Evolution (Introduction)

by dhw, Sunday, July 26, 2009, 23:04 (5395 days ago) @ George Jelliss

In my attempt to summarize the component parts and the disputed areas of the Theory of Evolution, I asked if we did or did not believe that "the complexities of the original mechanism could fashion themselves spontaneously". George objects to "fashion", and would like "spontaneously" to mean "naturally". I'm quite happy to change fashion (never my strong point!), but am not willing to equate spontaneously with naturally, as the latter makes it all sound far too easy! I suggest: Do we or do we not believe that the complexities of the original mechanism could come about without the active participation of an external intelligence? - I wrote that the theory was compatible with Theism.
George: I would say that it rules out most gods as traditionally conceived, since we need to know how the gods themselves evolved and acquired their powers to intervene in nature. - No we don't. You have taken us back to Square One instead of Square Two. My first item, to which you did not object, was: "The Theory of Evolution does not deal with the origin of life". We both agree that there was a starting point to life on Earth. Neither of us knows how it happened. Once life had begun, we both believe it underwent a process of evolution. Whether life was the product of chance or of divine intervention makes no difference whatsoever to your acceptance or mine of the theory. How the gods came into existence is therefore no more relevant to the Theory of Evolution than how life came into existence. - It may be worth mentioning that in a letter written in 1879, Darwin wrote that one "can be an ardent Theist and an evolutionist". Not a bad man to have in support of my argument.