Is it okay for Christians to post here?

[solidsquid]

In light of that, yes, we do and will see "gaps" (but not for the reason many evolution opponents claim) in the fossil record - some are there because specimens haven't been found yet. Some are there possibly from the result of lack of fossilization of specimens and some are there because there really isn't a gap to fill, sometimes things change suddenly.

First off I'm not an opponent of evolution so I could care less about what they think and am not concerned with what their reasoning is. So you don't have to bother mentioning that kind of thing. Okay?

As far as lack of fossilization of specimens; Sorry, while you may be right, I don't find your arguement very convincing. I'm not even sure that it address what punctuated equilibrium is about. I just picked up a book on Evolution and it addresses this question. The author writes

Scientists hypothesize that evolution doesn't occur at a constant rate: It can occur in bursts seperated by long periods when not much happens. If transitional was brief, the chance that such forms would have been fossilized is even more dicey.

I fully understand that fossilization is an extremely rare thing so don't get me wrong. In fact I wouldn't have even thought twice about the gap in the fossil record if it didn't come as such a supprise to evolutionists such as Gould. However, from what I hear, Gould was a genius. As such he was smart enough to take these things into consideration before he hypothesized punctuated equilibrium. I feel very comfortable that Gould was smart enough to consider all the things that one might object to regarding punctuated equilibrium. To suggest that he didn't consider the most obvious explanation is not doing him, or other evolutionary scientists, justice.

Pete

1. I never said you were an evolution opponent.

2. My post did not attempt to dismiss Gould and Eldredge's PE, the evidence I posted actually supports it and PG.

3. I am fully aware of PE, what it is and it's evolutionary implications.