why is the eu being told by a fairy tale religion i am sick of chritian censorship just because thay can not have there own way evolution is real fact creation is a man made fairy tale

andrew walker, solihull, uk birmingham

Allen - I hope that 'militant atheist' remark wasn't aimed at me. I'm a Christian, and my faith is extremely important to me. I still believe in evolution though. You haven't provided any alternative theories. If you want to be taken seriously, please do so.

Naomi, London,

Amazing how miltant atheists can easily atttack the God of religion, then tremble with rage at any suggestion of imperfection in the Gods of Science.

Big Bang theorists now struggle with an acceleration in the expansion of the Universe. It cannot be without adding force; so "Eureka!" we now have Dark Energy.

If I didn't pay attention in class, I am glad. That has kept me from accepting utter nonsense and allowed me to keep an open mind to observation which is the real key to progress.

For those who are still stuck with the quicksilver of theory; if you can't be part of the solution; at least step aside and allow the observers to continue their observations without regard to what that may do to your antiquated theories.

And, Niki, pay attention. Your comment about God and religion exposes an agenda. I mentioned atheism, but never creationism. In fact, there is no empirical proof of God. But then, there is no empirical proof of anything.

Allen, Shelton,

Allen - what do you mean by 'de-evolution'? I hope you're not making the mistake of equating evolution with 'progress towards an abstract idea of what is better'. It would be better to equate it with 'change to fit the environment as well as possible'. No one is saying that Darwin is infallible - evolution is indeed vastly more complex than he thought, but his ideas are the base for our modern understanding upon which new evidence and theories have built. 'Simple' Darwinism is not clung to by evolutionists, but has been developed and expanded over the last century and a half.

Naomi, London,

It would be foolish to debate the evidence. But Darwin was just another nineteenth century scientist drawing conclusions from his observations, Such men led the way to the science of today. But who would expect their conclusions to be correct in the opening round of any new science? Today we see more clearly how seriously flawed his conclusions were.

The process is much more compex than he envisioned. It contains more evidence of de-evolution than it contains of evolution. The role of isolated gene pools and cross breeding is better known today; but hard-line evolutionists continue
to ignore any evidence that might expose their idol's feet of clay and lead away from archaic concepts of evolution.

But science has always had those men who would boldly take on established concepts in the hope of unearthing truth. It is happening today

It will be interesting to see what atheists, who take comfort in Darwinism, will do when Darwinism is reduced to the level of phlogiston theory

Allen Trickey, Shelton,

This one is to Becca! Apparently you didn't pay much attention in those classes you took, they clearly explain that although the big bang created the world as we know it today, there was mass and energy prior to it. The big bang was just that, it was a massive emplosion and then explosion, and proves absolutely nothing about the existence of god OR religion. I too am a Biolist, and encourage you to continue to study, but pay better attention in you future classes!!!

Niki, Austin,, TX

Every one is free to have their own beliefs, but I know I didnt come from any monkey or accident, and im pretty sure God agrees with me on that one......

Adam, Sorrento,

Its so much easier to discover the existance of a reality from the evidence it produces than it is to be certain of the nonexistance of a thing without evidence. To take that thought a step further, we know that there are myriads of tangible truths realities materials and facts that exist across the boundless universe which are naturally surrounded by the evidences of their existance. We can be certain that there are many of them we haven't encountered yet being isolated here on our tiny little speck called Earth. Does our lack of knowledge of those things make them nonexistant? Did the man's unawareness of the venomous snake in the grass make its bite ineffective when it bit him? Neither that mans ignorance of the snake nor your opinion or mine regarding the answer will change the fact that the snake was there, that it had a very real impact on that man who didn't know it was there, and, in fact, it was his initial ignorance of the snake that allowed his path to a painful consequence.

Randall C. Todd, Tucson, Arizona USA

If your faith or relationship with God does not allow room for the wonders of evolution and the continually unfolding of creation, then your god is too small.

Dave, Rutledge, MO

It is a huge embarrassment to have such a museum in our country. I'm sure it affects foreigners' views of Americans. You guys make a good point. Most, if not all, of those who deny evolution don't even have a grasp on what the theory actually STATES. Humans and apes descended from a common ancestor; fossils as well as the field of genetics prove it. People need to do some research before they open their mouths, or else they run the risk of appearing ignorant and stupid. I guess it's hard for those with weak minds to accept that what you think is your entire reason for living is false (ie creationism). Oh, and that you've been giving churches your money for nothing. I have no such problem. All life is valuable and is always worth living, regardless of its origins. Those who believe in fairy tales need to stick to theology and such, and let scientists be.

Jeremiah Wood, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

There is no contradiction between the evolution theory and spirituality and the belief in the Lord. Rather the problem is the gap in the spiritual knowledge which seeks to view man as the physical body he wears. I will refer readers to the work IN THE LIGHT OF TRUTH-THE GRAIL MESSAGE BY AB-DU-SHIN. It closes the gap conclusively.

CHI NMAKA, LAGOS, NIGERIA

The bishop, his fellow evangelists, and fellow creationists are one example of the general intolerance and ignorance filtering through the religious airwaves. The lack of intelligence, tolerance, and understanding is immense and frightfully contagious. To be ignorant shouldn't be a right. Although not directly linked to terroism, this idea that "their religion or beliefs are the only true one and those are that do not believe what they do are wrought to hell for eternity" is the catalyst for terrorist ideology. I hope it never comes down to situations like that of anti-abortion fanatics and someone blows up museums in the name of God.. It will be a sad day when a priceless fossilized early ancestor is destroyed by ignorance.

Matt Fisher, Springfield, MO

A scientific theory is beyond a fact. Actually, a theory is hundreds or thousands of FACTS supporting an idea that can NEVER be proven as FACT! Is Gravity a fact? NO, its a theory. Is friction a fact? NO, its a theory. The only difference between these two theories and evolution is that evolution has about 10 times the amount of supporting FACTS. Also, intelligent design is NOT a theory because it doesn't have ONE, not one, piece of supporting evidence to back any of its claims. If you didn't see the PBS series NOVA the other night about the court case of EVolution vs. Intelligent DEsign you need to. The judge was a republican appointed by G. W. and even he said that Intelligent Design shouldnt ever be taught in school or anywhere for that matter.

Matt Fisher, Springfield, MO

I think if the bihop feels so strongly against the fossil and evolution exhibition ,he and/or other evangelical leaders should exhibit publicly their physical evidence that support their creationist argument and intelligent design theory.I think that would be more convincing toward their cause,than demonstrating and trying to censure the exhibition of a fossil record

Ramon Araujo Jr., Dallas, Tx.

To "Jesus Follower",
It is documented that researchers have taken sterile materials, oxygen, nitrogen, water, etc., and following an electric charge, have created microbial life. Life from the "un-living".
Anyway, I just wanted to say that religion versus science, as a topic creates more dialogue than any other subject. And, I truly appreciate the many comments here, for they have caused me to ponder, even deeper the "beliefs" I (always temporarily) hold. Thank you all, especially those of strong vocabulary, who have awakened my mind again to the very specific meanings of word in English.
Now then, while I stand bemused and fascinated by all of your arguments, including my fellow believers, (who would burn me at the stake for my opinions, or lack thereof), here's an interesting factor I've always pondered.
Science speaks of "the end of the known universe". But I wonder, how can there be an end? Then again, how can it have no limitation of space? I'll continue next post.

Mikey, Kennesaw , GA, USA

I think the great "IT" or "I am" will be thrilled to let me zoom out there for a fwe million years to get a basic understanding of it all. I wish to see, as an immortal, the inside of a hurricane and a volcano. I wish to probe the depths of Jupiter's atmosphere and planetary core. How, exactly do three or more stars, (much larger than our own), orbit each other? How about a close-up view of two planets colliding?
If I were a scientist, (and I am not), I would hope to choose a belief in a God, if only for the granting of such a great dream. Imagine learning first-hand how the time-space contiuom (?) actually operates. A much more interesting possibility than merely singing hymns on gold pavement. Immortal, I need no mansion. Discovery is of much greater value than a place to sleep, when I no longer require sleep.
Perhaps it's only a fantasy, but I love it. Because I choose to think.

Mikey, Kennesaw , GA, USA

Martin - you say you did A Level Biology yet your comments seem to indicate you didnt actually pay attention to the lessons. You are throwing out tired old creationis arguments along with strawmen and then you dismiss Naomi with the appeal to ridicule ("I dont have the imagination...")

You agree that "natural selection" and micro evolution exist and exert an effect on life. Are you truly incapable of seeing what will happen when "micro evolution" takes place over a long period of time?

Toby Maguire, Lisburn, Ulster

As I was pondering, an end? If there is an end, does it stop, as if a wall is there? If so, what is on the other side? If it is continually expanding, what is it pushing against?
To me, that is as difficult a puzzle as asking about the beginning of God. And. if he "created the universe", from where did he do so?
Frankly, the concept of an unending universe is incomprehensible... my mind hasn't wrapped around it yet. I think it never will, for if it does, I will surely be incorrect. Yet, my questions remain. I cannot comprehend either. And that bears the greatest of the human question. How, and why does this universe exist? What is it's full context?
I expect that when I die, I will meet God, whatever and whomever it considers itself. We use the word "He", but surely a god needs no genitals. The poorest of Christians look forward to rest, a mansion and streets of gold. I seek none of these. I want my questions answered, but no verbally. I wish to discover creation tangibly.

Mikey, Kennesaw , GA, USA

In fact it is likely there will continue to be controversy between scientific theory and religious theology or at least so long as organized theologies continue to exist. Just as religion once considered the Earth's rotation around the Sun to be blasphemy.

Dylan MacDonagh, Boston,

One thing that many creationists miss, is that even if the theory of natural selection is false (which is doubtful, given the evidence), it does not prove the theory of creation--or of intelligent design--true. There could be a third alternative, or an infinite number of alternative theories yet thought of to explain human origins. What creationists lack is positive evidence of any aspect of their theory. Negative evidence will not cut it. Despite gaps in the fossil record, at least evolutionists have some positive evidence for their theory. They are winning the fight on points.

J. Scott Lewis, Ph.D., Springfield, OH

The Bishop is correct: His family did not descend from apes. Evolution does not teach that they did. Apes are recent cousins of man, and as recent as modern humankind itself. It is sad the Bishop is so ill informed about something he criticizes.

Also, to suggest that evolution is an unproved theory that is currently being disproved all the time is ridiculous. It reveals the Bishop doesn't understand science at all. A theory can be theory and accepted as fact or an approximation of fact until it is disproved as to its its most central tenants. That certainly has not happened with evolution.

We have a new museum in this country that purports to show humans and dinosaurs lived concurrently. It is an embarassment to us all. I hope England will not follow course with this nonsense.

Thomas F. White, Wichita, Kansas, USA

All humanity, scientists and creationists, alike, are like a monkey that lives in a house. The monkey knows the house keeps it warm on cold days, the house keeps it cool on hot days, and the house keeps the snow and rain off its head. And, there is food available when it is hungry. The monkey in the house can see the building materials from which the house was constructed, but it has no clue how, when, and for what purpose the house was built. The monkey may assume, in its ignorance, the house was constructed specifically for its existence. All humanity, are like the monkey in the house, regardless of the existence of, or intrepretation of, scientific fact, or Biblical verse..

Michael Busby, Washington, DC, USA

Saltational is not punctuated equilibrium. Saltation refers to a "throwback" gene from an ancestor showing up in a descendant. Punctuated equilibrium posits that in a stable environment mutations won't find any reason to be perpetuated. In a stable environment the organisms hit their niche and stay there. When the environment becomes unstable, such as when an asteroid hits the earth and changes the climate, then mutations become valuable if they help organisms survive and reproduce. The changes will seem rapid in comparison to the stability from the earlier period. As the organisms change it may seem rapid in the geological record, but it's still hundreds of thousands or millions of years. When the environment becomes stable again then the mutations cease to be valuable and their incorporation slows. Evolution is a fact. I was a student of Gould's, and as he explained it is only theory in the scientific sense, not in the commonplace sense. It has been tested and proved repeatedly.

Paul D. Palmer, Waxahachie, Texas

thinking about evolution reflects logical thinking in terms of the scientific method:

1) ask a question
2) collect data
3) hypothesize
4) continually try to disprove the hypothesis in a consistent manner with experiments and results
5) theorize

anyways, without the concept of evolution modern biology would not exist, meaning all the modern marvels and scientific breakthroughs in modern medicine and genetics would be inexistent.

believing in creationism is akin to believing in the tooth ferry or santa claus, it's a childish way of looking at and understanding the world around us. knowledge builds on kowledge, that's what biological evolution and subsequently human evolution reflects, and that what makes us human.

if creations and the like were completely true to their beliefs, they should not benefit from anything that modern medicine offers, but instead rely solely on prayer.

david, san ramon, ca

I believe in God. My relationship with Him is central in my life and influences every part of it. I know that He lives -and I know that He communicates (as regularly as we will hear Him) with those who will listen. There are those among us who have learned first-hand that each one of us are individual sons and daughters of Deity, and that when ready, we are allowed the privilege of certain knowledge regarding particular unchangable Eternal Truths that the limited science or mind of man could never find on its own -not the least of which is The Knowledge of God. By this I mean an intimate personal knowledge -even to the knowing of His personality and purposes. No scientist can ever answer that for any of us. The mortal immaturity of men cannot compare to the immortal maturity of God.

Randall C. Todd, Tucson, Arizona

I believe in the almighty Giant Flying Spaghetti Monster... Its existence is just as provable as the "god" of the so-called christians, and knows a good ragu sause when it sees one.

Lor St. Vincent, Crisco, Iowa

God created the laws of physics and through them evolution. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is mis-stated, it says every closed system proceeds towards maximum entropy/disorder. There is no such thing as a compleatly closed system however. the second law of thermodynamics should say, an open system proceeds towards minimum entropy/ maximum order. there is also no such thing as a compleatly open system. Because we are an open system we are born, because we are a closed system we die. Only the laws of physics are compleatly open, they live forever!

bill wesley, San Diego, USA California

The theory of the conservation of matter states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. And the theory of the conservation of engery states basically the same thing about energy. We have the big bang theory etc... which was caused by an energy. Think about it folks. Science proves religion. If the big bang created everything wouldn't that go against the conservation laws? that only pushes one closer to the fact that God exists and I'm not ignorant; I'm a biology major and I took an evolution class. Look at the bible and the ENTIRE theory of evolution...they complement each other and remember the earth was created in 7 GOD DAYS (1000 years to us is like a second to him) thus, those million of years that scientists say major geological/biological events occurred have occurred in God days. I think that both sides need to research the other before they open their mouths and I just want to say that you tell Christians to have open minds same to you and I pray for you.

Becca, Tobyhanna,

What makes everyone think that the crowning glory of evolution is the ability to manipulate one's environment or absorb vast amounts of knowledge. We have done these things, and to what end? We still cannibalize our own species, sickness, disease,war,famine, crime, perversion is higher than ever before. Young men and women are hopeless, dying and killing in our inner cities, or turning to more exotic drugs to numb their emptiness. Marraiges and relationships are failing. People are indeed growing older, in a society that is not able to care for them. And everything that is born, dies. Everything that is fresh, becomes stale. Everything that is clean, becomes dirty. The snow falls as white, and turns to gray. Evolution is a myth in a world where everything proceeds to maximum entropy....by our own scientific observation. The world has been contaminated by men who thought they knew more than God. And only God, will return one day to fix his creation and the mess that we made of it

Mark Cognata, Medford, USA,Massachusetts

If god made us, who made god. That has to be the big question. If you believe in creation then you must believe the creator was vreated, otherwise when did he decide to create, why, and was he just hanging around playing with lego for millions of years before getting serious.

Michael Holloway, Sydney, Australia/ NSW

Craig from dallas: Do you have a video recording of god creating earth and mankind? No? Then by your own logic, god doesn't exist. Because that't pretty much the equivelent of you asking scientist to show every single step of the evolution.

Mattias, Norrkoping, Sweden

Me from Tiff, USA you are absolutely right: "The world seems a wonderful place, so how could it get that way without a designer?. But what about genetic diseases and other such flaws in our bodies that mar this perfection? And what about the evil in a human's soul? And all the starving suffering people? What kind of creator makes a beautiful blue diamond like the earth with such huge cracks in the center? "

Precisely what the Bible says.

Nick, Cape Town, South Africa

Evolution is a proven theory. It never fails to astound me when people confidently assert otherwise. The only reason it is attacked more vehemently than other proven scientific theories is that it is more discomfiting to religious beliefs. It is even a relatively simple theory to grasp, far more so than much of modern physics.

Also, there are many plausible theories as to how life arose. The fact that none have been proven does not have any bearing on whether evolution is right or not. Surely the fact that these theories are plausible is far greater than the unprovable, and entirely irrational, belief that a Creator is responsible for our existence.

Huw, Godalming, UK

Bishop Boniface Adoyo says that science is theory being taught as fact - what is religion then?

Katherine, Weymouth, UK

Can the religious people for once just ( for Gods sake) shut up!!
Pray and believe what ever you want, but don't bother others with it.

robert, vancouver, bc

I would not be worried about this bishop's comments. As is typical in these complex Christian social groups, he will soon be challenged by an aggressive young male who will want to lead the colony for better access to theological resources.

Historically, the traits that seem to have driven the development of these curious creatures is not intelligence but rather the skill and propensity for ritualistic unqualified rhetoric. Extraordinary!

Mark W, Singapore,

So many people write that evolution is 'only' a 'theory'. If we look at the theories of creationism and evolution objectively, then creationism and, indeed, the existence of God, are also 'theories'.

Also people seem to forget that, in science, the word 'theory' doesn't just mean an idea, but a thesis based on scientific evidence and study. Gravity, too, is a theory.

I am a Christian - I believe in God. But how can anyone claim that the Bible holds the literal truth, when it itself is full of contradictions? (Compare Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.) Jesus used many parables to explain things. The people inspired by God to write His word no doubt used the same.

Peter Mitchell, York, UK

It is still the THEORY of evolution. If it SO factual, where are all of the missing links? It is very simple, there are none!!! Evolution supporters still cannot come up with a viable explanation for the beginning of life. Or even the beginning of the universe.

Also, why not do DNA testing on all these skeletons? That will show for sure if they are in fact some in-between ape and human or not. That would show some facts.

Craig, Dallas, Tx

Intelligent design is an interesting idea. The world seems a wonderful place, so how could it get that way without a designer?. But what about genetic diseases and other such flaws in our bodies that mar this perfection? And what about the evil in a human's soul? And all the starving suffering people? What kind of creator makes a beautiful blue diamond like the earth with such huge cracks in the center?

To me, the religious folks ought to stop linking their beliefs with the outcomes of scientific investigations. It didn't go so well for the Catholic Church when they insisted the earth was the center of the universe and tied their theology to it, and it's not bright imo to repeat the mistake. Nothing in evolution is incompatible with a belief in God -- unless you make it so.

Me, Tiff, USA

what differance does it make on how god created us. The belief is that god made us and thats all that counts. No one know how god made us or the world or the universe,but we who belief in a god ,believe he did.

Ronald J Marsden , Beatty, Nevada

It is incredible to me that these "scientists" who promote evolution cannot even give a logical explanation of how life began. This is the sticking point. There is ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF WHATSOEVER that life came from some cosmic slime. I have walked through many wooded areas and have yet to see a log cabin that "evolved". It takes far more design for the human body to operate as it does. To think that it all came about from random chance is absurd.

Craig, Dallas, Tx

If one wants to argue that Creationism or Intelligent Design is a science, then the first thing you must postulate is that God exists. However, the every day or not so every day miracles, the Bible, the vast complicated flora and fauna on this planet or the far flung stars of the Universe are not proof. In arguing for Creationism you do nothing but belittle God. I "believe" that God is so much more than a theory.

And to Craig in Cumming GA, USA, if the Bible is of Men as you say then there's probably a preservative reason behind not eating shellfish or pork. So shrimp eaters -- bon appetit!

C J Taylor, Sydney, Australia

Genetics does not disprove evolution. The archaeological record does not disprove religion. Science does not necessarily seek to disprove God.

I am a Christian, and yet I am extremely grateful for the quality of life afforded to me by the efforts of scientists. In my mind's eye, science is man's attempt to understand an amazingly complex creation, just as religion is an attempt to know the mind of God. And because of free will, each and every one of you have the right to agree or disagree with that opinion.

My question instead is what Bishop Boniface Adoyo and his flock gains by demonstrating against the exhibit. What real threat does the display at the Nairobi National Museum actually present? Instead of igniting a furor, perhaps the Bishop's flock could refocus their energy on more constructive services to their community.

oldog, St. Louis, MO

Evolution is a theory. Period. The "science" behind it is really pseudoscience. If evolution were fact, there would be an abundance of fossils in transitional form found. There are none. Also, no living creatures today are in transitional form. Dogs are dogs, birds are birds, men are men, etc. There may be variations but, they are within their species.

Also, the fact that bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics does not prove evolution, either. They are still bacteria.

Vic, Moreno Valley, Ca

religion is a need to believe in onesself not to evaluate creation and the creator(god). that is why many believe in intelligent design without any consideration to other objectives such as evolution. only mankind could have been selected is the basis for this theory yet what about existance and all else needed to support this. are only those selected the chosen few and all others including all other life forms unimportant. science has proven many of our beliefs are just that beliefs nothing more. just because we can not understand something does not mean it can not be possible. to say this would be to say that god only exists for tose who are chosen and all ekse is of little or no importance. a creator of everything would not likely create in such a fashion. i think some people need to get over themselves and look at the bigger picture.a picture that there is much yet we do not understand and that it is okey to believe in god but they should admit to the true scope of bounderies.

robert filiatrault, port alberni, canada

"Tell me something I don't know - I did A level biology too.

The evidence is not good enough for me I'm afraid - just don't have the imagination I suppose - and there are too many unsupportable assumptions."

Martin - what sort of assumptions? Please post some examples. And incidentally, I'm an anthropology student. Evolution is core to my course.

Naomi, London,

The theory of Evolution has specimens and items that regular people and scientist can smell,see,examine and Touch. There is Matter and Physical Evidence that a scientist can latter on examine to DISPROVE the original theory if that is the case...that is SCIENCE. That cannot be done to one's BELIEF in GOD. As a good Catholic boy...LOL ......I do not need physical and material proof ,Science , to believe in a God. If you need to PROVE the Creation of God of All Things that means you do not believe as deeply as you think....Look at it this way....Do You Have to Hug or Kiss Somebody to prove that you Love or Like them...no the other person just Feels It...Wether these so called Believers like it or not....the Dark Ages is Finished and the Enlightenment and the Renaissance is here to stay...........

JON, Miami, USA

Evolutionists dislike Christians for their "faith" in a literal interpretation of the Christian Bible. Christians dislike Evolutionists because they have elevated a theory to a fact, based on "faith."

The difference as I see it is a literal intepretation of the Bible does not change; however, the theory of Evolution has continued to evolve.

K. Martinez, Lutz, Florida

What offends me as a former bench scientist is the disinformation promoted about evolution by creationists and their intelligent design proponents. Evolution, or natural selection, is a process that all living species go through at some rate. This is not a theory, it is proven over and over again every day in hospitals and elsewhere when bacteria become resistant to known antibiotics and new strains of flu come around. New species of animals are found every year. Even man is evolving, look at our appendix, wisdom teeth etc.!

What is even more ridculous is the notion that evolution denies God. There is absolutely nothing in the bible which states that this is so. One can imagine that God designed the universe and life to evolve as His purpose.

JC, Seattle, USA

If you view the human experience as just a minute on the clock of earths existence, then it was only about 3 seconds ago that science believed that the sun revolved around the earth and that "bad humors" determined the health of a human being. We "learned" from science about 1.5 seconds ago that blood has types and can be used in other bodies and that a picture can be taken of the inside of a body and less than a second ago we realized that polio is a virus and that pluto isn't a planet. How naive are we to believe that we are done understanding our condition and that science has it all figured out by now?

Frank Benedict, Waldwick, New Jersey, usa

The evidence for evolution is all around us. You can go to any public place and see people with features resembling those of species preceding homo sapiens sapiens. If a genetic comparison of individuals with these individuals and preceding species were conducted I am quite sure there would be obvious genetic similarities indicating proof of lineage.

Jim, Cleveland, Ohio

The reason the fossil record seems saltational may be due to the paucity of the records themselves. We don't have a clear view of the millions of year of the evolutionary model at work because we don't have the "complete" record. It's like taking a couple of dozen pieces of a jigsaw puzzle and trying to figure out what the picture is supposed to look like. It would be virtually impossible to find fossil records from every moment of every age in the development of a species like homo sapien.

If you look at the microbial world where mutations occur in a much faster timeframe then, yes, evolutionary theory seems to hold up. How else due you explain why certain bacteria become immune to antibiotics?

Karen Hancock, Hastings, Michigan/USA

Once again, "The Theory of Evolution" is "scientific fact", defined as "...... the most widely accepted theory" and is, therefore always subject to change, reinterpretation, and, sometimes, disproved altogether. "Intelligent Design', on the other hand, enjoys limited support but, in of itself, doesn't even rise to the level of a theory. It relies on a series of mathematical models which show that "the theory of evolution" is impossible and that, since neither theory can be proved to be fact, that it is at least as plausible as the most widely accepted theory. In short, from a scientific viewpoint, and they have, after all, ventured into the realm of science, it is nonsense.

Personally, I'm somewhere in between. With all the evidence and theories as to the origin of man, there is not a theory as to "why" man crawled up from the primordial slime. Maybe God caused the "spark" that started mankind. Hell, maybe God planted all this "scientific evidence" to confuse the sinners!

James Bruton, Arlington, Texas - USA

For many thousands of years man has sought to explain life on our planet with religeon. All previous religeons have been proved to be false and christianity which is only 2 thousand years old will be proven false also. Personaly I am becoming a fan of the Church of the Flying Spagetti Monster until someone can prove it wrong . I just wish science would give us a definate answer instead of a bunch of unproven theorys because right now they are just guessing like the major religeons are.

Rick , Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

I'd like to postpone this discussion for a few million years and see how man has evolved or maybe destroyed himself.
Evolution is on going and humans today are not necessarily the end product of evolution only the current one.

Don Fowler, Raleigh, NC/USA

The whole creation/evolution argument is the result of persons on both sides mis-interpeting what they have to work with. The Creationists believe something different then the Bible teaches and the Evolutionists have elevated a theory that is a long way from proven to the status of fact . Neither one has the 'Truth of the Matter', but the day is coming when there will be understanding and discernment. Then there won't be a controversy any more.

Jim, Sequim, Washington, USA

The biggest issue I have with the current understanding of evolution is the fact that the microbiology is gradualistic--tiny mutations gradually add up to major changes--while the fossil record is saltational--abrupt, dramatic shifts followed by long periods of stability. So the fossil record that is supposed to confirm the evolutionary model, really doesn't quite do that. Stephen Jay Gould coined the term "Punctuated Equilibrium', to describe the saltational record, and attempt to explain it. I'm not convinced he did.

I think these contradictions will remain unresolved until biologists embed their concepts of evolution in a quantum mechanics context. Currently, biologists' concepts of time (and therefore of evolution) are implicitly and unconsiously embedded in a woefully out of date (ironically) Newtonian concept of time.

Gordon, Eugene, Oregon/USA

The idea that "Man Descended from the Apes" is a creationist simplification designed to obscure the facts they do not like to see.
It's not exactly what Evolution teaches.
What evolution REALLY says is that Man & Apes both descended from a common ancestor. NOT that Man descended from Apes.

Religious Extremisim should be abhorred in all it's forms.

Neil Wilkes, London, United Kingdom

Naomi

Tell me something I don't know - I did A level biology too.

The evidence is not good enough for me I'm afraid - just don't have the imagination I suppose - and there are too many unsupportable assumptions.

Martin, Isle of Skye,

"To use science's own rules "if you can't physically see it happen, then what you have is theory and conjecture." Evolution cannot be proven unless one stands around "for millions of years and documents it". So its a theory. Theory. Get over it."

We HAVE been watching it. For thousands of years. It's called "selective breeding" and we've used it to create the myriad of plant and animal breeds that we now use every day in agriculture, keep as pets, etc.

The people who protest this most strongly always seem to be the ones with the poorest understand of what "theory" means in the scientific world.

Ruth, Houston, Texas, USA

Martin - natural selection/'micro evolution' is the mechanism for 'macro evolution'. If enough changes build up over time, then you will end up with something that is entirely different to what you started out with. To quote someone in a different discussion, "believing in micro evolution without accepting the fact of macro evolution is like believing in atoms but not molecules". There is indeed evidence of 'molecules to man' as you put it. Scientists have created amino acids (the building blocks of living organisms) using a mixture of the molecules they are made from and subjecting them to the forces found when a meteor hits the earth, something that happened with remarkable regularity during the earth's early life. There are species of single cell organisms that live in colonies together, with different individual organisms having different specialisations. It's not a huge leap of the imagination to see these as the precursors of early multicellular organisms.

Naomi, London,

Naomi, London

What you have pointed to is evidence only for natural selection or micro evolution.

The bacteria are still bacteria and Darwin's finches are still finches.

It is very poor evidence for macro evolution - ie molecules to man which is what you have to have if this fossil has anything useful to add to our knowledge of origins.

Martin, Isle of Skye,

Evolutionists: Make a living being with a conscious out of inanimate matter and I will believe. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics makes it impossible without starting with life.

John, Des Moines, IA US

"To use science's own rules "if you can't physically seit happen, then what you have is theory and conjecture." Volution cannot be proven unless one stands around "for millions of years and documents it". So its a theory. Theory. Get over it."

You can see it happen - try googling Richard Lenski. He has run experiments with bacteria that have run for thousands of generations and has found that his different populations have evolved in different ways according to their differing environments. And what about Darwin's finches? We can also see evolution in everyday life, and it is impacting on us here and now. MRSA, C. difficile etc are bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. How? Though evolution in response to the selective pressure of human medicine.

Naomi, London,

in reply to Nick - YES, grossly

Derrick, MK,

in reply to Eva - you've obviously read "Strata" by Terry Pratchett. However, there is no record, so far, of a dinosaur fossil being discovered wearing a digital watch ;-)

Derrick, MK,

I believe in GOD. I experinced Him when my fathers soul left his body and when I first looked into my baby's eyes. I also believe that Jesus existed as one of the most prominenent pacifists, along with Ghandi and others in the history books. But I would be naiive to believe my common sense is wrong and that the creationist idea is right. Those stories were written a long time ago, by 'learned' men who sat around a table trying to explain the unexplainable. There were no microwaves or radios in those days, but I'm sure the creationists today, would agree that it's not the devil's work or that we as humans have moved on from simply striking flint stones or rubbing dry sticks together in caves for fire. To all those staunch evangelical Christians out there..don't see this as an attack on the bible. Just see it as Gods message coming through to you loud and clear, in the form of common sense. You know God would want you to forgive yourself for being wrong. Us 'Darwinian Christians' do! Se

Sarah, Holland Landing, Ont.

"To use science's own rules "if you can't physically seit happen, then what you have is theory and conjecture." Volution cannot be proven unless one stands around "for millions of years and documents it". So its a theory. Theory. Get over it."
- vic, Palm Harbor, FL

Ha! Do you have a brain, vic? Yes, you say??
Can you see it??? No? I guess it's "just a theory" then.

"Seeing" is not a scientific rule. We can't see radio waves or gravity or air molecules, but we can see the effects of their existence on the world around us. The fossil record, and our fellow creatures on earth, are the effects of evolution in the world around us. Please, open your mind.

Michelle, San Franciso, CA

When people say "is religion dead?", of course it isn't, we're continually talking about it. Aren't we?

Sarah, Holland Landing, Ont.

I understand that at some point in the past something came from nothing. Or am I over-simplifying?

Nick, London, UK

Clearly, you evolutionists don't understand a thing. Lucklily, the great, late comedian Bill Hicks, in his rant about fundamentalists, has a fantastic explianation for it all. Effectively, we ARE being tricked by a 'prankster God'. who has, in fact, planted the dinosaur fossils to trick us all. Please see it, it's just so fitting...

Eva, London,

The Bishop says - Yet it’s being taught in our schools to children, a theory being taught as fact.

But what are you teaching Mr Bishop? And how much of that is fact?

W Dunseith, Contré, France,

Religion provides a means to avoid all metaphysical concerns. That is to say it avoids any questions all!

The single most important reason for religion is that people are afraid to die - i.e., be totally and completely deleted. And to avoid this anxiety/concern; religion is a denial of death (see book of this tiltle by Ernst Becker). And this means a denial of corporality - the body dies (people still blush because they have/are a body).

Religion cannot deal with anything corporeal. Think about it, who is the greatest Western religious superstar.

Ans. He did not (really) die. Think about is some more. He wasn't conceived by a sexual (corporal )act.. The idea of the trinity in Western religion is simply a gimmick - a way out of generate-ing real humans like you and me. That is to say, if you are both the pop, and the boy together! Autopsy was once a religious taboo, sex, will always be a problem, and so Turkana boy.

Boy would he be dismayed over his religious descendant

Andy, New York, USA

What an absolutely assinine arguement! Science exists to educate us ubout the physical world, so that we will know the FACTS about who we actually are, and where we came from. What we FEEL is totally irrelevent to any of it.
Religion exists for the sole purpose of making us BETTER persons, by the application of concious thought. It teaches us how to properly interact with our fellow beings, in whatever form, so as to have peace and prosperity for all. Any religion that actively preaches ANY sort of anger, disdain for another creature, denial of science as threatening to it's core beliefs, or violence in any form, is ABSOLUTELY a FALSE religion, and should be totally ignored by humanity as a lie, meant decieve. Puhleeese don't give us that same old crap about the "bible", as it is quite possibly one of the most hatefull and disgustingly exclusive (save-the koran) tomes in the history of humankind. Never believe faith based facts, they're generally lies!

Darrell Lynch, Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.A.

"If people evolved from apes, then why do we still have apes?"

We didn't evolve from apes, we evolved from an ape-like ancestor. Please study evolution in detail before you try to refute it.


"Creationist scientist" is an oxymoron.

A theory is not a guess, it is the highest level of scientific understanding.

Lynne, Dundee, UK

The bible is not a work of god but a work of man. Before the big to-do about that statement let me state another fact. Adam and Lilith were the first people on earth according to the original bible which by the way is the Jewish version. And Lilith left eden because she refused to obey Adam and returned later as a vampire demon. Don't believe me look it up. Don't believe me about the bible originating with the Jews. Then let me ask you this: Who did Moses lead out of Egypt?
Another thing the King James version popular here in the US written by people who feared for their lives from a king that was proven to be insane with an STD.
Also this is purely morally speaking. I believe all of those who want to wave the bible around as the way we all should live and behave, etc. The ones waving it should stop eating shrimp at dinner. You are an abomination against God. You shrimp, lobster, crab eating blasphemers.

Craig, Cumming GA, USA

Lisa - evolution isn't like a ladder with one species leading onto the next in a straight line through time. It's more like a branching tree, with numerous 'daughter' species decended from the same 'parent' species. We still have apes because they are on another branch of our 'evolutionary tree', and aren't the same as the ones we are decended from.

Naomi, London,

vic, Palm Harbor, FL-

To answer your questions, in order (I'll type slowly so you can follow along):

There are. There aren't. There aren't. They don't. Floods happen. It did. No it doesn't. .

Apeman, Scott City, USA/Kansas

Richard Leakey -" . . . well, how stupid can you get?” I guess it reamins to be seen how much more stupid can you get. If evolution is fact why aren't there all kinds of half dinosaur half birds in the fossil record. Why are human remains discovered alongside dinosaur bones? Why is there ancient depictions of man and dinosaurs coexisting? And these representations are anatomically correct and more accurate than the versions scientists have tried to piece together from bones alone. Why is it that EVERY CULTURE IN THE WORLD has accounts of dragons? Cultures that have never met. Why is there over 200 versions of the Noahs flood story again among cultures that have never met? Why didn't the coelacanth evolve? The Bible describes dinosaurs in several passages. Why would multiple historical accounts describe something they'd never seen? There was an ancient hammer found fossilized in rock dated at around 250 million years old. According to evolutionists, dinosaurs made it.

vic, Palm Harbor, FL

There are some really ignorant comments being made. Evilutionists attacking for the sake of attacking. If evolution was held up to the same standard as creationism, it would fall flat on ts face. To use science's own rules "if you can't physically seit happen, then what you have is theory and conjecture." Volution cannot be proven unless one stands around "for millions of years and documents it". So its a theory. Theory. Get over it.

vic, Palm Harbor, FL

So now evolutionists are saying gravity is just a theory! Where's the logic? Without it everything not tied down would just float off into the atmosphere.
Who determines what intelligence is but a group of scientists arguing with those who they think are less smarter than themselves. By saying that half the human race is below average intelligence is their way of reasoning that man evolved from apes! If half of the population were given the chance to increase their learning skills they would know a lot more.

marilyn carrier, troy, mi

What does the Bishop think this skull is then? A horribly deformed boy, or maybe a trick?

Rick, College Station, TX,

The "faith" of evolutionists is greater than the faith of many Christians. Anyone who can believe that nothing plus nothing equals everything is truly an amazing person. An all-knowing, all-powerful intelligence is evident everywhere. Open your eyes and you will see. Open your hearts and you will know.

Jim Thomas, Panama City, Florida

Stephen Jay Gould no longer believes in evolution

Jim Thomas, Panama City, Florida

Religion has killed more people than the plague; religious intolerance and backward thinking cause more hardship than all the dictators who ever lived, combined. . .beleive what you want ot beleive, but leave intelligent, thinking humans to decide for themselves and stop being so arrogant as to think that you can think for me...I would never think to try to sway anyone from their primitive shamanism; it would be much appreciated if they would have the common courtesy to return the favor, and stop wasting my time and theirs trying to get me to beleive their "theory", for theory it is...

Ron Myers, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

If people evolved from apes, then why do we still have apes?

lisa m, spaulding, okla, usa

Science tells us how, religion tells us why. Still, religions seem to share the same archetypal characteristics - they're all just stories. Religion helps a lot of people, but it also kills a lot of people - at least with science it's based on rational, logical arguments and discussion. If i were a betting man, I'd back science any day and if there is a God, he/she'd embrace science as a way of finding out just how incredibly complex his/her work actually is. Unless, of course, Scientology has it right and Xenu will soon be upon us, or the Mormans and Jesus is actually from Texas.

Rex Banner, Brisbane, Australia

Evolution is a false theory because its just a fairy tale for grown ups they tell you that a frog can turn into a prince but is not true that is impossible. The same applied to apes turning into humans.

Most of the articles I read these days about science only support the evolution theory and is very bias. The news today don't show the other side and let creationist scientists defend creation, don't be suprised there are hundreds of scientists in this world who support creation please let them speak also not just the evolution scientists don't be bias thank you.

In conclusion based on the evidence that the creation scientists have presented to me I don't believe in evolution theory I believe more in a intelligent designer. Also evolution and creation are incompatible with each other because both cannot be right so don't try to put them together the bible don't mention anything about evolution so don't try to make evolution part of the christian faith.

knowledge is power

OldLiesForTheNewWorld, Providence, RI

christianity, or any otherwise creationism religion, has both "good" and "bad" parts, as we are all humans. there have been many atrocities commited in the name of religion, to the tune of think my way, or i will try to make sure you cannot think- the basic humanitarian concepts espoused in all religions would make a more perfect world, too bad they are corrupted by human fears

donkarlos, foley, usa

When I first tried to reconcile creation and evolution, I listened.
People said things like "God put those fossils there to lead the weak astray". This was surely wrong. Why would God deliberately lead people astray? That's the work for the devil!

Then I hear theories about the Bilble's time line being inaccurate, based on "a day being as to a thousand years" or whatever. Well, plausible, but not convincing, it still didn't add up.

Later a southern baptist explained "all evolutionary theories are being disproved". Not so, you can see it around you, you can see it happening in society. It's intuitive. I research on and found they believed that the earth is only a few thousand years old and that all time is compressed into that frame, and that carbon dating is inaccurate. Well if it's that innacurate, I expect it would find living creatures to be from 5000 in the future half the time. :o)

My Question;
If God created a perfect world why shouldn't He have created History too?

Doug Cherry, Greenville , SC

It is funny when religious folk come along to make theories and scientific facts look like nonsense. It is all just a large ploy to deflect the notion that Religion is just a basis of Mysticism. Someone wrote a book or two using a pen (created by god, or invented by man???) and have all the religious people believing it. As it has been noticed over many years, science has and will continue to make breakthroughs that continue to explain in detail of what actually goes on, rather than the same boring response of "it is God's creation" I guess with fewer people turning to religion, perhaps they are becoming a bit more desperate...

Harm, Boston, US

The tenacious clinging to dogma and denial of anything that contradicts it notwithstanding, it continually amazes me that there are those within the scientific community who have no firm grasp on Darwin's work. Evolution (change over time - to put it simply) is not a theory and certainly not the "theory" espoused by Darwin. Darwin's idea used evolution (something known even then as the mechanism of change) as the basis for his theory of how evolution worked in the "Origin of Species" and their subsequent development. It shouldn't surpirise anyone that the dogmatically-challenged haven't actually read Darwin (why read the work of someone with whom you've already decided you disagree despite the fact that you have no idea what it was they said) but for those within the scientific community to be so woefully uninformed should give one pause to reflect. That Bishop Adoyo's family didn't descend from apes is evident from the fact that he lacks the ability to cogitate, a common human trait.

Lozang Gyaltsan, San Diego, CA

I believe in GOD. Not from what others have tried to teach me, but through the daily viewing of such a beautiful abundance of life that we have on this planet. The only ugliness here is what man has brought upon it. No, nothing is perfect, especially when it comes to man. The bible has been re-written, the stories embellished a little. But I also believe that the basic word still rings true, and I also believe in God's ability to protect his word. We are the biggest threat this world has ever seen, and also its greatest treasure. God was the first and still the only true geneticist. I hope he keeps tweaking us, for all our sakes.

John Dickens, Pender County, United States

Genesis 1 and 2 has not been seen as literal history since Augustine in ~ 400AD - the fact that these two chapters give contradictory timelines has indicated to everyone who reads it properly that it is not setting out history. While Creationists don't seem to take this point, certain prominent writers who want to use science to beat religion pretend that all Christians take this literal approach to Genesis. We don't.

If someone is genuinely interested in getting to the bottom of this topic, I'd recommend Francis Collins' (Director of Human Genome Project, and a Christian) defense of evolutionary theory as a theory proven by DNA ("The Language of God") , or Ernest Lucas "Can we believe Genesis today?".

Gareth, London, UK

i grew up christian but as i studied other older religion i learned that christianity is based heavily on sumerian and babylonian (pagan) myths that were around thousands of years before christianity. serena, baton rouge,

What a person "learns" over the years & what is objectively warranted belief are sadly, in many cases, two different things. I also heard rumors about this. I looked into it. I have found no mainstream biblical scholar who would agree with this statement.

If a person studies the Epic of Gilgamesh, where the biblical "Flood Myth" supposedly came from, one finds a story with many magical & fantastic elements. Scholars therefore posit that the Biblical account probably came before the Epic.

If you study documents taken from the Accadian language, you will discover a set of pagan myths that are like those found in the rest of antiquity. The biblical narrative is unique, despite any syncretism that may affect outlying areas.

karl daggerfield, Las Vegas, Nev USA

Adam from TX has no clue of what he is talking about. EVERY modern translation is done directly from the original languages, not through multiple intermediary languages.

If he is that ignorant of what he claims is the basis of his argument, how much else of what he says should we believe?

And Andrew from Japan displays the type of appalling bigotry I thought modern society was supposed to have outgrown. Even worse is the rank hypocrisy of ridiculing a position he clearly does not understand. To create fossils, you need to prevent decay of the dead creatures and also a source of mineral-rich water to preserve them permanently -- exactly the sorts of conditions provided by a year-long global Flood.

In the end, it's not a war between science and religion, but between a faith in purely naturalistic explanations, and one that permits supernatural causes.

Webster, Alexandria, Va, USA

There seems to be some confusion about whether we are decended from the apes. It is wrong to say that we are decended from modern African apes - chimpanzees are not our ancestors. We decended from an as yet unknown primitive ape species, from which the modern apes are also decended, splitting from them between 5 and 8 million years ago. We are apes ourselves - bipedal, naked, highly intelligent apes. We are in the same superfamily (hominoidea) as the apes, and arguably the same family (hominidae). It is also wrong to say that we are 'ascended' from the apes. It's not as if some distant ancestor suddenly said "right, I'm bored of all this hooting and scratching under the arms, I'm going to evolve into something better". Modern apes are just as evolved as modern humans, they aren't the same as our ancient common ancestor.We have simply evolved in a different way to them, and underneath our veneer of culture we are essentially still animals with very similar urges, desires and reactions.

Naomi, London,

Ed, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA said:

"NOTHING in nature can become more complex."

Uh oh. Here comes the fundamentalists' favorite argument adapted from thermodynamics' second law.

The fact of the matter is, plenty of things in nature become more complex as time evolves. I guess Ed hasn't had children yet because if he had, he'd realize that between birth and about five years of age the mind become exceptionally complex as neurons multiply million fold every second. The ability to learn language is established, the ability for abstract thought begins. This is a system which becomes so incredibly complex from its humble beginnings as a neural tube.

If this isn't the development of a more complex system from a less complex one as time progresses, then I don't know what is.


Why do scientifically literate folks have to suffer fools such as these?

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

Fundamentalist Creationists and Intelligent Design adherents are in the same philosophical family as fundamentalist Islamic fascists. Fortunately for civilized society, they don't blow stuff up as often.

From an intelligence perspective, God certainly was less kind to these poor souls than he was to the scientificly-minded crowd. So please, everyone, humour those afflicted with the disease of fundamentalism in their professions of "God did this" and "God did that." Maybe one day God will be kind enough to reveal to them that they "'aint so bright as they think they is."

Dave, Phoeniz, AZ, USA

If you look religion around the world you would come to the same conclusion, ALL THE CULTURES HAVE THEIR OWN IDEA OF THE CREATION. they were trying to explain something they couldn't.
I think Freud once said "RELIGION IS THE RESULT OF CIVILIZATION" plain & simple.
Say no more.

Marco, Guatemala, Guatemala

I know I've just posted, but I must say this again...
Ed from Glen Ellyn - DO SOME RESEARCH. Try Boyd and Silk's 'How Humans Evolved' for a clear and concise explanation of the evolution of complex features. You won't get a good explanation of this if you're going to rely on basic sources. Evolution can in fact be explained by small changes over time (as well as by more drastic genetic mutations). Indeed your statement "sure things may change over time... but that's not evolution, that is an organism adapting to the environment," is laughable. You've just recognised the existance of evolution - it works by the means of natural selection that you've just mentioned.

Naomi, London,

Once a brilliant young astrophysicist delivered a lecture in a small town on the current scientific theories concerning the origins of the Universe, discussing such ideas as the Big Bang, black holes, quantum mechanics, string theory, etc. After he was finished speaking, the floor was opened to questions.

At the end of the line, a little old lady stepped up the the microphone.

"Young man", she said. "That was a very clever presentation, but you are wrong. The fact of the matter is that the world sits on the back of four giant elephants who in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle."

The scientist responded, "Ah, but what does the turtle stand on?"

The old lady replied, "It's turtles all the way down."

Arguments about first causes are probably the most absurd of all the attempts at trying to prove the existence of god/s. It gets you nowhere. Where did god come from? He/she/it/they have always been there, you say? Well, I say the same thing about energy and matter.

Apeman, Scott City, USA/Kansas

Evolution is a false theory because its just a fairy tale for grown ups they tell you that a frog can turn into a prince but is not true that is impossible. The same applied to apes turning into humans.

Most of the articles I read these days about science only support the evolution theory and is very bias. The news today don't show the other side and let creationist scientists defend creation, don't be suprised there are hundreds of scientists in this world who support creation please let them speak also not just the evolution scientists don't be bias thank you.

In conclusion based on the evidence that the creation scientists have presented to me I don't believe in evolution theory I believe more in a intelligent designer. Also evolution and creation are incompatible with each other because both cannot be true so don't try to put them together the bible don't mention anything about evolution so don't try to make evolution part of the christian faith.

knowledge is power

OldLiesForTheNewWorld, Providence, RI

Wow, I guess no one will have much to say if theyy fund out this planet was a seeding experiment of some type and that all of our religious faiths just happen to be remarkably similar despite seemingly outward vast differences, that it was given as a pacifier that we that we managed to turn into aweapon in a war of word,idealogy, and deeds, yes it is in my undereducated opinion that to simply ask can we all just get along, after all we've managed to fight and enslave each other as long as we have been here as long as someone else was different , weaker.So what happens when if we find a whole new truth, do we come together or say no that's not what the bible or koran or buddah say's or maybe just get put back in the JAR WITH THE REST OF THE ANTS FROM THE EXPERIMENT.............I'm just saying. Ray

Ray, lake city, florida

Anyone that would believe that we would evolve from monkeys into man and not have any living examples existing today in a world of constant evolution within a species are completely moronic and uneducated. You would rather believe in a scientific impossibility rather than believe in a God that created everything. Professing yourselves to be wise you become as fools.

geoff, norman , oklahoma

I'm reading all the comments and insults in this forum and I simply say the day is coming, who ever cares to believe it or not, that Jesus is returning to get the true believers who showed faith and endured hardships and yet still know in their heart, mind and soul that there shall be no more suffering for his namesake. As God created us, he gave us Free Will. He started with Adam & Eve and they disobeyed him just like man is doing today. God's laws are basic So continue to waste your time and energy about the evolution of man because it does not matter. I'm just a grain of sand on a beach Christian woman who have that faith. I'm secure in Christ. Don't be left behind.

Syl, Ossining, USA/New York

The evidence for GOD is every where, if one just looks around. When was the last time one witnessed a tree springing up from the ground without first a seed being planted; or when did one last see a rock morph into a living creature???To suggest life came from non-living matter is unbelievable. So where did the single cell come from, the one where all life supposedly evolved??? It's known by anyone with even the smallest amount of commonsense that life comes from life.GOD is life, so it stands to reason that life came from HIM.

Jesus Follower, Kansas, USA

"Hornblower" made the comment that intelligent design is not very intelligent. But that doesn't take into account that the human body and everything in nature will degrade over time.

NOTHING in nature can become more complex. The idea that any organism becomes more complex over time is foolish. There are no examples of any plant/animal developing into a more complex organism--sure things may change over time (Darwin saw beaks that were different on birds), but that's not evolution, that is an organism adapting to the environment. Fish in caves don't develop eyes that can see in the dark, they loose their eyes.

Ed, Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

It would seem to me there are 2 kinds of science, deductive and inductive. What we as a people need to ask our selves "how are we going about to find the answers" Do we look at at the evidence and speculate or do do we speculate and look for the answer? Either way the proceesis are flawed.
Evolution has alot of unanswered questions, and instead of admitting that, many defend it and pit it against alternative concepts( Creationism). Man is the same whether he is a bishiop or a scientist. Man can mess up religion just as easy as science.
What is troubling is instead of logic based debates, we take sides and fight.
There is scientific theories that support a literal week of creation in the bible as well as millions of years. It's the complexity of time and space that limits our own understandings, and yet we on both sides, are eager to dismiss the others...

Jeremy Bradley, Connecticut, USA

A previous respondant said "...how many poor people are fed or homeless shelters run, or sick people cared for by evolutionary anthropologists digging up our common human past? " An equally interesting question is "...how many evolutionary anthropologists fly planes into buildings and strap bombs to their chests and enter public places?" We will only gain understanding of the universe by challenging the current state of knowledge. That does mean questioning the validity of current evolution theory. But it aslo means not accepting the cop-out "god did it---I don't have to think because I just believe". Creationism is no more believable than the notion that god gives 72 virgins as a door prize for sensless slaughter!

Lake Ritter, Marietta, Georgia USA

"The problem with these anti-evolutionists is that they have the wrong perspective. I agree that we did not DESCEND from the apes. In fact, we ASCENDED from the apes.

Bob H, Irving, TX"


---- Nearly, Bob.....

Are we all missing the fact that we shared a common ancestor to the Apes....aren't we all 'ACENDED' from Proto-Apes....?

Jesse, London,

Here is a radical view of the whole debate. Has anyone considered that evolution is (in a sence) a natural continuation of intelligent design?

For those who study the bible, it speaks about God telling Adam to change the world as necessary. But have we considered that in changing the world we can also be change ourselves. What is evolutions? As a species persists, a gentic quirk may prove highly beneficial and becomes an advantage in consideration of a mate. As most of a population takes on the characteristics of this adaptation (and somewhat locks it in) we have evolution (I am purposely being very simplistic).

So could it be that the perfect thing about a creation is its ability to remain relevant so if through adaptation (and by extension evolution) we are in fact expressing the genious of intelligent design what really is our stress? As far as I know intelligence is the ability to overcome challenges.

A. Lewis, NY,

I used to have an imaginary friend, but I grew out of it. Why can't others do the same?

Gary, Maidstone, UK

No mater what the truth may be. Man is Mankinds own worst enemy. Think about it.

Slumjelly, Huntsville,

Here's something I haven't heard mentioned...when Adam and Eve were banished from the garden of Eden, and in the story of Cain and Abel, there is clear reference that other people existed in the world. However, if you take a Creationist approach, there is no accounting for that because Adam and Eve's first children were Cain and Abel. So, if you believe in the literal word of the Bible, how is that possible?

Oh, and just a side note: In Ancient Hebrew/Aramaic, "Adam" means "man" the word in Hebrew for "person" is "ben-Adam", which translates to "son of man".

L, Suwon, South Korea

If humans are the product of 'intelligent design', then it's not very intelligent. The human body is full of things that are just straight out dumb. The appendix? Wisdom teeth? Cancer? If we need to be busy doing God's work all the time, why do we need to sleep every day? Why these people want to give their diety credit for tapeworms and fleas I have no idea. To me a god more worth worshipping would be one who with a snap of his finger got the whole ball rolling instead of bogging down in minutiae. And by the way, gravity is just a theory too. It's really just angels pushing down on everything.

Hornblower, Pleasanton, CA

'Half of all humans are .......... below average intelligence'? Actually, I think that might explain secular humanism, with its livid insistence that all the order in the universe came from total disorder. It requires greater faith to believe in nothing than to believe in God.

D. Smalley, Indianapolis, Indiana

I believe it was Ben Franklin or another similar 18th century wise man who said that religion and politics should not come between friends. Is religion perfect? No, of course not. But how many poor people are fed or homeless shelters run, or sick people cared for by evolutionary anthropologists digging up our common human past?

Perfectly good people who do good things for other people have their idiosyncrasies; for some this is a dogged belief in a simplistic account of evolution, and for others this is feeling threatened by that dogged belief.

Fortunately, life and the species goes on. It goes on better when humans do what they can to help others. For all it's faults, the Christian church has 2000 years of helping other humans in need. I would submit that this fact is more relevant to more human's lives than than the essentially political views related to events that happenned millions of years ago. For friendly people, the "between friends" choice comes in here...

David, Baraboo,

Half of all humans are, by definition, below average intelligence. This explains the persistence of religion.

Apeman, Scott City, USA/Kansas

That is how you arrive at an average. The lower half aginst the upper half, half will always be lower than the average you genious. According to you Man is his own GOD. How smart you are.

Robert Burton, Midland, Texas

Religion is fine, if you're looking to answer questions about human relationships, but it should not be considered as a source of information about biology, the world or the universe. To say that the Torah, the Christian Bible, the Q'ran, the Bhagavad Gita, or any other religious text is valuable as a reliable scietific tool is ludicrous. Those texts were crafted over the course of centuries, possibly millenia, to channel people's thinking into certain modes of thought, not to document history.

scott, pohang, south korea

Half of all humans are, by definition, below average intelligence. This explains the persistence of religion.

Apeman, Scott City, USA/Kansas

There was a line in this story that goes Evolution theory is being proved wrong everyday. It is imperfect because it is not as easy to prove concretely as say The Law of Gravity.
Well if one has taken the time to read the translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls and some of the research into these documents, Christianity as we know it is being proved wrong everyday and that is using the very own words written down by the early Christians. So if the Bible can be proven different and subject to tweaking without affecting its message, surely a theory who basis is in human history can be tweaking to better ensure its message is complete.

Dani, Simi Valley, CA,USA

<i>His argument echoes a similar dispute in America, where creationists have developed the theory of intelligent design as a rival to Darwin’s natural selection.</i>

This is the most ignorant statement ever made in print... The history of the creation movement was document about 5 thousand years ago or more, when Darwin's evolutionary theory came only some 150+ years ago... so how could creationists developed the intellegent design theory after? Darwin's theory was developed to rival the historical data of the Bible...not the other way around

Jon, tucson, az,

Science brought us the proof that genes can be altered to improve the species. It was God who created Adam out of existing female apes ovulae.

Dean Chourafa, Baltimore, Mary Land

No one today calls evolution 'Darwinian Evolution', Paul from Vatican City. It's called neo-Darwinism. Darwin predated knowledge of genetics. I see thru your strawman argument. Darwin was absolutely correct. He simply didn't know the mechanism for evolution.

We know it and have known it for decades. Count 'em. Decades. Case closed. Stop obfuscating the issue.

Mark, Chicago, USA

In every village there is a torch - the teacher. And an extinquisher - the preacher. Victor Hugo.

Bob Russell, Winnipeg, Canada

Genesis 1:1 In the BEGINNING (time) GOD (energy) CREATED(force) the HEAVEN ( space) and the EARTH (matter) God created everything, including the five
principles upon which science is based. Donna

donna parsons, east liverpool, USA,ohio

The problem with these anti-evolutionists is that they have the wrong perspective. I agree that we did not DESCEND from the apes. In fact, we ASCENDED from the apes.

Bob H, Irving, TX

Anyone on this thred making the 7 days in genesis is seven ages argument should consider that in the 10 commandments (those listed in gen 22 I believe) use the same word when discussing the sabath......reconcile that, please....you can't do that without playing god and making your own decisions on what is metaphor and what is not....that is called rationalization and is weak

antii-theist, Houston Texas, USA

"Everything we know about genetics tells us that Darwinian evolution is impossible so why persist in pretending it is possible let alone the only plausible explanation."

Show me physical proof of your knowledge in genetics and why this genetic proof proves the Darwinian Evolution is impossible. We can speculate all day long that the turkey is in the oven just by smelling it but until someone presents that turkey on the table it's all just speculation and theory. Here they are presenting that proverbial turkey if you will and if it doesn't meet your beliefs then fine just don't force it on others. Provide your proof of a higher power, actual physical evidence that god or a god exists. The evolution of mankind isn't something that is drummed up with superficial evidence. Physical proof that some kind of evolution has been occurring within our species or gene pool for millions of years on this planet. Not only is this evident in mankind but also in other creatures that we coexist with.

Paul, Vatican City,

Didn't "GOD" create everything?? So we "humans" are "related" to everything aren't we???

Trish, Detroit,

The bishop is technically correct given a tortured enough interpretation. He and his family did not really "descend from" apes, since they are *still* apes.

People don't get upset when you tell them they are biological creatures. They don't get up tight when you tell them they are mammals. They are okay with being told they are primates. But that "ape" label really seems to stick in the craw of some. Anything but that! I wonder why.

Geekwad, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

So, in fact 'The Flintstones' is a documentary, right? And what about fossils? Oh, they're the work of the Devil.
And where would this factory producing fossils on behalf the Devil be located?
Ridicule coupled with sarcasm is the only appropriate reaction to Creationists.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

Bravo to Adam from Texas. That is the very same argument I have used for several years now. The Bible of today is not the same as when it was first written. There have been too many interpretations for every word to be taken seriously. Through experience and my own studies, I have found that there is truth in both creationism and evolution. It is interesting to note that almost all early civilizations had a story of how their people were created, however, the findings of science cannot be dismissed as easily as some would like. Common ground can be found if both sides try hard enough.

Sarah Mangroo, Lville, AR

kelsey, gainesville, fl: "do not pass judgment on something you have little or no knowledge of. educating yourself is the best way to promote tolerance..."

Tell us Kelsey, what is your education upon the topic? Are you an anthropologist or biologist?

I find most of the people lecturing others on their need for an education on this topic are amateurs themselves, which is highly peculiar. It shows how Science seeps into society in general, spreading opinions that masquerade as rigorously derived knowledge.

karl daggerfield, Las Vegas, Nev USA

As a christian myself, I do not understand what the problem is here. It speaks as a pretty sad state of affairs if the only way that these christians can defend their faith is to try to hide any evidence of the opposition. To me, that shows lack of faith and conviction amongst these so called believers. Imagine the outcry if the evolutionists demanded that all bibles be removed from circulation because it may be seen as evidence of creation.

Firm believer, Brisbane, Australia

Genesis is a remarkable book and does not conflict with science. The order of creation from the void to the dry land follows perfectly the geological record. The creation of life in the water to the dry land follows what we know and the evolution of the animals on the land up to human civilization is beyond a mere guess. Many Christians overlook the two creations of mankind. There was the people who inhabited the Earth and finally, the creation of Adam in God's image. Not that he looked like God, but that He gave him a soul. Genesis is a brilliant synopsis of evolution without the details. Could anyone explain today's weather report with satelite images to Ben Franklin, a scientist who lived hundreds, not thousands of years ago, and not confuse him with details? Ancient peoples were not confused, they accepted as we do, the simpler version, and leave the details to others. Creationists only need to look at the timeline in The Book to know what is right.

Wayne Seibert, Fairborn, Ohio

Basically what is really being argued here (despite the adamant fury expressed by clerics) is a cultural evolution as well as physical. I doubt if even Church officials can deny that we have undergone a cultural evolution since the beginning of the Church and, consequently, cannot we also understand that along with a cultural evolution must come a physical evolution as well? I sincerely doubt if we have many scientists who proclaim that we "are descended from apes" despite the flamboyant rhetoric of some Church officials. From a lower life "form", yes, but "form" suggests many avenues. Man could always have been man but not necessarily the man that we know today. In fact, to proclaim such is simple ignorance. Man had to realize God before he could become one with God. It is a sure bet that man did not realize God as we understand God in early forms. Let us take a rather isolated verse from Genesis: "There were giants on the earth in those days." Who were those giants?

Doctor, Fort Worth ,

I love the comments that state, "If you study the bible carefully.....you will see". Study the bible? Which bible? One written in Aramaic? Or the New International Version? It amazes me that people can hang on every word of a book that has been translated over numerous languages, copied, modified, edited, and revised countless times, over thousands of years. Any bible students out there ever study a foreign language? Even between two languages as similar as English and Spanish, there are many situations where so much of the meaning is lost in the translation. I guess these people believe that every scribe, clergy or ruler who oversaw the transcription of the books had a firm grasp on the previous version's language and had no agenda to push by changing or adding to the text. I suppose if one can so dogmatically believe literally the story of creation, as well as human parthenogenesis (producing male offspring!), he or she can believe anything.

Adam, Lewisville, TX

I find it amazing how people can be so arrogant and ignorant to dismiss science and only believe what the bible tells us. These same people forget that the bible was written hundreds of years after the death of Jesus. Don't they realize that certain stories may have been exaggerat