Evolution (Introduction)

by dhw, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, 16:06 (5596 days ago) @ George Jelliss

Revised Item 1 in my list of topics in dispute: "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?"
George: You know quite well that my view is that it did come about without the participation of an external intelligence. - The purpose of my summary was to provide a neutral framework that might prevent some of the misunderstandings that have plagued this discussion. The above question was not addressed to you personally, George, but is part of a list comprising the different components of the theory, and the different points that are in dispute. I had to put it in, but already it's led us away from evolution and back to abiogenesis, so I have failed miserably in my self-imposed task! However, I'll try to deal with your next point, as it illustrates the difficulties we are encountering on this thread, which is becoming increasingly diffuse. - George: "Is "divine intervention" possible by non-living entities? Are gods dead things?" - These are important questions in relation to a discussion on the origin of life and the problems relating to the design theory, but they are not related to the item on my list that you objected to, which initially read: "The theory is compatible with Theism..."*** Your disbelief in a conscious designer does not alter the fact that the Theory of Evolution does not deal with the origin of life. There is therefore nothing "mutually contradictory" between believing that a conscious power designed the mechanism which gave rise to evolution, and believing the theory of evolution itself. This describes how the process works, not what started it off. The above questions, like your earlier point about us needing to know how the gods evolved and acquired their powers of intervention (and the one you have made today in your response to Matt), are beyond the scope of Darwin's theory, which he himself said was compatible with Theism. Of course that does not mean that it supports Theism. The theory itself is neutral. - Perhaps we should start another thread on the subject of "Objections to the Design Theory", in order to separate it from disputes about the details of evolution. You wouldn't like to start it off, would you, George? - 
*** Matt (and George), to save another post, how about: The theory is compatible with belief in a conscious designer, but not with the Creationist account of the history of life?