Speciation

Thanks to NWA's ignorant post, I felt compelled to find something that NWA could understand regarding speciation. I think this excellent video should do the trick:



For a fuller discussion of macro-evolution, Talk Origins has a series on predictions based on evolutionary theory and the results that confirm the theory.

Note: A theory is not the same as "hypothesis," which is a preliminary guess. A "theory" in science is a concept that explains observed phenomena, and which can be further tested with more observations. So far, observations by trained biologists have confirmed and refined the theory of evolution in many ways. Observations by Christian pseudo-scientists have been debunked by responsible actual scientists. Note: these scientists are not "Darwinists." They are scientists - they trust the scientific method to add to human understanding, and do not revere Darwin at all except in the same way they revere any scientist who has proposed a new theory that has stood the test of time. They are not "Darwinists" any more than they are "Newtonists" or "Einstinists."

Examples of Evolution

Of course the only reason I would post this on a blog about atheism is that some Christians cling to the idea that Christianity (or more accurately, Judaism) explains scientific "mysteries."   These "mysteries" were only mysterious to the bronze age mythology writers, not to modern scientists, but science is hard to read and fairy tales are easy to read.  That's the real reason they cling to their mythology: it's easier to imagine a sky fairy with a magic wand whipping up the universe, planets, and all the species of earth than it is to take the time to learn a little about what people have been deducing from evidence for a few hundred years.

Some of this might be a bit hard to read, but persevere.  It's easier in the end than trying to rationalize that science proves "intelligent design" or throwing out rationality altogether.  After all, if you disagree with evolution through natural selection you have to throw out modern antibiotics and vaccines, and then you die.  We might miss you, though we won't miss your stupidity.


DNA proof of why there are still monkeys!



The Whale evolved from land-dwelling mammals, and there are "transitional" fossils to prove it.

The eye evolved through natural selection.  It is not irreducibly complex or magical.  (There's a video at that site so even the stupidest Christians can understand it)

Humans evolved from other bipedal species, which in turn evolved from other primates.   DNA evidence confirms this.  Yes, it does!  (This last one's harder to read but it's the source of the cool chart to the right)

If you really want to "teach (yourself) the controversy," check out the responses to creationist claims at Talkorigins.org.  My favorite stupid argument is the "argument from incredulity."  It's the argument that because you can't (or won't) believe something is true therefore it's not true.  Hey, I'd like to believe that I'm the Princess of the Universe and that I can smite anyone who zips into the parking place I have my eye on.  But I don't believe that because I'm not psychotic.  The same argument is put forward by UFOlogists and other believers of utter nonsense.  It's as sophisticated as putting your fingers in your ears and singing "la la la la I can't hear you!"

Lewis Black on Creationism

From The Daily Show. He dishes the dish on Ken Ham and Kent Hovind. If you can stomach clips of these two ignorant chimps this segment is priceless:

Seditious Conspiracy, some charming Christians

This is "old news" but I didn't know about this group:



This insane idea keeps coming up in crazy rants from individuals but I had never heard of a group entertaining fantasies like this:

In an indictment against the nine unsealed on Monday, the Justice Department said they were part of a group of apocalyptic Christian militants who were plotting to kill law enforcement officers in hopes of inciting an antigovernment uprising, the latest in a recent surge in right-wing militia activity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/us/30militia.html

The "shot heard 'round the world" and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand were catalysts but only because of seething tensions that were already brewing. Fantasies of kick-starting a war by blowing up a federal building, or flying planes into one, or shooting teenagers at a politically-oriented camp, or shooting cops.... they're just fantasies. The festering tensions they hope to ignite exist only in their own minds. They did not succeed in inspiring others, and only made people hate them. And yet, there are probably still more waiting in the wings hoping to gain credibility and followers via some outrageous violent act.

It's a common thread, and there seems to be a religious undercurrent there too. These people seem to know how to use the interwebs, so why haven't they figured out that they can't inspire loyalty this way?

How do Atheists Prepare for a Hurricane?

The president of American Atheists answers loaded questions and parries with idiotic believers.  It reminds me a lot of conversations I've had with theists.  Pretty funny:



We get candles, but not votive candles ;-)

I'm not sure I'd answer these theists the same way but I'd call "We wish you well with your candles and batt'ries" a mocking statement!  And anyway, why would Jesus care about flooding?  He would tell believers to walk on the water, or else they're not true believers!

  

And in other news...

The son of one of Michelle Bachmann's heroes says the Christian Right is anti-American:

Ray Comfort on What Atheists Believe

Wow, can you say "Straw Man?"  http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-atheists-believe.html

"Atheists believe that gravityAtheists believe that gravity thinks intelligently, makes plans, and then creates the concept it has in mind."

uhhhhhh WHAT?!?!?!




"Perhaps you object to my saying that gravity must be intelligent to come up with the concept of the water cycle and then actually create it. Perhaps you think that gravity is mindless, and created it without thinking."

ohhhh okaaaay... it was a rhetorical device.  He really knows that atheists don't think that....

"I don't think so. I am in awe of the water cycle and couldn't imagine the most intelligent of human beings coming up with it."

uh oh.... here we go.  Psychological projection.  Because he can't imagine rain falling due to gravity alone, then nobody else can, either.  *sigh*  What a ninny.

"But according to atheists, gravity didn't create alone. Its partner was heat. The two of them came up with the concept of water, vapor, clouds, rain, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, snow, evaporation, air, condensation, and then created them and caused them to work throughout the earth in perfect harmony."

Well at least he knows there are two forces at work on water.  But now we're polytheists, believing in a gravity god and a heat god?  It's too bad there's no IQ god.  He'd smite Ray Comfort and his followers.

Atheism brings new meaning to the word "absurd."
 No, Ray Comfort.  You did that.

"Also, the concept of the god you don't believe in doesn't exist. He is a figment of your fertile and faith-filled imagination. The Creator is not your water-boy. Don't believe the television preachers that tell you that He will come running when you click your sinful fingers. He withholds the blessing of live-giving rain when a nation gives itself to evil and at the same time professes itself to be good."

uhhh non-sequitur much? So the OT God is still about, punishing nations for things he doesn't like, and you must believe this because the absurd alternative is a mischievous pair of physical forces that have to be intelligent because it's absurd to believe otherwise?

Does this mean that Texas is enduring the worst drought in years because God is displeased with it?   Is that why he didn't answer Rick Perry's prayers for rain?  I suppose it also means that Christians shouldn't send money to food programs for Somalia.  They should just let those starving babies die because God hate them.