Atheos Didn't Come from Monkeys, Part 2

Genetic change. Diversity of life. It's all there.

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If abiogenesis really happened, why hasn't it happened again?

Why hasn't creation happened again?

Why do you assume that it hasn't happened more than once?

The same reason that creation hasn't happened again.

Are you saying abiogenesis could never happen again? How might a person be able to claim to know such a thing?

Earth's conditions are different now; the planet is no longer suited for abiogenesis.

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If evolution is true, how can one species give birth to another?

Define 'species'.

Do you not understand speciation?

Would discovering the answer to that lower your confidence in the God?

How does this relate to your God being true?

It doesn't work like that. You don't seem to know how evolution works.

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If 'survival of the fittest' is true, how can there be altruism or morality?

If qualities such as morality & altruism didn't serve to aid survival & reproductive successes of populations, how could one figure that out?

Does being kind & caring toward one another lend itself to improved conditions for collective survival?

Let's arm wrestle & settle this once & for all.

Think about this: How well does your holy scriptures really provide a solid moral footing for us?

Altruism & morality are human inventions. They don't have anything to do with evolution.

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It is mathematically inconceivable for living things to have arisen by chance.

Are you certain there aren't steps missing in your mathematical analysis?

On what basis do you make this claim?

Mutation is really the only part of evolution that happens by chance. Adaptation & natural selection are nonrandom processes.

Is that why many Hindus are 100% confident that Vishnu is the one true God?

Good thing evolution isn't an origin story.

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Men have fewer ribs than women.

Would you still believe if we could discover that men & women have the same number of ribs?

Uh... No, they don't. Both men & women have 24 ribs, 12 on each side.

Were you dropped as a child?

If true, how would that lead to your God being real?

I suppose you think men were created from dirt as well?

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Radiometric dating is unreliable & inaccurate.

It is both reliable & accurate.

Scientists know what they're doing. Are you saying that they're just irresponsibly publishing guesswork?

Bracket that for a moment. What if another test were developed that was extremely accurate, would you then change your belief about evolution?

That's just what Answers In Genesis wants you to believe.

It would be helpful if there was some way to demonstrate that claim. How could one do that?

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Science requires that ideas be tested, but evolution isn't testable or observable.

But the evidence is there! Have you not seen it?

What about scientific modeling & predictions?

Actually, evolutionary phenomena have been observed in both laboratory settings & in the wild.

Are observation & testability requirements for your own beliefs?

Evolution may be difficult to observe, but not impossible. Would seeing this for yourself cause you to doubt belief in your God?

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Scientists have never found the missing link.

Yes, we have. You're not familiar with Richard Dawkins & Jerry Coyne, are you?

Do you mean a transitional fossil?

We know evolution is true. What more do you need?

What would a 'missing link' look like to you?

The concept of a missing link doesn’t even make sense. Anyone who would make this argument doesn't understand the basics of evolution.

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Speciation has never been witnessed.

And yet here we are: Billions of species all sharing the same global ecosystem.

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean that it's not true.

If speciation was witnessed both in the wild as well as in labs, would you still believe in your God?

I have never witnessed speciation, but does that mean I can't accept the truth of evolution?

Would you be open to learning more about fertile plant hybridization techniques, even if doing so would correct that misunderstanding?

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Evolution is bunk because 'survival of the fittest' uses circular reasoning. The fittest are the survivors & those who survive are then deemed fittest.

Given that 'fitness' refers to reproductive success of populations, I'm struggling to understand how this applies to why you believe.

That's not even what 'survival of the fittest means' & it's not even Darwin's phrase to begin with.

Are you sure you understand what the phrase 'survival of the fittest' means?

Seems to me you're not quite grasping this concept.

Is there a reason why evolution concerns you with regard to your belief in God?

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The eye is too complex to have evolved. It must have been designed.

This is just another 'irreducible complexity' argument & has long been debunked.

The eye is made up of many components, all of which evolved together. We see many stages of this in several extant species.

Have you seen the evidence that contradicts this, such as what was presented in the 2005 trial in Dover, PA?

Organisms which developed visual organs were better suited to survive. The better their eyes, the better their chances of reproducing, no?

For you, the complex eye appears designed, so it must have been your God, is that what you're saying?

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The human brain is too complex to be the product of random mutations.

Don't limit your imagination like that.

Why not?

Is it really so hard to imagine?

Ask any reputable neuroscientist. They'll tell you otherwise.

What would you accept to change your understanding on that claim?

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The human mind is too complex to have evolved from mindless cells.

How could you possibly arrive at this conclusion with such certainty?

At what point does something become too complex to have arisen from less complex structures?

Isn't every complex thing made up of simpler things?

There is no way for you to know with certainty that your assertion is correct.

No, it's not. Try not to limit your imagination so much.

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The theory of evolution is a vast conspiracy among scientists to suppress the truth of God’s existence.

Why do you suppose people might want to do that?

How do you expect me to convincingly demonstrate to you otherwise?

That’s a wild claim. There's no reason for scientists to hide the existence of a deity.

I'm curious how a person could arrive at such a conclusion.

You have no evidence for that assertion; it's a feeble attempt to promote the absurd claim that scientists are the enemy of your God.

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There are too many gaps in the archaeological record, proving that evolution isn't true.

And if you were shown to your satisfaction that there were no gaps, would you accept the facts of evolution?

There are no gaps; you're misinterpreting the data.

Hmm. If those gaps were closed, would you accept evolution?

Just because something hasn't been found yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist! Given enough time, scientists will fill those gaps.

How do perceived gaps in archaeological records prove evolution to be false?

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There is no such thing as a beneficial mutation.

You mean like quick healing? Or shooting lasers out of your eyes? Or controlling the weather with your mind?

It's true that most mutations are detrimental or neutral, but occasionally beneficial mutations emerge. Does this concern you?

I question the validity of your information sources.

Whether a mutation is beneficial or not depends on the organisms needs for survival & reproduction. How does this tie into your God belief?

Yes there are. Don't be daft.

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There is no way you’ll convince me we came from monkeys & amoebas.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything, except to have an open mind.

Then perhaps there isn't anything more I can say to you. Must you be so doxastically-closed?

Isn't it dangerous to close oneself off from other ideas? Why not try to remain open to the possibility of learning new things?

Do you really think that's what evolution teaches us?

If you only took the time to study evolution & understand the evidence you’d accept the facts of evolution.