistic colleagues are beginning to disagree.
Don't hold your breath. There simply too much evidence that "macro"
evolution is accumulated "micro" evolution. There's no particular reason
that "micro" evolutionary changes will stop accumulating over time and lots
of evidence that it doesn't. Evidence is the key here. Evidence is why you
want it all to be a preference like which flavor of ice cream is your
favorite--chocolate materialism? or cherry supernaturalism? You can't argue
the evidence. The thing is, even if angels do pull things down to earth,
they do it in such a way that it mimics the theory of gravity--such a good
mimic that you can use the theory of gravity to land a robot on Mars. If
the LGGs are seeding the earth every few years, they are seeding the earth
with animals that look more and more like modern animals in more recent
geological strata and less and less like modern animals in more ancient
strata. In other words, they are seeding the earth in such a way as to
mimic evolution perfectly.
>Chris, I wouldn't dream of trying to counter your arguments. What would it
>accomplish?
you seem to think it would accomplish nothing and I tend to agree.
>I feel no urge to try to influence the philosophy of any
>materialist. The point is a majority of the population are probably not
>materialists.
the majority of the population likes their VCRs and Pentium chips. I don't
think they are ready to bail on science as we know it in order to embrace
LGGs and angels pulling baseballs to third base--though movies about that
are kinda fun.
>As the public realizes how closely science is tied to
>materialism, they might begin to feel free to voice open skepticism of
>science, including Darwinism.
as long as science works, I doubt it. Not everybody is as afraid of
"materialism" as you are.
>That is my only interest in this debate. The
>day when people who do not believe science can explain everything
nobody believes science can explain everything, not even scientists.
However, since I'm sitting here talking to you on a kind of machine that
didn't exist when my daughter was born, I think we can assume that science
can explain *something*.
>treated with the same respect as those who claim materialism CAN explain
>everything is the day I'll probably lose interest in the subject.
If you want some respect you are going to have to stop parroting the same
nonsense and scrape together some evidence to support your assertions. If
you think that variation and natural selection is hogwash, you are going to
have to say why. If you think an angel is holding me in this chair instead
of gravity, you are going to have to explain why you think that other than
"I have a right to think that." If you think little elves are taking these
electrons to you through the wires, then you are going to have to explain
why you think so other than "I want to think that." Bald assertions simply
won't get it.
In Darwin's day it was thought that the earth was millions of years old. It
was a weakness in Darwin's theory because that was not enough time for
evolution to have happened. Almost a half-century after he died
cosmologists and physicists discovered that the earth and the universe were
*billions* of years old. They changed everyone's mind about the short
life-span of the earth, but not by saying "well, we feel it's lots older,
that's our opinion and we're entitled to our opinion." They did it by
presenting convincing evidence.
Susan
----------
For if there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing
of life as in hoping for another and in eluding the implacable grandeur of
this one.
--Albert Camus
http://www.telepath.com/susanb/