Definitions (Evolution)

by George Jelliss , Crewe, Monday, March 31, 2008, 18:33 (6079 days ago) @ Peter P

Peter P maintains: There's no scientific evidence that life came about by chance, so atheists have to have faith in chance. What's the problem? Why are atheists ... some atheists, not all ... so ashamed of admitting it? That's why I'm puzzled. Why must they go to such lengths as Dawkins and now George to pretend they're scientifically objective when its painfully obvious that they're not? I'd really appreciate an answer from any atheists out there ... though preferably not an answer telling me that I've asked for something I haven't asked for. - The position as I see it is this: Science has well established theories (physics and chemistry) that explain the origin of the heavier chemical elements by atomic fusion processes in the earliest stars, and these sciences are able to provide ways in which many organic chemicals, such as amino-acids, naturally come about by combinations of these atoms under suitable conditions. - Secondly Science also has well established theories (evolutionary biology and genetics) that explain the origin of the many and varied life-forms that have existed or are still extant, and can trace these life-forms back to much simpler (but still admittedly complex) life forms, namely bacteria. These living things are also formed of atoms of the same chemical elements as are described in physics and chemistry. - So, between these two areas of knowledge there is a gap. The problem of the origin of life, known as abiogenesis. Does it require "faith" to suppose that there must be some physical mechanism, describable in terms of physics, chemistry and biology and genetics, that bridges this gap? It doesn't seem to me to require much faith, however you define that term. - How much this process is a matter of chance cannot be assessed until the process is discovered. It may turn out to be inevitable once the necessary conditions for it to proceed have occurred. - On the oter hand, does it require "faith" to suppose that this gap is bridged by the action of some outside force intervening to make it possible? That does indeed seem to me to require a great deal of faith. - Does this go some way to answer your question?