Evolution (Introduction)

by George Jelliss , Crewe, Monday, July 27, 2009, 18:56 (5597 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: "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?" - You know quite well that my view is that it did come about without the participation of an external intelligence. - dhw: "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." - I didn't object nor did I agree. I didn't comment. But in fact I agree with your statement here, so far. Although I would say I do have an inkling of "how it happened", though not in precise detail. I don't think a god magicked it into existence. - dhw: "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." - With this I must disagree. The question is what do you mean by "life"? Is "divine intervention" possible by non-living entities? Are gods dead things? I know Nietsche claimed gods were dead, but I think he meant they were once alive. - dhw: "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." - Yes, and Francis Collins among others proves his case. But we know people are capable of believing mutually contradictory ideas. How they do it is a bit baffling, but that's another question.

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GPJ