<p>
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We're looking for a full answer here
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Okay you need a little hand-holding. Blood vessels close to skin. Skin mutates to be semipermeable to toxins. Kidney-like skin becomes a sac on organism's surface, tubes develop, etc, etc, millions of years, BAM, kidney.
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LOL
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Nervous laugh realizing the most likely truth perhaps?</p>
<p>Creationism states that the world is 6000 years old. Fallacy, simple as that. Try disproving carbon dating.</p>
<p>Intelligent Design comes closer because it does not quite attempt to rebut proven science as much. It merely attempts to explain the gaps in the fossil record. Microevolution remains a fact.</p>
<p>As a religious Catholic, I am inclined to believe that God triggered the Big Bang, triggering everything that has happened through his creation of basic scientific laws, allowing them to follow their course. That's just my opinion, though. Science can't disprove THAT.</p>
<p>I think most of the controversy stems from the fact that many of people have a poor understanding of either creationism or evolution. Proponents of either side tend to make sweeping, incorrect assumptions about the other. Until you are educated with a degree in both evolutionary biology or theology, just stay out.</p>
<p>ARGUMENT FROM CREATION
(1) If evolution is false, then creationism is true, and therefore God exists.
(2) Evolution can't be true, since I lack the mental capacity to understand it; moreover, to accept its truth would cause me to be uncomfortable
(3) Therefore, God exists</p>
<p>sorry, this one just amused me greatly :)</p>
<p>This is a topic that simply cannot be argued. It is not right, nor practical, to argue against another's moral and religious beliefs. No amount of reasoning can sway an individual in this realm.</p>
<p>If you believe in God, then you must believe he/she gave us gifts of thought, intelligence, and creativity. If so, then God also gave us the tools to figure things out. If you only want to believe about science that which is in the bible, then get off your computer right now. There is no computer in the bible. And don't drive your car. No engines either. Do you use electricity? Not in the Bible either. Fly in an airplane? Never in the imagination of those that wrote the Bible. Do you take medicine or pray? To deny science because it doesn't match the Bible is hypocritical. </p>
<p>The Bible is a book created by men. Written by men. Changed by men. and Interpretated by men, Who told stories to understand the world. </p>
<p>There is now an interpretation by scholars that the Red Sea that Moses crossed could have been the Reed Sea, a more marshy area. What is true? The old interpretation or the new? And who is to say the Judeo-Christian version of the beginning of humankind is the One? Just because some men said so? Others have had revelations from their Gods, not just Christians.</p>
<p>I am Catholic, and the arrogance of some Creationists is embarrassing and galling. How dare they dismiss others stories as less relevant or important than Biblical ones?</p>
<p>I believe in evolution and have no problems with its flaws. WE ARE STILL LEARNING!!! We are still discovering insects we never knew existed, we are discovering lifeforms deep in the ocean, that we didn't know about because we didn't have the right equipment. </p>
<p>We thought the sun revolved around the earth, but, nope. To deny science and its discoveries is in a way ignoring the gifts your God has given us. To seek, to learn, to make life better, to cure diseases, to help others.</p>
<p>Okay, if evolution is merely a theory, how might one explain vestigial structures, like the appendix? But not just that useless organ in humans, vestigial structures in all creatures? </p>
<p>Also, how do you explain the fact that sickle-cell anemia is more common in Africa, where malaria runs most rampant, than anywhere else? Is this not an adaptation to an environment? I'm sure one could argue that this was caused by some greater power, but then why didn't everyone who is at risk of malaria recieve an immunity to it?</p>
<p>It is too bad that the conditions of Hardy-Weinberg do not exist in real life! Otherwise, yes, evolution would not be a possibility. Then, everyone would have remained the same from the time of creation until forever. </p>
<p>I know evolution has many holes, but fossil records, DNA, embryology, biogeography, blah blah, should have more than some merit in supporting the 'theory' of evolution. But does religion not have its holes as well? Did not ancient peoples rationalize the things they could not explain in their environments with stories of gods and goddesses? Greek mythology: does Apollo attach his chariot to the sun and drive it across the sky every day? Another thing, do we still think the earth is flat? Will I fall off if I go too near the horizon? Humans tend to theorize their worlds with the evidence they observe and the technology they have to analyze it. (big duh, I know. Dub me Captian Obvious, then...)</p>
<p>But on the flip side, does evolution necessarily debunk the possibility of intelligent design? For even if this earth was created by a "big bang" of dust, gravity, carbon, nitrogen, blah blah, where did all of those elements come from in the first place? Why do any elements even exist at all? Again, evolution is not trying to explain the WHY part of the equation. </p>
<p>Humans are entirely too geocentric and self-focused on the whole. We can't even comprehend the size or composition of the entire universe, and who knows if we ever will? Comparitively, our little solar system is quite insignificant~ do we think we are that special? Just because we haven't (supposedly) experienced "intelligent life" outside this earth, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. As I said, this universe is entirely too extensive for us to rule that out. But the same goes for a higher power -- just because we have never experienced one personally, doesn't mean there wasn't a watchmaker (or whatever, I'm sorry I'm not up on the terms) in the beginning that created the elements and set everything in motion and moved onto something else... The fact remains: we just don't know. The evidence we have in conjunction with our current technology tells us that creatures and species change over time, characteristics (genes) that best promote survival in a certain environment are perpetuated through natural selection, mutation, etc.</p>
<p>None of us can know anything for sure; all we are actually capable of is believing in what we feel is right for each of us individually. I guess I had to spell this out. Whether God, or whatever higher power you believe in, directed the development of this world, solar system, universe (not to mention evolution) or not, the fact remains that species change over time based on the random chance of the pairing of dominant and recessive alleles in concert with the environmental difficulties/conditions experienced by populations. We at least know, or think we know, that much. There's definitely no denying microevolution.</p>
<p>Microevolution exists.</p>
<p>That is not to say that some higher power doesn't direct everything that occurs. Or that intelligent design didn't cause everything to come into being and cause everything to be "perfect". (not that I agree with that view)</p>
<p>You CANNOT change other peoples' views. All you can do is believe what you think is right for yourself. The fact of the matter is that whether you believe in creationism or evolutionism, it is a system of beliefs -- yes, even evolutionism (which I happen to agree with).</p>
<p>And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original question of this thread was asking which theory people on CC believe in... like a poll? I dunno, just a thought.</p>
<p>Haha... another of these threads. Like other people have said, having a debate will not change anyone's beliefs. But if I were to argue, I would be against creationism. ;)</p>
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Proponents of either side tend to make sweeping, incorrect assumptions about the other.
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</p>
<p>Hm... well, judging by thesloc's posts, I'm pretty sure I know the Bible far better than he does, and yet I sure as hell don't believe in it. But for one thing, believing in the Bible definitely doesn't mean you can't believe in evolution.</p>
<p>^ That's true. Believing in the Bible does not mean that you cannot believe in evolution, although many christians think so.</p>
<p>Well said, Citygirlsmom. Your interpretation of the bible is very insightful. Hurray for a voice of reason!</p>
<p>The Bible is well known not to always state things plainly. Genesis is one of those "metaphors." This truth has escaped some evangelists, who insist on a literal analysis of the Bible (but somehow they don't agree with the bread actually becoming the body of Christ during Communion. Never understood that kind of contradiction. :/)</p>
<p>However although the Bible was created by men, we believe that it was written with God's direct inspiration of those men. And if you look at the broad facts presented in the Bible, they stay consistent with what we have found so far from science. i.e. the general chronological order of creation. "Seven days" is not literal.</p>
<p>Some evangelists are very narrow-minded about science, but there are also many people who do not fully understand Christianity either, and its MAINSTREAM beliefs.</p>
<p>I get the metaphors, the stories, the legends, that is all well and good. And, not everyone believes that the Bible was the only inspired writing, and the Jesus isn't the only One.</p>
<p>A question, was God guiding King James? Or the people that picked which of the dozens of gospels written by men and women inspired by God, would be included? What about the many many many other religous works?</p>
<p>People pick and choose what they want from the Bible to suit their needs. Fine. But it shouldn't be in science, politics, or schools. It is very personal and so varied from person to person, country to country, religion to religion, and sect to sect.</p>
<p>I am not disputing the impact and value of the bible. Or mainstream Christians who can have faith and believe in science. Its as anonymous said, its certain groups that are very narrow minded, but those groups have power, are in judgement of others, and want the world their way. That to me is very very scary.</p>