For Christians (or anyone else) who deny Darwinian evolution.

[Harry Nevis]

I am referring to the theory of evolution and Darwinian evolution. The theory accounts for all three of your utterly arbitrarily limited definitions. Your definitions are useless except to allow you to magic up ways to make it look like you are refuting what I am saying.

It only looks like I am overselling the knowledge we have if you yourself are ignorant. But it's easier to say no one knows than to do the research and learn what we do know. You are staying deliberately ignorant so you can believe your fantasy.

Being precise and defining our terms is an extremely important part of any dialog. 

A simple thought experiment. If Andy believes that our current dog breeds evolved from domesticated wolf ancestors, does Andy believe in evolution? I think it is clear he does. 

But, does he believe that simplicity begat complexity through natural selection acting on random mutations? Does he believe in common ancestry of all living things? We don't know. So, it is very obvious that belief of one aspect of evolution does not entail belief in all of them. 

Regarding your last paragraph, tell me, is the science settled on the following?

a. How complex organs/traits evolved without any survival benefit until they were complete (please give examples of partially formed non-functioning abilities found in nature today)
b. How are biological networks to have evolved? 
c. Why doesn't DNA support the "tree of life"?
d. Why there is a glaring lack of fossil records/intermediate forms.  
e. Junk (non-coding) DNA, originally thought of as the leftovers of mutations/transcription errors, yet we continue to discover purposes for it. 
f. Why natural selection is not enough for traits with a low selection coefficient...yet we have them.

I realize there is a theory for every one of these items. My point is, they are not settled, we have no examples, and certainly cannot replicate them in a lab. They remain best guesses. 

So, if you wish to believe in all three definitions of evolution, it is because you believe in naturalism not because the science is compelling. A theist can decide that they will accept whatever science becomes settled--but as of now, that is not #2 and #3 meanings of the word 'evolution'.

What is this, cut and paste from AIG?

All your points are bullshit.  Calling answers "guesses" is disingenuous as best, lying at worst.

[Succubus]

...many were atheist and evolutionist...

Name them.

[Harry Nevis]

 Those creation scientist you like to refer to as not understanding evolution know are great deal about it, many were atheist and evolutionist that just couldn't reconcile it with the information that was available. Many of the scientist that work for the Creation ministries are hired from secular universities where they were taught evolution and not creation science. All these scientists have PHD's and I have personally seen debates between an evolutionary scientist and a creation scientist, I guess I do not have to tell you who came out on top of the debates, I will say this the evolutionary scientist didn't stand a chance, after two debates he gave up and hasn't had one since that I know of.

Yes I repeat what they say, they are the highly educated ones and what I read I agree with them, if I didn't I would say so. I'm not one to be lead around by the nose you could ask anyone in my church and they would tell you the same thing. By the way no new information can be added to DNA and without that no new kind can evolve. A mutation is a step backwards even some of the other atheist have said this.

GC

How can you say these "scientists" know a great deal about evolution, when it is obvious you don't?  And you're lying about being atheists or teaching evolution.  And debates decide truth?  Again, this shows you're lack of critical thinking skills.  Creationist/evolution debates are never about facts or truth - they're all about emotional appeal.

And what is this "mutation is a backward step" bullshit?  You're assuming a plan, a goal.  There is none, except to survive.

Crack a real book on evolution.  You make yourself look silly.

[I_am_not_mafia]

I bet at the debate that GC went to, the scientifically literate atheists in the audience also left assuming that their side had won.

[DLJ]

Please take note of signatory #26:

Thanks. That list is going to prove useful.

Good to see (my stomping grounds) Australia, China, India, Indonesia (I confess some surprise), Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan (seriously? Wow!), The Philippines (I guess we can thank da Pope for that one), Singapore (or course), Sri Lanka and Taiwan on the list.

On the ooops! side, Brunei, Cambodia, Korea (both), Laos, Myanmar, PNG (up yer game there Popey), Thailand (really?), Vietnam and whoop-de-doo my home country, Malaysia, are missing.

This explains quite a lot.

[SteveII]

Being precise and defining our terms is an extremely important part of any dialog. 

True and it's good to see a theist actually try defining precise terms rather than rely upon equivocation. But you are also using the age old theist trick of framing the debate to try and limit the options when it is not warranted. I refuse to keep to your arbitrary limitations. The theory of evolution accounts for all three of the aspects that you describe. They are not three different definitions of evolution, just three aspects that you describe wrongly as definitions. And be aware that it's not a hypothesis, it's a theory. That means that it came about to explain the evidence. The evidence came first. The theory has been tested repeatedly and used in practice.

A simple thought experiment. If Andy believes that our current dog breeds evolved from domesticated wolf ancestors, does Andy believe in evolution? I think it is clear he does. 

If Andy believes in something evolving then how could Andy not also believe in evolution? This is a pointless thought experiment. It's a tautology. If true then true.

But, does he believe that simplicity begat complexity through natural selection acting on random mutations? Does he believe in common ancestry of all living things? We don't know.

The answer to that is whether Andy actually understands evolution. But as Cod says, who the hell is Andy? Why should it matter what one person understands and believes. What matters is what is understood in the scientific literature. This is again the theist trick of trying to frame the debate and to limit the range of answers.

Three sentences:

The evolution of the today's golden retriever breed included crossing spaniels with retriever breeds in Scotland in the mid 19th century. 
The evolution of the eye is of special interest since there are so many species that developed them separately.
The evolution of all mammals is thought to be from synapsid ancestors in the late Carboniferous period.

Well, look at that. The word is used in three different ways and has three distinct meanings. To deny it does is just nonsense. To think they are inextricably linked together is also nonsense. 

One person can believe in evolution in one sense and not in another. So to ask someone if they believe in evolution and they say "yes" you barely know more than you did before you asked. 

So, it is very obvious that belief of one aspect of evolution does not entail belief in all of them. 

So? The theory of evolution is not a belief. It is an explanation for the evidence. The truth of a description of reality does not depend on who believes in that description. What matters is whether the explanation matches the evidence, whether it is falsifable, reproducible and can be tested. Reality does not change depending on how much people understand.

Wrong. It is a belief as to what the evidence indicates. Further, you are wrong to associate truth with an "explanation that matches the evidence". That is definitely not the definition of truth.  Do you image that the mechanisms for the evolution of complex life from less complex life is "falsifiable, reproducible and can be tested"????

Regarding your last paragraph, tell me, is the science settled on the following?

a. How complex organs/traits evolved without any survival benefit until they were complete (please give examples of partially formed non-functioning abilities found in nature today)

Irreducible complexity is flawed. It is understood quite well how complexity develops over time. You are the one claiming that complex organs and traits evolved without any survival benefit until they were complete. No evolutionary scientist claims that, only creationists making strawman debates.

I asked for an example of a partially formed non-functioning ability found in nature. Clearly the current theories indicate there should be some. Isn't that the hallmark of a good theory: predicting?

b. How are biological networks to have evolved? 

Yes.

c. Why doesn't DNA support the "tree of life"?

Who says it doesn't? Again this is only what creationists claim. I don't even know what this statement could possibly mean.

Sean Carroll is hardly a creationist: http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/art...io.0040352

d. Why there is a glaring lack of fossil records/intermediate forms.  

Again only creationists claim that there is a glaring lack of fossil records / intermediate forms and they will always claim that no matter how many are found. Very few fossils are made. If we find a missing link then this creates two other missing links that they can claim are a glaring lack. We have plenty of evidence from the fossil records.

Is the theory of Punctuated Equilibrium (developed to explain the lack of transitional forms in the fossil record) true? 

e. Junk (non-coding) DNA, originally thought of as the leftovers of mutations/transcription errors, yet we continue to discover purposes for it. 

Junk DNA does not disprove the theory of evolution. The neutral gene theory explains that actually junk DNA opens up new areas of search space and can allow for complexity to develop over time. Also see point f.

f. Why natural selection is not enough for traits with a low selection coefficient...yet we have them.

Because there is no benefit in getting rid of those traits and no cost to keeping them so they hang around, like with junk DNA.

Wait, that explains why we still have them. How did we get them? 

I realize there is a theory for every one of these items. My point is, they are not settled, we have no examples, and certainly cannot replicate them in a lab. They remain best guesses. 

Utter bollocks. Again this is you as a religionist claiming this but with no reason to do so. If there is a theory for everyone of these points as you say, then by the scientific definition of theory there is evidence for it. A scientific theory is not a best guess. You do not understand the scientific method, or evolution.

LOL. We do not have evidence of the mechanisms that would generate complexity from simplicity and that all life has a common ancestor. If you think we do, provide them.  Our evidence is that we see life as it is now and we see fossils so we know life existed before and all life is coded in DNA. How is that evidence for what happened a billion years ago? All we have is an inference made by the evidence and a healthy dose of philosophical naturalism to get the grand, all inclusive theory of evolution. Someday we might fill all the gaps with a more complete theory. But that is not what we have now. 

So, if you wish to believe in all three definitions of evolution, it is because you believe in naturalism not because the science is compelling.

No, I believe in the scientific method. I am also familiar with the evidence for the theory of evolution, which includes all three of your definitions (which aren't scientific definitions).

No, you believe in naturalism and the gaps in the theory of evolution are meaningless because you presuppose the conclusion that it is correct.

[Jehanne]

Steve,

I am curious to know your academic credentials?  And, why should I believe you over the National Academy of Sciences?

Dawn

[Astreja]

No, you believe in naturalism and the gaps in the theory of evolution are meaningless because you presuppose the conclusion that it is correct.

And this is a problem... how, exactly?

Naturalism is, IMO, a far more robust theory than the "invisible, intangible, utterly undetectable being with All The Power There Is created modern-day humans out of dirt and spare parts for shits and giggles one day, then got miffed because a Talking Snake™ chatted up a woman and suggested she eat fruit from an off-limits tree" hypothesis.

No matter how many gaps there may be in the ToE, it will always be superior to the nonsensical creation fable in the BuyBull.

[I_am_not_mafia]

It really fucks me off when someone tells me what I believe. It's arrogant and not helpful. But what can you expect from religionists. Strawman arguments are their bread and butter.

Will respond properly tonight.

[SteveII]

No, you believe in naturalism and the gaps in the theory of evolution are meaningless because you presuppose the conclusion that it is correct.

And this is a problem... how, exactly?

Naturalism is, IMO, a far more robust theory than the "invisible, intangible, utterly undetectable being with All The Power There Is created modern-day humans out of dirt and spare parts for shits and giggles one day, then got miffed because a Talking Snake™ chatted up a woman and suggested she eat fruit from an off-limits tree" hypothesis.

No matter how many gaps there may be in the ToE, it will always be superior to the nonsensical creation fable in the BuyBull.

Not a problem at all. Just trying to be precise as to what evolution is and is not. I agree it is the best naturalistic theory we have.

---

Steve,

I am curious to know your academic credentials?  And, why should I believe you over the National Academy of Sciences?

Dawn

I don't have a problem with the OP nor does the OP contradict anything I said -- so your dilemma is imagined. As I said several times, it is the best naturalistic theory.