Theoretical origin of life; new earliest? (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, October 09, 2017, 14:39 (2602 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: You miss the point. Darwinism is how Darwin is interpreted by atheists to use him. His theory opens the door. Of course Darwin cannot defend himself.

dhw: The theory of common descent as opposed to separate creation is interpreted by theists, including yourself and the Pope, as perfectly compatible with the existence of God. The question of the origin of life and of the mechanisms of evolution remains unanswered, but God could have devised a system of random mutations (Darwin) just as easily as a computer programme (you) or an autonomous inventive mechanism (me). Darwinism IS no more “how Darwinism is interpreted” by theists/atheists than your God IS how he is interpreted by atheists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and panentheists. Most of reality (and in God’s case, possibly non-reality) is open to a thousand different interpretations. That does not mean reality IS how it is interpreted by every different interpreter.

And finally, to remind you of the starting point of this particular discussion: there is absolutely no justification for saying that Darwin’s theory “dismisses God out of hand”. Come on, be fair to Darwin for a change!

Come on. Darwin is interpreted as a chance mechanism. Atheists use it to support their point of view. That is my point of view about Darwin. I'm not unfair to him. What I accept from him is common descent, nothing more.