Argument #1: Transitional Fossils

[Mister Agenda]

If a kind or basic type of animal over a long period of time has evolved into a different kind of basic type of animal, then it is reasonable to expect a plethora of transitional forms in the fossil record. However, this is not the case, rather, the fossil record shows the original diversity of animal and plant forms.

How did you become an expert on this subject? If you're not an expert, why do you think you know more than the people who have devoted their lives to the study of fossils do?

Evolution models of the fossil record predict the following:
- wholesale transitions in organisms over time
- primitive forms evolving into complex forms
- gradual derivation of new organisms produced transitional forms

We do not find any of these to be true based on our fossil record.

Oh, really?

Trilobites are an example of an organism appearing suddenly in the fossil record void of any evidence of transitions. Furthermore, trilobites have an organized complexity comparable to modern day invertebrates.

Do you think it follows that 'appear suddenly in the fossil record' equates to 'appears suddenly'. How do you measure complexity in fossils? Does evolution really predict that simple forms will evolve into more complex forms, or does it actually predict that life forms will either evolve to be better fitted to their reproductive environment--even if that involves 'growing more simple', stay roughly the same, or go extinct?

The facts remain, fossils have been discovered to suddenly appear in the record without transition. This is what would be expected from intelligent design not macroevolution.

Some fossils do. Some lineages have an exquisitely detailed fossil record showing all significant transitions for long periods of time.

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Wow! This Rev guy is even dumber than I originally thought.

Nah...I knew from the start.

It's less idiocy, I think, than having been brainwashed very effectively. Maybe I'm more sympathetic because getting out of it was a slow process with me rather than precocious skepticism as it was for many posters, or those who were never indoctrinated in the first place.