Evolution: bacteria's' role (Introduction)

by dhw, Wednesday, January 08, 2020, 13:55 (1782 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: They were there at the start of life and have stayed around to serve other purposes in support of life in various ways. They are one type of organism which never went extinct. Why? As Shapiro noted, they have great transformative abilities, because they are free living individuals, and they can respond to groups of other bacteria for more protection by acting in concert. Looks like a good plan to me by the designer.

Yes, Shapiro thinks they are intelligent, and you agree that outwardly they show all the signs of intelligence. This theory does not in any way preclude the possibility that your God designed their intelligence as part of whatever his plan was. But you believe that 3.8 billion years ago your God preprogrammed all their intelligent responses to every single problem and/or opportunity they would encounter for the rest of time. Your alternative is that he comes down and gives them private tuition (= dabbles). The programmes or private lessons are what you call "guidelines". Just clarifying.