What convinced you that Evolution is the truth?

[Willamena]

Of course this question is addressed both to theists and to atheists. Both to those who believe in evolution and those who believe it's untrue.
Explain why you, through your intelligence, reason and mind developped the awareness and the conviction that Evolution is the historical truth.

If you are a theist, please explain the theological implications, as well.

I will underline that we are not talking about Intelligence Design, here: we are talking about Darwinian evolution based upon the Darwinian principles like natural selection, etc..etc...
Thank you for participating-

Common sense convinced me of its truth. It makes sense that species evolve through generations. The simplicity of the theory was appealing.

You do know that evolutionary theory has progressed beyond Darwin, right?

 

[Mock Turtle]

I suppose I was more interested in science (all the various fields of knowledge) than religions from an early age, and any explanations as to life existing, and given such, I inevitably probed the various areas where disagreements seemed to occur as to describing this reality. I did read On the Origin of Species and found it quite plausible, and subsequently read enough that supported the theory. Most anything else that tried to refute the theory on the other hand was far less plausible and seemingly meant for those who wouldn't or couldn't do the work to verify scientific explanations - given that scientific progress always tended to support the theory rather than place barriers in its path. As for many things in science, I do expect modifications to occur in any particular theory but not so as to overturn such in its entirety if the explanation was a clear winner - which the ToE is compared with anything else.

 

[Revoltingest]

Evolution is testable & has explanatory power.
There is no useful alternative.

 

[Yerda]

Of course this question is addressed both to theists and to atheists. Both to those who believe in evolution and those who believe it's untrue.
Explain why you, through your intelligence, reason and mind developped the awareness and the conviction that Evolution is the historical truth.

If you are a theist, please explain the theological implications, as well.

I will underline that we are not talking about Intelligence Design, here: we are talking about Darwinian evolution based upon the Darwinian principles like natural selection, etc..etc...
Thank you for participating-

I had thought it was silly until I read articles laying out the evidence - the fossil record did it for me. Then I realised I was just being an arrogant dope before.

I was excatly the same with climate change.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Despite receiving a very rigid Catholic education, at school I was taught that only evolution is the most reliable answer, that is the most reliable theory

"despite"? I don't get that.
The Vatican has no problem at all with evolution theory.
In fact, the pope himself one said on the subject that "god is not a magician with a magic wand".

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

How can a random based organic system lead to deliberate intelligence for manmade selection?

Evolution isn't random.
It has aspects that are random.
The process itself is not random.

Galapagos showed how nature changes very slow if man is not there doing his wild card randomizing. England showed how man's deliberate actions and selections speeded up change in England, but not always for the best; random thinking like greed and war. Pure Nature needs to be more in control of randomness, to slow the observed pace of change, like Darwin saw on Galapagos. Science missed this subtle correlation. That is how I would interpret Darwin's data.

I can't make any sense of this word salad.

We need a better theory for change,

Why?
It rather seems to me that you only need a better education in evolutionary biology.

at the nanoscale, such as using water as the integrating variable for natural selection.

Que?

The hydrogen bonding of water is a natural binary switch with the muscle and a free energy kick. When water folds and packs protein, it has a goal in mind; lower the surface energy to perfection so it is very repeatable. Mistakes can be made it we add surfactant types potentials in disguise.

Huh?

What on earth are you babbling about

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Or rather that we are still trying to evolve …

Species don't "try" to evolve.

They just do. It's inevitable.

 

[Estro Felino]

"despite"? I don't get that.
The Vatican has no problem at all with evolution theory.
In fact, the pope himself one said on the subject that "god is not a magician with a magic wand".

There are Catholics who believe in Creation, as far as I know.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

There are Catholics who believe in Creation, as far as I know.

Sure. But that's the instance where the word "despite" would be appropriate, since the official stance of catholicism is that evolution occured.

 

[Estro Felino]

Sure. But that's the instance where the word "despite" would be appropriate, since the official stance of catholicism is that evolution occured.

Maybe I didn't use the right terms. I meant: despite receiving an education that is fundamental Catholicism...etc...etc...

 

[YoursTrue]

"despite"? I don't get that.
The Vatican has no problem at all with evolution theory.
In fact, the pope himself one said on the subject that "god is not a magician with a magic wand".

wonder if he believes Mary the mother of Jesus was impregnated while being a virgin.

 

[YoursTrue]

Species don't "try" to evolve.

They just do. It's inevitable.

Like bees have a different supposed evolved intelligence than apes. After all, their bodies are different.

 

[Subduction Zone]

wonder if he believes Mary the mother of Jesus was impregnated while being a virgin.

Perhaps not. Quite a few Christians know that the Nativity stories contradict each other heavily and are just myth.

 

[YoursTrue]

@Subduction Zone If many believe that Mary was not a virgin when she was pregnant with Jesus why would they believe anything at all in the Bible? Seems those who believe Mary was not a virgin when she conceived Jesus are notably unwilling to talk about it. I guess it's too tender of a subject. I suggest you ask Metis about this if he'll talk to you on the forum about it. I find it very interesting. Despite calling themselves Christian, they obviously go along with you in this manner. but won't say it entirely like you do.

 

[Estro Felino]

Perhaps not. Quite a few Christians know that the Nativity stories contradict each other heavily and are just myth.

Catholics believe Mary was a virgin before and after Christ's birth.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Catholics believe Mary was a virgin before and after Christ's birth.

Some do, some don't. That came from the evil teaching that there is something wrong with sex. Not all Catholics are that foolish. The Bible does not imply that she was a virgin. There is no reason for her to be a virgin. And of course anyone that studies the two Nativity stories knows that they are myths.

 

[YoursTrue]

Perhaps not. Quite a few Christians know that the Nativity stories contradict each other heavily and are just myth.

At least you claim to be an atheist. Others believe in part as you do but also claim to believe in whatever depiction of God as they want to. Have a good one.

 

[Estro Felino]

Some do, some don't. That came from the evil teaching that there is something wrong with sex. Not all Catholics are that foolish. The Bible does not imply that she was a virgin. There is no reason for her to be a virgin. And of course anyone that studies the two Nativity stories knows that they are myths.

I know no Catholic who doesn't believe in the Marian dogmas. If you know one, please tell me who they are.

 

[Subduction Zone]

@YoursTrue , you messed up the formatting a bit. Every Christian picks and chooses which parts of the Bible to believe and which parts not to believe. Do you believe Luke's Nativity myth that has Jesus born in 6 CE or Matthews which has him born in 4 BCE? There are all sorts of contradictions that people decide because of "reasons". Why do you think that the virgin birth myth would be any different?

 

[Subduction Zone]

I know no Catholic who doesn't believe in the Marian dogmas. If you know one, please tell me who they are.

You are in Catholic central so perhaps there is not as much rational thought when it comes to one's religious beliefs as elsewhere. I do not know of any by name, but are you implying a general lack of intelligence in all Catholics? I do not think that that is the case.