David Anderson – Uncommon Descent

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Philosophy

YEC, facts and evidence

This post was originally written as a response to Barry’s recent post; however, Barry correctly pointed out that I had significantly mis-read him – I was reading much too fast. Apologies to Barry, and to those who read the earlier version of the post. I have now re-written it to not refer to (my careless Read More…

Design inference

Out of the mouths of infants

A sample for you of one of the products of unguided, undesigned, blind forces, working together for the survival of genes, with no objective meaning or purpose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcZ6b2FSsk Can we get a meme going here? If you’ve got a blog/Facebook/Twitter etc., then post your example!

Biography Books of interest Selfish gene

“Dawkins believes what he wishes to believe”

Richard Dawkins’ autobiography has been reviewed in the London Spectator: http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/9025021/an-appetite-for-wonder-by-richard-dawkins-review/. The reviewer’s verdict? “He relies just as much on a leap of faith as those religious believers he so keenly affects to despise. His theory also cannot explain how those selfish genes eventually came to evolve the one species on earth which is marked out Read More…

Darwinism

A “remarkable fact”

Let’s take again that quotation out of Richard Dawkins’ “The Greatest Show on Earth (pp. 332-333)”, published as many ages ago as the year 2009, quoted at http://www.evolutionnews.org/2012/09/in_debate_brita_1064521.html Leaving pseudogenes aside, it is a remarkable fact that the greater part (95 percent in the case of humans) of the genome might as well not be there, Read More…

Humor

That’s exactly what we predicted

Here’s a good one, over at Evolution News: http://www.evolutionnews.org/2012/09/in_debate_brita_1064521.html Dawkins, 2009: DNA… it’s full of junk… which is just as Darwinism predicted… how embarrassing for those creationists who say it shouldn’t be! Dawkins, 2012: DNA… it’s not full of junk… which is just as Darwinism predicted… nothing for the creationists to take advantage of here, move Read More…

Atheism

Trading on borrowed capital

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/07/16/new-genus-of-south-asian-fish-named-after-richard-dawkins/ [Rohan] Pethiyagoda, an ichthyologist and internationally acclaimed conservationist, said extensive studies in India and Sri Lanka showed that the level of diversity among such fish was “much greater than previously suspected”. This was partly the reason that the study group had chosen to name the new genus after the 71-year-old Dawkins, the British author Read More…

Natural selection

“So what is bad for the next generation may be good for our species in general.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19336438 In the above story, the combination of an empirical investigation of the here-and-now – what creationists like myself like to call “operational science” – together with speculative Darwinian faith, leads to this final take-home quote: “The high rate of mutations is dangerous for the next generation but is generating diversity from which nature can Read More…

Religion

Why is Dawkins making this so easy for us?

For some, apparently Richard Dawkins is their guide to life, death and eternity. Here’s Dawkins on the Bible, supplied by UD News: DAWKINS: The evidence [Jesus] existed is surprisingly shaky. The earliest books in the New Testament to be written were the Epistles, not the Gospels. It’s almost as though Saint Paul and others who Read More…

Animal minds Atheism Religion Science, worldview issues/foundations and society

Atheism and sexual deviancy

“Is sex outside of marriage a sin? Is it a public matter? Is it forgivable?” No, of course sex outside marriage is not a public matter, and yes, of course it is forgivable. Only a person infected by the sort of sanctimonious self-righteousness that religion uniquely inspires would apply the meaningless word ‘sin’ to private Read More…

Creationism Mind

“The Bible says it, therefore I believe it”

The Bible says it, therefore I believe it Sal wonders why someone might say “the Bible said it, therefore I believe it”, unless they are “supremely gullible”. This is an epistemological question. I approve of the formula, so I’ll try and answer why. Firstly, let’s clear away some possible misunderstandings. The formula presupposes that the Read More…

Atheism

Dawkins for Prime Minister!

Richard Dawkins tells us that we should allow our thinking to be based solely on rational facts. If, on the other hand, you let a little emotion in, then this link might lead you to feel a bit of pity for the famed misotheist: http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/2011/10/richard-dawkins-for-prime-minister/ It’s a model demolition job, on the ex-prof’s latest excuses. Read More…

Atheism

Will Richard Dawkins be honest?

Here’s some blurb for the latest attempts of the non-existent one to explain how you can be an “intellectually fulfilled atheist”: The Magic of Reality – Richard Dawkins – Royal Albert Hall Wednesday 19 October 2011, 8.30pm Chaired by James Harding, editor, The Times. … The Magic of Reality – An Evening with Richard Dawkins Read More…

Animal minds Darwinism Evolutionary psychology Eyes Rolling Selfish gene

Darwinian ethics

In this article in the Daily Telegraph (UK), we see some typical philosophical and cultural applications of Darwinism: People are unfaithful to their marriages Therefore, it is natural Therefore, it is right i.e. What is, is what is right. Since we are no more than nature, all that we do is thus natural – and Read More…

Atheism Culture Darwinism

The root of all evil?

How did those who believe that godlessness is the answer to society’s problems comment on the Brit riots?

Animal minds Atheism Creationism Human evolution Selfish gene

Predisposed to believe

Science Daily reports “A three-year international research project, directed by two academics at the University of Oxford, finds that humans have natural tendencies to believe in gods and an afterlife.” As my friend added, “This research was quite costly – they could have saved money by reading the Bible!” Link here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714103828.htm I wonder how Read More…

Fred Hickson @ Relatd (sic)* Is this what you are talking about? https://thecounter.org/biden-administration-farmers-conservation-reserve-crp-usda-vilsack/ – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Sandy First, nobody showed (in a scientific experiment not "explanations" about how might/could/should have happened)how a change in gene can led... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Fred Hickson Thanks for the info, Seversky. Hope you set a trend in responses! – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Seversky Fred Hickson/286 Anyone else prepared to say whether they’ve been vaccinated and why? Vaccinated twice, boosted twice. Why? Polio, smallpox... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
JHolo I hope people here realize that “adverse events” are any health issue that occurs after a vaccination, regardless of its... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Seversky Effect of High-Dose Zinc and Ascorbic Acid Supplementation vs Usual Care on Symptom Length and Reduction Among Ambulatory Patients With... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
relatd FH at 279, Fred, your credibility, which had been poor, continues to drop. Grain from the Ukraine not reaching people?... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Fred Hickson Oh and on The way you ignore people... I have ignored some comments (A Sauber, certainly, a fair few of... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
relatd What is the U.S. prepared to do? In the event of a pre-invasion buildup, it should go like this: "Hello,... – Is China seriously contemplating [imminent?] invasion...
Fred Hickson I am not going to do the research that you can do for yourself. The way you ignore people, there... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Fred Hickson So, I've confessed to being thrice-vaccinated, soon to get my fourth. ET? I guess you aren't. Kairosfocus? Anyone else prepared... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
ET I am not going to do the research that you can do for yourself. The way you ignore people, there... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
kairosfocus Relatd, and what is the US prepared to do? KF PS, the weather is always a factor, in 1944 May... – Is China seriously contemplating [imminent?] invasion...
Fred Hickson You may want to start here, bearing in mind who this I'm interested in ET justifying his claim that Covid... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Fred Hickson The evidence has been produced. And vaccine deaths and damage has been in the news. Post a link then. – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
kairosfocus You may want to start here, bearing in mind who this is https://uncommondescent.com/ethics/let-us-listen-to-dr-robert-malone-dissenting-expert-on-the-covid-19-crisis/ – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Fred Hickson On the other hand I see no harm in green tea. Have you tried Kombucha? My wife insists on giving... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
ET Fred Hickson: Your claim. You produce the evidence. If people were dying and suffering irreparable damage from vaccines, how is... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
Fred Hickson OTC supplements can easily defend us from covid-19. People have died from the vaccine. People have become disabled from the... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
kairosfocus FH, they are there and are not rare, but they are marginalised. Even web searches will exclude or marginalise, as... – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...
ET Fred Hickson: Surely they need to explain everything. And yet all they can explain are genetic diseases and deformities. – Casey Luskin: ID as fruitful approach...