(February 20, 2020 at 8:17 am)Belacqua Wrote: Creationists who haven't studied evolution sometimes ask "oh yeah, if people evolved from monkeys, why are there still monkeys? (check mate, atheist!)" The question reveals that they haven't studied the subject.
The questions "what caused the first cause?" or "who designed the designer?" are the equivalents in the field of theology. They show that the person asking doesn't understand the argument.
To be fair to atheists who don't understand theology, though, it's true that the majority of Christians don't understand it either. They are using a children's-level Sunday School version, and a lot of atheists assume that's all there is.
It's frustrating. It's like hearing an Ayn Randian and a Creationist debate Darwin, and neither one knows what they're talking about.
Yes, that first part is frustratingly true Bel. Which is why, when it's trotted out, it's pointed to be erroneous and fallacious.
As for 'The first cause'? Well we know that there are uncaused causes within our own universe... So having them occur 'Outside' our universe would seem to be plausible as well. Though the whole 'Outside' our universe raises more thoughts, issues etc.
As for "Who designed the Designer" ? That is kind of a valid question, is it not? If some one is, actually, postulating such a thing/being?
I'm happy to admit I understand neither theology, nor philosophy but so far Yukon_Jack has done little more than to rant on at the equivalent level of 'Sunday School biology'.
Your last sentence has left me confused. Why couldn't some one who's partial to Ayn Rand's philosophical school also be a student of history and sociology? The same for some one who likes the creation mythos? Why can't people of such back ground hold meaningful discussions as to the character of Darwin?
By all accounts her was quite a progressive man/thinker for his time?
Cheers.
Not at work.