Why do Evolutionists not like to actually debate Evolution and rely on personal attacks?

[Oz-Man]

Evolution is as FACTUAL as any other scientific theory; to deny this is pure ignorance.

 

[Ouroboros]

Yeah, I noticed the same thing. I think it points to the fact that if someone is capable of understanding evolution, actually learns how it works, and is honest, then it is impossible to deny.

Sadly, there seem to be a worrisome number of people who aren't capable of understanding it, don't learn what it is, and/or are not honest.

My path to understanding it began by being honest to myself. I realized that I had learned to lie to myself in the religious establishment. Instead of actually admitting to what I knew, I kept on "preaching" to myself what I was supposed to believe. But when I stopped doing that and began to be honest to myself, things changed. Truth begins with oneself.

 

[Alceste]

My path to understanding it began by being honest to myself. I realized that I had learned to lie to myself in the religious establishment. Instead of actually admitting to what I knew, I kept on "preaching" to myself what I was supposed to believe. But when I stopped doing that and began to be honest to myself, things changed. Truth begins with oneself.

I feel fortunate that my father taught me how to think, as opposed to what to think. Thanks to him, I've never had to have this kind of struggle you describe. I admire those who manage to break free from indoctrination that leads to self-deception. For me, not being able to separate fact from fiction would be hell.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

And of all the exticnt species only a minute fraction have become so because of or even durring mankind

Of course, after all humanity is a rather recent addition to the planet, therefore most specifes that have gone extinct have done so without human presence. On the other hand, currently we are going through a period of mass extinction - of which humans are the primary cause probably arising due to our deforestation and agricultural pursuits traditionally but now the effects of climate change have also begun to show.

 

[Oz-Man]

I feel fortunate that my father taught me how to think, as opposed to what to think. Thanks to him, I've never had to have this kind of struggle you describe. I admire those who manage to break free from indoctrination that leads to self-deception. For me, not being able to separate fact from fiction would be hell.

I was a Muslim for the majority of my life; it was only about 3 years ago at age 19 where I discarded my religion completely. I didn't come from a particularly religious family but I grew up in a very religious environment as most my school mates were Muslim and most of my extended family are very religious. I started to doubt my religion at 16 but kept deluding myself until 18. From the age 18 to 19 I became a "Quran-only" Muslim (due to the things i was reading in the hadiths) in the hope that I could reconcile my present beliefs with Islamic teaching but enough was enough and I completely got out at around 19. It was a tough path but pursuing the truth is well worth it.

 

[Enai de a lukal]

:biglaugh: "Creationist science"... I just peed a little.

Yeah, "creationist science" is an oxymoron if there ever was one.

 

[McBell]

Now if you want to talk about intellectual honesty, then let's have a new section called "Take on the Creationist science pages", where people have to actually address what's being stated and can't just dive straight for the source as if that's all they need to disprove.

I am all for your proposed new section.
However, I would add that whatever the creationists present must be actual science...

Well..?

 

[Sunstone]

:biglaugh: "Creationist science"... I just peed a little.

Peed a little? Or, peed on it all from a considerable height? Which was it?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Yeah, "creationist science" is an oxymoron if there ever was one.

It's like "almost pregnant" or "airline schedule".

 

[fantome profane]

Well, I don't know about that. I have heard evolution had little to do with many extinctions. It was man what done it. :help:

Species have been going extinct long long before humans were on the scene.

Extinction is part of the natural way of things.

 

[LuisDantas]

Yeah, "creationist science" is an oxymoron if there ever was one.

The irony is that it is only so because what ended up being the Creationist movement defines itself not by faith in a creator (which would perhaps be unremarkable, and certainly not enough to fuel the depths of controversy that exist) but instead by a misguided "defiance" of science.

 

[yoda89]

Trying to put a triangle through a circle instead of adapting. I think creationists could make a point if they saw creationism as a cosmic event. But even then I don't know why to worship an event.

 

[Freedomelf]

I don't know what it is

You mentioned the last universal ancestor in an earlier post, so I thought you might have a theory on LUCA. (Last Universal Common Ancestor)

I find it fascinating that the last universal common ancestor is now believed by some to have been much more advanced than previously thought. This article doesn't really attest to that, but it does give a good description. This is an area I once studied (although not for quite a while, so I'm not up on every latest development.)
What is the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)? (ActionBioscience)

I'm excited by the new developments, particularly the gene swapping one that this article says "threatens to fell the tree of life." Although I'm still a firm evolutionist, it is something that no doubt will cause many to rethink the whole evolutionary theory.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

I've got a buddy named Luca; Italian guy...

In all seriousness though, that's a pretty interesting article.

 

[Ouroboros]

LUCA is God.

 

[Enai de a lukal]

The irony is that it is only so because what ended up being the Creationist movement defines itself not by faith in a creator (which would perhaps be unremarkable, and certainly not enough to fuel the depths of controversy that exist) but instead by a misguided "defiance" of science.

While its certainly true that creationism's thorough-going anti-intellectualism and mistrust of science makes the phrase even more ludicrous, the notion of ANY science of an act of divine creation is fairly absurd in its own right...

 

[Falvlun]

Well, I for one would like to know why Creationists seem to only read the sarcastic posts and seem to ignore all the posts with genuine answers, evidence, and information.

 

[Shermana]

ignore all the posts with genuine answers, evidence, and information.

It's hard to ignore what does not exist. When I see a reply by Painted Wolf though there's usually at least an attempt to present a serious, substantiated claim that isn't riddled with complete misrepresentation. If only the others would follow suit.

 

[Alceste]

Well, I for one would like to know why Creationists seem to only read the sarcastic posts and seem to ignore all the posts with genuine answers, evidence, and information.

I think they do that so they can keep claiming everyone who accepts evolution is sarcastic and condescending, and not at all interested in serious discussion.

Cognitive bias is a spectacular thing to behold sometimes. Almost magical.

 

[Shermana]

Cognitive bias is a spectacular thing to behold sometimes.

Most definitely, I agree. It's even more spectacular when the person saying so thinks they're immune to it.