Ask Dr. Ewert

_{Winston Ewert

May 9, 2015

Intelligent Design}

Share: Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Flipboard; Print; Email

I recently spent some time answering questions in a comment thread here at Uncommon Descent. It seems that people appreciated me taking the time to do this. Unfortunately, this is not something that I typically have the time to do. So, I thought I’d try an experiment.

I have created a Google Moderator page, where you can submit and upvote questions you’d like to see me answer.

https://www.google.com/moderator/#15/e=21afd2&t=21afd2.40

Some ground rules:

Don’t be abusive or insulting: I will simply pull the plug on the experiment.
Don’t ask non-research questions: I’m here to talk about my research, not where I grew up.
Don’t ask questions about research unrelated to mine: I’m sure biogeography is a wonderful subject, but its outside of my area.

I reserve the right to delete questions that don’t follow the rules.

I plan to leave the poll up for about and week and the evaluating answering some of the questions.

Comments

Any up-date?larron_{May 28, 2015
May
05
May
28
28
2015
01:10 PM
1
01
10
PM
PDT}

"I plan to leave the poll up for about and week and the evaluating answering some of the questions." I'm looking forward to this!larron_{May 17, 2015
May
05
May
17
17
2015
04:42 AM
4
04
42
AM
PDT}

Sometimes I wonder whether people actually realize they are trashing a perfectly good thread. Sometimes I think they might. How else to explain it?Phinehas_{May 11, 2015
May
05
May
11
11
2015
01:52 PM
1
01
52
PM
PDT}

Look, fifth dude. I will get as nasty as it takes. You and your kind are a synagogue of Satan, wolves in sheep's clothing. Just stay the hell away from me, alright?Mapou_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
06:38 PM
6
06
38
PM
PDT}

Mapou said, I don’t worship the Bible as the inerrant word of God. I say, I don't either, I worship the Word of God who does not err when he reveals himself. you say, Here’s a contradiction to the passage you quoted. I say, 1) You are not Jesus 2) Jesus was not avenging himself or insulting those who insulted him but defending his father and the oppressed sheep that his father had given him. You say, Most Bible quoters piss me off. I say, see I am right!! There is no need to be nasty to get under the skin of those who insult you. The Word of God tends to have that effect on folks all by itself. Even if it is shared with a smile. ;-) peacefifthmonarchyman_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
06:34 PM
6
06
34
PM
PDT}

Meanwhile over at TSZ ... Patrick May (aka MathGrrl):
I suggest instead that no one participate in Ewert’s attempt to control the dialog by placing himself in a position where everyone else is his supplicant. If he lacks the minimal intellectual courage required to participate in an open discussion, that says a great deal about his confidence in his position.
Mung_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
06:21 PM
6
06
21
PM
PDT}

fifthmonarchyman wrote, quoting the Bible:
His marching orders for us are clear quote: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:19-21) end quote:
Luckily for me, I don't worship the Bible as the inerrant word of God. That would be idolatry. The Bible is just a book, one of many, that I use in my research. And it is full of contradictions and even outright crap. One needs to sift the good stuff from the bad stuff. Here's a contradiction to the passage you quoted. Jesus was offended by the crooks and the money changers doing their dirty business in the temple. Did he go over and hug them and kiss them? No he did not. He turned their tables and chased the jackasses out of the temple. If anybody comes and quotes the Bible to me in order to influence my behavior so that I become a weak sheep, he or she is a child of Satan, IMO. Most Bible quoters piss me off. Just stay away from me. Yes, some of us Christians do dance to a different tune.Mapou_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
01:04 PM
1
01
04
PM
PDT}

Mark Frank:
Joe, Mapou If this is a fight what is achieved by heaping abuse on your opponents? What is the objective?
It's psychological warfare. The Darwinists/atheists started it. If you go to any atheist sites or forums (pharyngula, antievolution.org, etc.), all you see is abuse. I want to see them get a taste of their own medicine. The enemy must understand that there are a few among us who are not in the least bit intimidated. Not all of us IDers (Christians and non-Christians) are a bunch of sheep who turn the other cheek. We can hit back and we can hit hard. And we will not hesitate to do so if necessary. We have the same lack of respect for you that you have for us. Yes, this is war. Get used to it.Mapou_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
12:16 PM
12
12
16
PM
PDT}

NDavis @ 24 - I only quickly skimmed that, but it looks like numerology rather than maths. At the very least the authors need to re-write it to make their methods (and assumptions) clear, and also test their method against simulated data, to see if it can distinguish designed and non-designed cases. it would also help if they didn't appear to be suggesting that the Triune God is the Chief of Security on the Starship Enterprise. (as I wrote, I didn't read the text closely, so I assume there's some unclarity in the nomenclature)Bob O'H_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
08:50 AM
8
08
50
AM
PDT}

NDavis, It is interesting that one of the largest complaints by the ID movement against academia is blocking publications that don't suit their agenda. Now we hear Biocomplexity does the same. I haven't read the linked paper yet, but it is interesting that some of the very long mathematical proofs here (e.g. KF's) have never made it to print by those authors.REC_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
08:48 AM
8
08
48
AM
PDT}

Joe, Mapou If this is a fight what is achieved by heaping abuse on your opponents? What is the objective?Mark Frank_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
08:36 AM
8
08
36
AM
PDT}

I recently spent some time answering questions in a comment thread here at Uncommon Descent. It seems that people appreciated me taking the time to do this.
Indeed. Thank you.
Search for fuzzy and moveable targets will be the topic of future research by the Evolutionary Informatics Lab.
Looking forward to that.Mung_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
08:23 AM
8
08
23
AM
PDT}

The previous post is not displayed correctly. I'm sorry.NDavis_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
08:04 AM
8
08
04
AM
PDT}

I have a question. Why don't you help authors of papers about ID to get a peer review? There are two authors who wrote a paper about testing ID at the present time: . No one accepted it for a peer-review. You will also find a link to a petition in the comment to get it accepted by BIO-Complexity. They didn't accepted a mathematical paper about ID.NDavis_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
08:01 AM
8
08
01
AM
PDT}

No one flinches when a long-term poster here says ID/creationism..."is a fight. This has never been about science nor evidence." Too close to the truth?REC_{May 10, 2015
May
05
May
10
10
2015
07:36 AM
7
07
36
AM
PDT}

Joe @21, That's just it. They are not "critics". A true critic is a friend. They are the enemy. They should be vilified, tarred, feathered and paraded down the street. I will cheer anyone who "dope slaps" the enemy. LOL.Mapou_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
07:12 PM
7
07
12
PM
PDT}

Mapou, Thank you, again. Winston is right though, he is more than capable of taking out the trash in his threads. I jumped the gun- again it's a limbic thing. It just really bothered me that a critic would start the comments to THIS thread, of all threads, with irrelevant, stick-poking, trash talk. I hope his experiment goes well and he finally gets through.Joe_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
06:38 PM
6
06
38
PM
PDT}

Ewert:
DiEb may have trash talked, but I don’t think you helped the situation by stooping to name calling.
Personally, I don't think that Joe was stooping to anything. Joe is being valiant and magnanimous, showing the enemy that he is not afraid. Which is the way it should be, IMO.Mapou_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
04:13 PM
4
04
13
PM
PDT}

Mapou, Fortunately for the House of Israel, David was not hampered by such self-righteous nonsense. He walks over, knocks the jackass unconscious and cuts off his freaking head. I say, Fortunately for the New Covenant House of Israel The Son of David has already won the battle so we need only share in his victory. His marching orders for us are clear quote: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:19-21) end quote: peacefifthmonarchyman_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
04:07 PM
4
04
07
PM
PDT}

Winston, the question collector is a good idea, but for discussion, surely, there needs to be some back and forth?
I don't disagree. That's why this is an experiment.
But once DiEB threw in that last little bit of trash talk I just responded with a dope slap because of his disrespect for Winston’s honest, open and generous offer.
DiEb may have trash talked, but I don't think you helped the situation by stooping to name calling.Winston Ewert_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
03:51 PM
3
03
51
PM
PDT}

For example, had DiEB started with:
A good idea and a generous offer! I have many questions and hopefully they can be answered.
I would have responded with: "Yes, DiEB and I finally agree-excellent idea. I would be very interested in reading those questions and answers." But once DiEB threw in that last little bit of trash talk I just responded with a dope slap because of his disrespect for Winston's honest, open and generous offer. It's a limbic thing- disrespect = dope slap :cool:Joe_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
01:46 PM
1
01
46
PM
PDT}

tjguy:
Joe, the standard should not be “what I respond to”. In other words, their sin doesn’t justify your sin.
You know. I take issue with this argument. And I speak as a Christian. This is like saying to a young David, "you see that huge, mean-looking guy over there with the battle axe, the one who's blaspheming the name of Lord Yahweh? Go over there and kiss him on the cheek and tell him that the lord loves him so very much." Fortunately for the House of Israel, David was not hampered by such self-righteous nonsense. He walks over, knocks the jackass unconscious and cuts off his freaking head. And David was a man after God's own heart. Mine too.Mapou_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
01:20 PM
1
01
20
PM
PDT}

Winston, the question collector is a good idea, but for discussion, surely, there needs to be some back and forth? You are very welcome to post an OP at TSZ, as you did once before.Elizabeth Liddle_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
01:15 PM
1
01
15
PM
PDT}

tjguy- This is a fight. This has never been about science nor evidence. Telling the cops that the other guy started the fight always works if you can back it up.Joe_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
01:04 PM
1
01
04
PM
PDT}

Winston, I did not start the mud slinging. What is wrong with you people? Instead of saying "Joe did this" you should be asking "Why?" Why didn't anyone jump on DiEB for starting the shit? Pathetic little peopleJoe_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
01:02 PM
1
01
02
PM
PDT}

Joe @ 6
groovamos- Given what I respond to I am exhibiting a great deal of self control. And when evos postgroovamos- Given what I respond to I am exhibiting a great deal of self control.
Joe, the standard should not be "what I respond to". In other words, their sin doesn't justify your sin. Telling the cops you only stole $1000 as opposed to $10,000 doesn't get you off the hook. Don't compare yourself to them. Use something truly worthy to be a standard.tjguy_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
12:38 PM
12
12
38
PM
PDT}

Joe, I'd appreciate it if you'd adopt some basic courtesy, especially in the threads for posts that I start.Winston Ewert_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
12:03 PM
12
12
03
PM
PDT}

DiEB- ID critics like you and Aurelio are a disgrace. You are pimples on the arse of progress.
And Joe, you are a beautiful flower in the garden of the Lord.
LOL. This is beautiful. I love the humor on this site. Keep it coming. :-DMapou_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
11:55 AM
11
11
55
AM
PDT}

I doubt if the above is what Dr Ewert had in mind. Just saying...Seversky_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
11:53 AM
11
11
53
AM
PDT}

LoL! I RESPOND to tripe. RESPOND being the operative word. Our opponents are going to keep attacking us if we don't hit back. Grow up, both of you.Joe_{May 9, 2015
May
05
May
9
09
2015
11:37 AM
11
11
37
AM
PDT}

1 2 Next

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Leave a Reply