-Caveat Lector-
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Stokes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Ric Carter writes:
>
> << Meanwhile I notice that nobody here has ventured to answer any of
> the questions I posed re: deities and creation. That's probably
> because it's not possible to rationally support deistic creation.
> It's obvious - saying "god(s) did it" means "I don't/can't know." >>
>
> Belief in a God(s) is a matter of faith and only needs to be
> proven/unproven to an individual.
Prove? I said nothing about "proving" anything, I just asked for
some rational support for creationist notions - and no, such isn't
really possible, is it? Science is about testing one's ideas,
faith is about acceptance without testing - the twain shan't meet.
> Can you explain the "proof" of evolution such as Nebraska man, Java
> ape-man, Piltdown man, Neanderthal man, or Lucy? It takes time, but
> all missing links have been proven to be hoaxes (lies) by perhaps
> over zealous scientists.
<nok><nok> Is this thing on? <nok><nok> Why do you keep bringing
up 'proof' ?? 'Proof' is significant at the bar [both types], in
graphic arts and cooperage, in formal logic -- but 'proof' has
nothing to do with science. Science is about building workable,
usable models of observable reality, devising the most viable
explanations for what we see around us, revising those models as
we observe and think more. There's a process: observe, hypothesize,
test, revise, ad infinitum. If the verified data overwhelmingly
supports a theory, fine - one may regard that theory as "proved" -
yet for that theory to be relevant to workers in that discipline,
it must make predictions, point to further areas to be explored.
Over roughly 150 years, biological evolution has been accepted by
the vast majority of biological researchers, because it provides
the most coherent structure for the vast amount of evidence. And
evolution [the survival of changes over time] is explained by
selection and other mechanisms, which make testable predictions
about relationships between lifeforms. We see, say, similarities
in the anatomy and physiology of primates; we look closer, and
see further similarities in biochemistry; we look closer, and
see similarities in genetic structures. Evolutionary theory
predicts these similarities - if such theory was incorrect, those
similarities wouldn't be observed, and evolution would be shit-
canned in favor of another theory that worked better.
[Whoever devised such a better theory would be immortalized,
lionized - they'd certainly NOT be motivated to suppress their
ideas, kowtow to "current dogma". One makes one's reputation
by smashing paradigms, eh?]
As for the protohominids you mention above - you know that the
fossil record is necessarily spotty, yet a tentative family
tree CAN be devised from what data there is. Is that family
tree precisely accurate? Of course not, and I doubt that you'd
find any anthropologist/paleontologist who'd make such a claim.
They'll say that, given what we know, this is how the fragments
seem to fit together, and that we need to keep on searching for
more specimens. Some future technology may be developed that'll
allow studying any genetic fragments extant in hominid fossils;
then, the relationships will be much clearer, the "family tree"
will be much more accurate. But it'll never be carved in stone.
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
