Mutations, bad not good (Introduction)

by dhw, Thursday, July 14, 2011, 14:43 (4881 days ago) @ Balance_Maintained

TONY: I am not saying that we should not attempt to understand, but rather that we should approach such understanding with an empty mind, free from pre-conceived notions that have little if any foundation in reality and observed phenomena.-This, of course, is music to the ears of an agnostic, though seemingly a little out of tune when coming from the keyboard of an avowed theist. In fairness to myself, I should therefore question your own open-mindedness since your belief in God seems unlikely not to influence your interpretation of reality and observed phenomena. However, I think that would be unproductive, and what really interests me is the directions you are willing or unwilling to take in your theistic approach to understanding. I hope you will allow me to probe a little, bearing in mind that "the truth" is beyond us, and we can only hope to gain approximations and likelihoods.-1) As I pointed out earlier, there is general scientific consensus that humans came comparatively late on the scene. Do you accept this?-2) If you do, does it seem more likely to you that your creator would have created humans from scratch, or would have used existing creatures as a basis?-3) If you accept the possibility that your creator might have used existing creatures as a basis, do you also accept the possibility that the changes he made might be labelled "beneficial mutations"?-4) If you accept that he might have organized changes ("beneficial mutations") to existing creatures, do you also accept the possibility that all forms of life may have evolved from one or a few earlier forms by means of such organized changes?-Direct answers to this somewhat unsubtle questionnaire will help me to understand your own concept of open-mindedness.