Evolutionary Catechism (Evolution)

by dhw, Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 17:45 (5427 days ago)

Under 'Evolutionary theory beyond Darwin', David has drawn our attention to an article by Barry Arrington, an ID-er, castigating Darwinists for imposing their theory on the facts ... in this case, filling the gaps in the fossil record with their hypotheses. George has directed us towards two Darwinist responses.-I find it a bit rich that an ID-er should attack Darwinists for promoting their agenda while he tries to promote his own, but of course that doesn't in itself invalidate the argument. I do wish, though, that both sides would approach the theory of evolution scientifically, i.e. without any agenda, and I do wish everyone would recognize that it isn't just one idea but a combination of several ideas. It might therefore be interesting to take the different components separately and see where all of us stand. Here are a few relevant questions. -1) Do I believe that all life is descended from one form (or a few forms)?
(If so, there must be a line from those early forms to all species, including ourselves.)
2) If the answer to 1) is yes, do I believe that the line from early forms to ourselves has been gradual and continuous, or a "punctuated equilibrium"?
3) Do I believe that all complex organs have come into existence through random 
mutations followed by successive modifications?
4) Do I believe that organisms can be changed by their environment?
5) Do I believe that natural selection results in the preservation and improvement of advantageous characteristics?
6) Do I believe that natural selection gives rise to new species? 
7) Do I believe that the gaps in the fossil record are caused by "the extreme imperfection of the geological record" (Darwin) or by imperfections in Darwin's theory?-Answers, comments and additional questions would be most welcome.