Regular Newsblogger Steve posted an excellent comment in that Theory of Evolution thread, and it reminded me of the documentary Journey of Man. There are so many interesting and fascinating things you can learn once step out of the dark ages, start off by watching this Spencer Wells Documentary.
Here is Steve's comment about Evolution as posted in an earlier thread. Re-printed with his permission.
I hope to add to the discussion. A theory is all that we are left with after observation, experimentation and prediction. Electricity, evolution, magnetism, gravity, ad infinitum are all theories. Science does not produce fact or laws. It goes like this. All of science is based upon paradigms (like the rules of a game). We accept the paradigm that best fits our observations. Physics is the easiest example to understand. Ptolemy explained the universe in a very satisfactory way according to the observations of his time. Then Copernicus, skipping ahead to Newton, then Einstein and now Hubble or Hawkings.Each found something that didn't fit within the old paradigm or theory. Are we at an end. No, there will be new questions and/or observations that will change the way we understand the universe and physics will be ruled by another set of rules.
Now since all of science is reduced to "mere" theory, what about evolution? Many people prefer to call it "The theory of Evolution" somehow thereby reducing its importance. As it turns out, evolution is one of the most documented and supported sciences. It poses no threat to most established religions, unless one actually believes that Jesus rode on a dinosaur. Carbon dating, fossil record, DNA testing and many other techniques have resulted in quite a bit of evolutionary theory that is universally supported.
Now having said that, let me tell you about a program that I saw on TV over the holidays. A preacher and man named Carl, dressed in a doctor's lab coat were discussing the folly of evolution. They claimed that the Earth was only 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs were still living. Unfortunately, the dinosaurs only came out at night and their breath was toxic. Therefore, if you were lucky enough to see a dinosaur you were also unlucky to be killed by its breath. Ergo, no living observers. Then it was pass the plate and donate to their research. What a masterful research proposal.
So, if you are really interested in the theory of evolution, study, learn and prepare to be amazed. Did you know that through DNA testing we have found that all of humanity has come from around 550 female humans. What do you think about that, cousin. Did you know that all of our humanoid ancestors were black and came from a group of humanoids in upper Africa. Many of us, Asians and Europeans needed more melatonin to survive in a more temperate climate so our skin became lighter to be able to absorb more of the sun's radiation to produce more melatonin. How about Neanderthals. They died out. Yes sir, completely extinct. You see these charts of Neanderthals slowly advancing through the ages until they are modern man. Throw them away. It just wasn't so. The recent paradigm (well supported) is that all of the world's population came from about 1000 northern African individuals that were very handy with tools and that they spread from Africa about 75,000 years ago. Evidently, they spread up to Asia and Europe just as the Neanderthals were dying out.
Lets cut to the chase,are we mere pests of this planet or was there a creator that made this majesty just for us? Don't ask science. Faith is something personal. If it could be proven we wouldn't call it faith.
My only wish is that those who dismiss evolution spend some time studying and understanding it. Its kinda fascinating when you get in to it.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Maybe ALL of the smallest particles have always existed as have the laws that govern them.
Michael J Bihn at 12:00AM on Jan 4th 2008
2. Jeff - Thanks for reposting this. Pretty much the whole discussion boiled down to a few paragraphs. No name calling. No hate. The next to last paragraph is key.
alan at 8:51AM on Jan 3rd 2008
3. Jeff, Great documentary. I wish I could have been with Spencer on his journey, except for the 40 below temps in the Siberias. I think I would have prefered a beach condo to living on the Siberian steppes.
One thing that intrigues me. Yesterday a lady, short and a little stocky(very pretty by the way) was telling me how she loved the 17 deg. weather we are having. I, on the other hand, over 6 ft. don't feel comfortable until the temp reaches about 85. I have always wondered if this preference indicates the location of our ancestors. We adapt so that tall, long limbed people can dispurse heat in a hot environment and shorter stockier people retain heat by keeping things centralized. My wife and I fight over the AC controls because she likes it cold. I have always wondered whether her ancestors came from northern Europe and perhaps mine came from further south. Who knows but I think my second wife will love warmer weather.
Steve Seivers at 10:45AM on Jan 3rd 2008
4. "Tradition rarely sits well with science."
How true!
Fascinating documentary. We are all Africans. So much for Genesis. Most disturbing though... we are all related to Thomas J. Gassett and lizard.
Really, if you have the time, this documentary is worth watching.
Captain Negative at 6:15PM on Jan 3rd 2008
5. Michael #4 Good point. However, the concept of infinity is hard for the human mind to grasp. The concept of infinity backwards is even harder to grasp. How about this concept. I have been told that at the moment of the big bang all matter, gravity, time and energy was concentrated at a single point. That gravity unwrapped itself from that point and a tremendous explosion occured resulting in hydrogen gas which resulted in the universe. We see billions of galaxies in this universe. How could all of this matter and energy be contained at a single point? Our minds cannot grasp this easily. Then comes your point. Was there matter, time, gravity and energy prior to the big bang? If there was, it is inconceivable that we would ever find evidence of it, since the bang itself would probably have destroyed any such evidence. Pure mind boggling questions to which we may never find an answer.
You can play mind games with this concept. If the ingredients (matter, time, energy and gravity) just suddenly appeared out of nowhere then would that imply that they were created by someone or something. And further, where did that someone or something come from. If on the other hand, the ingredients had always existed (infinity backwards) it doesn't rule out a creator but it doesn't make one necessary.
Back to the evolution controversy. I am not aware of a human culture that did not believe in a creator. We come from a womb, fed and protected and end up in a violent choatic world full of things that may be hard to understand and full of things that may not seem fair to us. Floods, fires, famine, you know the rest. The human mind can't deal with this chaos. We need a protector, someone to help us make sense out of this mess. Evolutionary science has added to this chaos to many people. On the surface it may appear that evolution threatens many peoples beliefs and that it threatens the order that they have made of this chaos.
On the other hand many people are not threatened by evolution but instead can allow the evidence of evolution to sit comfortably within their world view.
For me, I'm just curious. When I see evidence that appears to be true (such as evidence of evolution) I have to find a place for it. I would just feel foolish if I attempted to deny such evidence because it may threaten any earlier held beliefs.
I guess it comes down to this, your personal truth is what allows you to sleep at night. So, if you have faith, have it, if not, then deal with it just don't tell me to ignore the evidence.
Steve Seivers at 7:57AM on Jan 4th 2008
6. Very good video Jeff, thank you.
a born atheist at 1:16PM on Jan 8th 2008
7. http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com
FORMER ATHEIST at 12:12AM on Jan 22nd 2008
8. Atheist and DNA discoverer, Dr. James Watson makes RACIST comments
inspired by his belief in Darwinism!
http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article3067222.ece
FORMER ATHEIST at 12:14AM on Jan 22nd 2008