Re: Two alternatives to theistic design theory, etc.

From: Richard Wein (rwein@lineone.net)
Date: Sun Jul 02 2000 - 20:17:42 EDT

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    I will (again) break my resolution not to respond to Stephen's nonsense any
    more. Since he has misrepresented me, I wish to set the record straight.

    From: Stephen E. Jones <sejones@iinet.net.au>

    >Reflectorites
    >
    >On Sun, 25 Jun 2000 23:51:15 -0500, Chris Cogan wrote:
    >
    >CC>A while back Stephen Jones claimed that atheists had no choice
    >>but to believe in evolution. I gave two alternatives, one based on
    >>the idea that the universe might be infinite (though, obviously, it
    >>would only need to be very large for my argument to work). I did
    >>not claim that either of these alternatives was in fact true, though
    >>Stephen consistently treated my exposition of them as claims of
    >>their truth ...
    >
    >I am not sure what Chris' point is here. Obviously Chris cannot
    >believe two contradictory things are true - or can he? :-). That I try
    >to understand and fairly state a position I am critiquing does not
    >mean that I think it is true.
    >
    >In any event Richard confirms my point "that atheists had no choice
    >but to believe in evolution":

    I did not confirm any such thing. I specifically referred only to "rational,
    well-informed" atheists (and theists). In fact, I clearly stated my view
    that: "An atheist's beliefs don't *have* to be rational and well-informed,
    any more than a theist's do."

    >--------------------------------------------------------------
    >On Tue, 27 Jun 2000 15:05:10 +0100, Richard Wein wrote:
    >
    >[...]
    >
    >RW>I would say that any rational, well-informed person, whether atheist
    *or*
    >>theist, has no choice but to believe in evolution.
    >--------------------------------------------------------------

    My meaning was that rational, well-informed atheists have no choice but to
    believe in evolution because they are rational and well-informed, not
    because they are atheists. It seems Stephen was unable to grasp even this
    simple logical argument.

    Richard Wein (Tich)



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