Dismissing Evolution as
'just a theory' shows remarkable ignorance of science.
Theories are not just pie in the sky ideas plucked out of thin air,they are
well and truly tested notions that have evidence to back them up.
When theists dismiss a theory in this manner,it not only highlights their
ignorance and scientific illiteracy,it fails to understand that in mud-slinging
science,the theist is attacking something rather than justifying their own
belief,which is much less than a theory and is mere speculation with no proof
whatever.
Missing Links
Theists also refer to
'Missing Links' as if this indicates a failure or lack
of evidence for evolution.
Any pair of fossils can be taken and assumed that another should go between,so
there will always be a 'missing link' - it's another theist rouse to undermine
evolution.
Common Ancestor
I have had theists tell me there is no record of a penguin becoming an ostrich
or a lion becoming a tiger - totally failing to understand the concept of
a common ancestor. Animals do not turn into other animals,but the like of
the fossil archeopteryx which is part lizard and part bird could be
a common ancestor of both bird and lizard and if theists were looking for
transition fossils that would be a smoking gun,and yet they refuse it as
'another species' ,playing the missing link game again,by re-defining species
to mean 'transition fossil'.
On the other side of it birds that have feathers but do not fly are indications
of how adaptation has taken place,and what once flew,now does not,which is
evidence of change,not a fixed created creature. Similarly,whales are mammals
that live in the sea,and have bone structure indicating their heritage,showing
they have adapted to sea life.
Species
The notion of what a species is in a theist mind is far too absolute and
material. The classification of creatures is subject to fuzzy boundaries
and really based on who can mate with who,and as New Scientist pointed out,what
a species actually is,isn't really that
well defined.
Teleology
I've also had theists suggest that somehow mankind is the apex of evolution
and all other animals are simpler and that they are inferior beings because
evolution was heading for man.
This is an absurd,smug and arrogant misunderstanding. Evolution is not wholly
random,but all animals fill a niche and there is
no aim or tendency to put one creature above another,or
head in any one particular direction,least of all down one branch of advanced
apes.
The fact that cephalopods exist,with more
arms,more brains and more hearts than we have,tends to illustrate the failure
of thinking evolution is goal-orientated. |
