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blackbird

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  1. This article by Professor Phillip Stott gives a very good overview of the theory of evolution. quote Evolution has played such a major role in shaping modern society that it is essential for every member of our culture to understand the theory, the evidence for it, and its implications. It is more difficult than one might first expect to discover exactly what the theory of evolution says. One reason is that it has changed drastically over the relatively brief period that it has been the ruling paradigm of Western thought. Changes are not usually broadcast to the general public. (See Arthur S. Lodge's search for a definition.) When the theory first became popular, following Charles Darwin’s proposal of natural selection as the means to drive the process, it was a simple and very appealing hypothesis. Life was rather simple in those days. Algae, amoebae and such humble creatures were blobs of protoplasm which Darwin postulated might have just happened in some warm little pond by the chance coming together of chemicals. It was rather easy to imagine that a few relatively simple changes in this protoplasm could lead to developmental change, and that natural selection would ensure that better adaptation would be preserved. Changes which led to worse adaptation would die out as poorly adapted creatures would perish in the struggle for existence and fail to leave offspring with their inferior design. The idea of natural processes bringing complex life forms from simple ones, which themselves came from dead matter, logically leads to the idea of all things having arisen by chance through purely natural processes. This way of looking at the world is reflected in the definition given in Evolution and Genetics by Julian Huxley, one of the most influential evolutionists of all time :- "Evolution, in the extended sense, can be defined as a directional and essentially irreversible process occurring in time, which in its course gives rise to an increase of variety and an increasingly high level of organization in its products. Our present knowledge indeed forces us to the view that the whole of reality is evolution - a single process of self transformation." For many years this was the accepted view. It is still the view put forward in popular literature, the media and school text-books. But in "scientific circles" it has become an embarrassment. It contradicts the best established law in the whole of science. The Law in question is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In language easily understood this law guarantees that any physical system subject only to natural processes follows a downward path to ever lower levels of energy, it becomes more disorganized - it suffers decay. For many years supporters of the theory attempted to overlook the contradiction between evolution’s requirement (self transformation to ever higher levels of organization), and the Second Law’s exactly opposite requirement, by claiming that the Second Law applies only to "closed systems" in which no energy enters from outside. Few now try to support this discredited position, (see, for example, The Mystery of Life's Origins) and changes in the definition of evolution itself have been brought in to address the problem. Another difficulty for the theory has come from microbiology. As scientists have learned how to examine life in ever greater detail, Darwin’s picture of organisms consisting of a few simple chemicals has given way to one of mind-boggling complexity even in the most humble of creatures. The lowly E coli bacterium possesses not only miniature electric motors of outstanding efficiency, but also the apparatus to build, repair, maintain and operate them - as well as the electricity-generating system to power them. As it has become possible to calculate the probabilities of evolution’s mechanisms producing evolution’s supposed results, ever growing numbers of scientists have become convinced that there are problems which the theory is unable to cope with. Many are now seriously considering intelligent design as an alternative. As the founder of the "cult" of evolution, Charles Darwin and his magnum opus, the Origin of Species are presented for study. A more modern text, an Introduction to Evolutionary Biology by Chris Colby shows the enormous change which has taken place in evolutionary thinking in the last century. My annotations are rather full and attempt to show what I see to be the weakness of much of modern evolutionary thinking. I recommend this annotated work as showing the case for and against the modern theory. The antipathy between evolution and Christianity is sometimes denied. This idea is examined in "Creation, Evolution and the Christian" . The weakness of evolution as a "scientifically" defensible position and the truth that it is largely a religious question is very ably presented by Philip Johnson, professor of law at the University of California, Berkley. Johnson's position deserves some explanation. The "scientific" press is a tightly controlled unit which does not allow any neutral discussion of evolution, the time scale or Einstein. Any paper questioning orthodoxy, or submitted by a scientist known to be skeptical of orthodoxy, is simply denied publication. Any scientist questioning the orthodoxy is ostracized and outcast. Scientists are then able to set up a vicious circle to exclude debate. Such questions could only be seriously considered if they were discussed in the reputable journals. Any attempt to bring such discussion to the journals is prevented by editorial policy. The situation was brought into the spotlight in the chapter "The Scientific Mafia" in "Velikovski Reconsidered." A recent example can be seen in Persecution of Richard Sternberg. Philip Johnson is a highly respected professor of law. The secular humanist watchdogs apparently anticipated no danger from this field. They did not, apparently, set up a similar exclusion principle for lawyers. Johnson was able to question Darwinism by comparing the strength of the evidence put forward to support it with that required by a court of law - without the weight of his entire profession descending to crush and stifle him. His position is expressed very simply in an interview with Citizen Magazine. Johnson's examination of the stand of influential liberal Reformed Christian scientists can be seen in "The Hostage Takers." The internet has many of his articles examples being "What is Darwinism," a well reasoned account of what evolution really is - a philosophical necessity of atheism. "The Church of Darwin" is a look at Darwinists aims for education. "Shouting Heresy in the Temple of Darwin" and "Darwinism's Rules of Reasoning" reinforce his analysis of the way Darwinists operate. Johnson has been involved in may debates -on the subject. An example ("How Did We Get Here?" with Kenneth Miller) reproduced here is typical. Many more of his contributions on the subject can be found on the Internet. A major contribution to the question of the credibility of evolution was Michael Behe's book "Darwin's Black Box," in which he drew attention to many marvelous micro-biological systems which exhibit what he termed "irreducible complexity." The importance of irreducible complexity is that Darwin had stated that if any case could be brought forward where development could not have been achieved by small successive advances, then his theory would be disproved. Irreducible systems provide that disproof. Evolutionists have fought irreducible complexity fiercely, but many scientists have become convinced that intelligent design is an undeniable feature of living organisms, and a strong "Intelligent Design" group has emerged. Many articles by Behe and the Design group can be found on the internet. Behe explains his stand in Evidence for Intelligent Design. One of his colleagues, William Dembski's "Still Spinning" illustrates the tricky tactics of the opponents of design and how they can be dealt with. Non-biologists have increasingly entered the evolutionary arena. Examples are given from well know mathematician, and philosopher David Berlinski, ("The Deniable Darwin" and "Keeping an Eye on Darwin" ). Physicist Lee Spetner in A Scientific Critique of Evolution demonstrates an important point for anyone wanting to enter the arena. The claims of the evolutionist are expounded with intimidating authority, and a superior knowledge of the scientific literature is needed to show up their fatuous claims for what they are. Despite the evolutionist's bluster and the total commitment of the scientific establishment to supporting it, I believe most would concede that evolution is in its weakest and most unconvincing state for many years. (See for example, Atheism In Decline Everywhere) However weak or strong the orthodox evolutionist's position may appear to be though, it would be unwise to be swayed simply by the strongest "scientific" argument. As can be seen by contrasting Darwin and Colby, "science" changes its mind - sometimes very quickly. Whichever side is considered to have the strongest arguments today may find itself discomfited by new arguments tomorrow. The Word of God though remains the same for ever. God is true though all men be liars. unquote Studies in Evolution - Reformation International Schools (refcm.org)
  2. https://theconversation.com/what-exactly-is-the-scientific-method-and-why-do-so-many-people-get-it-wrong-65117
  3. "The history of science has many remarkable examples of the difficulties which can arise when dubious but attractive ideas become firmly established in scientific thinking. The chemists of three hundred years ago were convinced that fire was caused by something escaping from a burning body. This of course is eminently reasonable. A fir cone or a piece of paper , when burned, becomes just a little heap of ash; the form, structure and organization, as well as much of the volume are gone. Obviously something has been lost. This "something" was given the name "Phlogiston". This is not an isolated chapter in the history of science. Plenty of notable errors have been made, even in this century." ---- Professor Philip Stott in his book Vital Questions
  4. Sorry, I will have to try to reduce the number of replies into one. Remember, the number of scientists or people who believe something does not make it true. That is the case with the theory of evolution.
  5. Actually it has been thrown out by some scientists. If you look at it closely, you have to admit it is unproven. It is impossible to prove for one thing because it allegedly happened over hundreds of millions of years and it cannot be replicated in an experiment. It cannot be observed.
  6. The subject becomes quite complex. It seems different people will have different ideas on what is genuine science. I have had trouble even trying to locate a simple example of something using the scientific method. When it comes to the theory of evolution, you need to be very careful because that is obviously not empirical science. Much like the "Big Bang" is not science. It is only speculation.
  7. An example might be: "1500s: Nicolaus Copernicus advanced the understanding of the solar system with his discovery of heliocentrism. This is a model in which Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun, which is the center of the solar system. 1600s: Johannes Kepler built upon those observations with his laws of planetary motion. Galileo Galilei improved on a new invention, the telescope, and used it to study the sun and planets. The 1600s also saw advancements in the study of physics as Isaac Newton developed his laws of motion." Not all things are infallibly proven. Some assumptions or perhaps even what we thought were proven facts changed over time. So perhaps man does not know as much as he thinks he knows.
  8. " The steps of the scientific method go something like this, according to Highline College: Make an observation or observations. Form a hypothesis — a tentative description of what's been observed, and make predictions based on that hypothesis. Test the hypothesis and predictions in an experiment that can be reproduced. Analyze the data and draw conclusions; accept or reject the hypothesis or modify the hypothesis if necessary. Reproduce the experiment until there are no discrepancies between observations and theory. "Replication of methods and results is my favorite step in the scientific method," Moshe Pritsker, a former post-doctoral researcher at Harvard Medical School and CEO of JoVE, told Live Science. "The reproducibility of published experiments is the foundation of science. No reproducibility — no science." Science and the scientific method: Definitions and examples | Live Science Notice it says the foundation of science is the reproducibility of published experiments. The theory of evolution does not fit into that definition. That is why it is called a theory. But when people and schools teach it as a fact, they are therefore not telling the truth. Let's see if we can find an example of something that used the scientific method.
  9. This little article answers that well. " Science is a systematic and logical approach to discovering how things in the universe work. It is also the body of knowledge accumulated through the discoveries about all the things in the universe. The word "science" is derived from the Latin word "scientia," which means knowledge based on demonstrable and reproducible data, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. True to this definition, science aims for measurable results through testing and analysis, a process known as the scientific method. Science is based on fact, not opinion or preferences. The process of science is designed to challenge ideas through research. One important aspect of the scientific process is that it focuses only on the natural world, according to the University of California, Berkeley. Anything that is considered supernatural, or beyond physical reality, does not fit into the definition of science." Science and the scientific method: Definitions and examples | Live Science The reality is many scientists and others have deviated away from the scientific method and now claim speculation or assumptions are sufficient proof of their hypotheses.
  10. Are you making an assumption about people? Who said creationists don't want to use science or have anything to do with it? There are things in science we can agree are genuine science. I am sure we can find some things we can agree on in science. The scientific method is a process whereby certain things can be proven. But not all things in the universe can be proven. So how much do we really know?
  11. Assumptions don't make science false and don't make it true or factual. Assumptions are just that, assumptions.
  12. That might partly explain your lack of Biblical knowledge. The Catholic church does not accept the Bible as the final authority and they hold to a long list of man-made false beliefs and dogmas. The Bible is not taken literally obviously by the Catholic college you attended. Darwinism is contrary to the Biblical account of creation which teaches God created everything in six days in a supernatural event. So what they taught you is directly opposed to what the Bible says in Genesis. Darwinism is not supported by empirical science.
  13. That is an absurd comment and demonstrates your complete lack of knowledge of the Bible and of God. You are a created being and don't get to judge God who is eternal, almighty, all-knowing, and completely holy and righteous. quote Revelation 4:8 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Leviticus 11:44-47 44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. Romans 12:1 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
  14. I thought you said you were a Christian. Is that superstition? You have not yet heard that there is empirical science and false science which is speculation or assumptions. Christians who understand the subject of creation and the humanist religion of Darwinism know there is empirical science which can be credible and false science which is not empirical or proven. True science is empirical science which means what is claimed as truth is proven by the scientific method. That has been abandoned over recent history as old school. The theory of evolution, which has been taught in schools for decades, is not based on empirical science. It is based on unproven assumptions.
  15. The theory of evolution has become absolute gospel truth the past 150 or so years. But it has been refuted by a number of scientists. Now the so called "dark matter" in the universe has just been refuted or called into question. "We’ve long been told that mysterious dark matter makes up the bulk of our universe. And yet, a new study suggests that this is not – and, indeed, cannot – be true. The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, challenges our current understanding of the cosmos by suggesting there’s simply no room for dark matter." There may be no dark matter in our universe after all (msn.com) This just goes to prove that much of what is called science is not really science at all.
  16. Don't believe some of the uneducated, presumptive comments made on here. Here is a good article on God. The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament. quote In the King James Version (KJV) of the Old Testament, we encounter a multifaceted portrayal of God’s character, encompassing both mercy and justice. Let’s delve into how these attributes are revealed: Mercy and Compassion: The Old Testament consistently portrays God as merciful and compassionate. These qualities are deeply rooted in His character. In Exodus 34:6–7, during the account of the golden calf, God reveals His divine name to Moses. This proclamation highlights essential attributes: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” 1. God’s mercy extends beyond mere restraint from wrath; it also moves Him with compassion toward the poor and the broken 1. Throughout the Old Testament, we witness God’s merciful acts toward His people, even when they rebelled and disobeyed 2. Justice: God’s justice is evident in His dealings with humanity. He upholds righteousness and punishes wrongdoing. For instance, consider the story of Lot and the city of Sodom. God acted with justice against the corrupt and sinful city, demonstrating His intolerance for evil 3. The mercy seat in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:17–22) symbolized both God’s justice and His willingness to forgive. It was made of pure gold and placed atop the Ark of the Covenant. Two cherubim faced each other, covering the mercy seat with their wings. Here, God met with His people, balancing justice with mercy 4. In summary, the Old Testament paints a rich tapestry of God’s character, revealing His unwavering commitment to both justice and mercy. His actions toward humanity reflect a harmonious blend of these attributes, underscoring His love for His creation. unquote The Old Testament God of Compassion and Mercy by Miles Van Pelt (ligonier.org) Mercy Defined: Its Profound Meaning in the Bible | Christian Pure What the Bible says about God's Justice (bibletools.org) Exodus 25:17-22,Romans 3:25,Hebrews 4:16 KJV - And thou shalt make a mercy seat of - Bible Gateway There are four websites loaded with a massive amount of information on this topic. Much better to read them than listen to people who do not have any idea what they are talking about.
  17. "The time has finally come to understand that for them, this is not a war over territory, it is a war of ideologies. The Palestinians will not settle for anything less than all the territories — including everything. The textbooks in Gaza as well as in Judea and Samaria are full of lies and distortions. The poison and hatred poured into children from their infancies tragically and murderously creates another generation of young Palestinians with an infirm worldview, brainwashed into stigmatizing the Jews as Nazis. Is there any reason not to believe the Palestinians and their leaders when they call for “Palestine from the river to the sea?” The answer is unequivocal. If we are even to consider speaking to the Palestinians in “our language” instead of theirs, it will be when they begin changing the narrative they are teaching the next generation; when they begin raising their children with values; and when they stop turning human beings, who are born innocent, into damned terrorists. The Palestinians have engineered the consciousness and washed the brains of their tender children for decades, turning them into robots of evil and hatred toward others and other “languages.” WE WILL vanquish them because we have not been taught to hate; because the IDF is the most moral army in the world; and because we are a tough nation. It is true that, as Jews, there are differences of opinion between us – as there are in any family – sometimes even major ones. Nevertheless, we have always known how to unite in times of trouble. For thousands of years, we have survived all the massacres and genocide committed against us. We will forever reach out our hands in peace yet we will also cut off the hand of anyone who attempts to harm a single hair on our children’s heads. What Hamas is experiencing now at the hands of the IDF is only a down payment on a long reckoning. Israel will eliminate everyone who was connected to the October 7 massacre. We have a long memory and for those who have already forgotten, let us recall that of the damned terrorists involved in the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich 1972 Olympics, not a single one was left standing. Neither the military tunnels of Gaza nor the luxury suites in Qatar or Turkey will be safe for them or their leaders forever. Israel’s long hand will bring them to the final reckoning." Palestinian reckoning - what they really think - opinion (msn.com) It appears the federal NDP are in even deeper ignorance than the Liberals (if that is even possible). The NDP has a motion to go a huge step further and recognize a Palestinian state. Such a move is very anti-Israel and demonstrates complete ignorance. quote OTTAWA — MPs are set to vote Monday on an NDP motion calling on the government to officially recognize a Palestinian state, testing deep splits in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal caucus over the Israel-Hamas war. The motion also calls on the government to advocate for an end to what it calls the “decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories.” It calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, an arms embargo against Israel, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and a lifting of the “arbitrary cap” on the government’s temporary resident visa applications from Gazans. The House of Commons is scheduled to vote on the motion Monday afternoon. “On Monday the NDP has a motion that it pitches as a call for a ceasefire. It does so without demanding Hamas surrender & no longer rule Gaza. it also calls for a litany of other things hostile to Israel. Changing foreign policy to reward a terrorist attack. Not smart,” said Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, on X . Joe Roberts: NDP's anti-Israel motion is a moral test for this country John Ivison: The Liberals are divided on Israel and completely adrift on foreign policy The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs launched a petition in opposition to the motion, saying it “threatens Canada’s values, foreign policy, and support of Israel, while giving Hamas what it wants: recognition and support.” unquote NDP motion to recognize a Palestinian state tests Liberal caucus divisions over Israel-Hamas (msn.com)
  18. If you have to put 50 litres in your tank once a week, that will mean another $3.50 per week or $14.00 per month on top of everything else that will go up. The cost of home heating for natural gas, oil furnaces, manufacturing, agriculture, meat production, grain production, and transportation of all products will go up too. So how much will that add to the monthly cost of living? A lot more than the increase in gas prices will occur. The cost of living will go up by far more than $14 per month. The cost of living could go up several times that. Carbon tax increases affects everything else too. But the federal government doesn't know how much it affects everything and can't say. I forgot, you don't know or care. You still think it will be only 3.5 cents. Dream on buddy if it makes you feel good.
  19. Where have you been hiding the last eight years. Trudeau has been the worst PM probably in history. We are in massive debt and spending billions to just pay the interest on the debt. Not to mention the housing crisis and vast numbers of people depending on food banks for survival. Trudeau has had endless scandals. We need to axe the tax, start serious home building, and get Canada back on the right path.
  20. You think the average Canadian is qualified to decide what aircraft the Canadian Forces should have?
  21. Read again. Aboriginals had a limited number of tools in 1800. White man had quite a few hand tools and was able to build houses faster and in larger numbers.
  22. Europeans colonized Canada but they didn't use a flame and sword. You don't seem to know much or anything about how Canada was settled. The U.S. was different. There were wars with aboriginals. That was not the case with Canada. But I don't think you know the difference.
  23. Of course they didn't have lumber and tools until the white man came. White man built sawmills and had the ability to produce lumber in large quantities. Natives did not have metal tools in a significant amount if at all.
  24. You don't know anything about Canada's history. When non-natives settled on the northern B.C. coast, they helped natives in a lot of ways. They built sawmills that manufactured lumber that natives could then use to build houses in their villages. They brought tools that natives and everyone could use to build homes. White man brought medical care and doctors that helped provide medical care for natives and everyone. Canneries were built and a system that allowed natives to sell their fish. Eventually schools were built and education provided for everyone.
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