Return to David's theory of evolution and theodicy (Evolution)

by David Turell , Friday, August 18, 2023, 17:31 (253 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: The pure logic is God chose to evolve us, but we can't know His reasons. Both you and I have guessed at many, so your 'cannot find a reason' is false and you know it.

dhw: And still you go on dodging! (1) If God exists, then clearly he chose evolution as his method of producing every life form that ever existed, including humans. That is a logical hypothesis. What is not logical is your theory that (2) his one and only purpose was to design us and our ecosystems/food supply, and therefore he chose to design 99 out of 100 species and ecosystems/food supplies that had no connection with us. You cannot find a single reason why he would use such a “messy, cumbersome and inefficient” (your terms) method to achieve the goal you impose on him. It is illogical, and you know it.

That is the most convoluted mess you keep illogically repeating! Number one is correct. Number two is an irrational distortion of the evolutionary process as conducted by God. Number one and two are the same process!! We agree God chose to evolve. When I add purpose in number two you fall into a lather. God can evolve with purpose, and we are so unusual a result, it can be seen as purpose, as Adler and I do.

dhw: Why do you describe a God who wants to create “novelties”, i.e. life forms which never existed before, and succeeds in doing so, as “clueless”?

DAVID: Anyone who experiments is looking for an answer to his question. Experimentation finds his answer. An experimenting God is clueless just like my human example.

dhw: If you look for an answer and find it, you can hardly be called “clueless”!

DAVID: This comment is totally clueless. The point is at the beginning of experimentation the end point is unknown!! The experimenting God is clueless at the beginning, while you are touting His endpoint! My form of God doesn't experiment.

dhw: There are different types of experiment: one tries different methods to achieve a goal, and another looks to discover what will happen if….Both forms would explain the higgledy-piggledy course of evolution theistically (as would a free-for-all), with your God successfully producing the vast variety of species and ecosystems we know from life’s history.

All types of experiments look for answers. All experimenters are clueless as to the answers until they are uncovered. You have failed to exonerate your God from cluelessness.