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Evolution’s Grand Challenge

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Steve Laufmann is a consultant in the growing field of Enterprise Architecture, dealing with the design of very large, very complex, composite information systems that are orchestrated to perform specified tasks in demanding environments. In an extremely interesting ENV article that we commend to our readers, he wites:

Molecular biology is characterized by growing questions and shrinking answers.

It’s like the guy who, after untying his boat, finds himself with one foot on the dock and one foot in the boat. As the gap grows, it becomes increasingly hard to ignore. And uncomfortable. And temporary.

And this is evolution’s grand challenge: The complex programs and amazing molecular machines at the heart of life simply cannot be explained by any current or proposed theory of evolution, nor by any other completely material cause. Apologists for materialism cannot hide this fact much longer. Neither the volume of their arguments nor any level of vitriol can change the fact that the data is skewing against them.

Rarely has any field of science had to deal with questions so difficult, or that cut so deeply into the worldviews, minds, and hearts, of thoughtful men and women.

Evolution sits at the center of a front-and-center debate — with too much to explain, in too little time, with insufficient causal power, and with so many watching and so much at stake.

Comments
Tim at 11 :) Darwinists on the boat dock
boat dock bloopers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS_ec1jYH-M
IDists on the boat dock
One man boat launch perfection. You got to watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld0caNktr04 How to dock like a boss (English version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qHdPhkSSNQ
bornagain77
September 22, 2015
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"Molecular biology is characterized by growing questions and shrinking answers" Right off the bat he demonstrates both his lack of knowledge in the field of molecular biology and his bias on the topic at hand. The big questions in the field haven't changed. We work toward answers to these questions by taking small steps forward in knowledge. Everyday new information is added to our understanding of molecular biology and its evolutionary past. This guy is just spewing the typical refuse you guys love to eat right up. Enjoy!Alicia Cartelli
September 21, 2015
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I agree with BA77@3, almost poetic . . . so without further ado: As the boat leaves the dock, he continues those rants, "By hook or by crook, just law and some chance!" How long he'll defend it? Might the splash prove to end it? We watch from the quay, his precarious stance. The gap inches wider, does he argue or dance, As he moves like some Jello in a weird sort of trance? Soon wet he'll be dripping. "You hear something ripping?" "Times almost up, dude, you just split your pants."Tim
September 21, 2015
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Barry, My comment to sean samis was, I guess, rhetorical to show him for what he is. I was mostly thinking back to when I was searching for real answers. Articles such as Steve Laufmann's reinforce the conclusion I reached those many years ago. sean-like technique in rebutting the ID case left much to be desired during my search. sean samis shows they haven't changed tacks. sean samis will not come back with an apology or contrition. He will not come back with anything that can be considered to be an honest critique of Steve Laufmann's presentation. He, likely, has not yet read the piece. He will make no attempt to point out any errors, misrepresentations, invalid inferences or such in Steve's piece. At least nothing that I can chew on. For those who are truly questioning their basic view of the world, as I once did, that should speak to them in a distinct voice as it did to me. StephenSteRusJon
September 21, 2015
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SteRusJon, There is a school of thought that can be summarized as "ID must necessarily be wrong because it challenges my metaphysical faith commitments." Sean is of this school. It follows that if ID must necessarily be wrong, when it is time to beat it any stick will do. Even if the stick, like the one Sean used in 6, is as rigid as a freshly boiled string of spaghetti.Barry Arrington
September 21, 2015
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sean samis, you invoked a genetic fallacy to dismiss all that Mr. Laufmann has to say on the question- "...why should evolution be so different?" from a prior Granville Sewell article. I read articles such as the one Steve Laufmann did for ENV and they seem to my mind to be thoughtful, reasoned and cogent. I sometimes wonder to myself, "Why doesn't this convince the opponents to ID? What is in it that is false, irrelevant, unfounded? What is lowly me missing?" Since I cannot see what is in error, I would like for some of the opponents to ID to point those shortcomings out to me instead of attacking the messenger. sean samis, if you wish for me to give ear to anything you have to say on these matters, address the argument of Mr. Laufmann. Show me the weak and missing links in his chain of thought. Barry is correct to believe you did not read the piece. Otherwise you would have seen the prediction "it may not be long before we see a seismic shift in the research paradigm -- from the study of biological systems that happen to contain information, to the study of information systems that happen to be encoded in biology." Information systems is exactly where Steve Laufmann's expertise lies. His piece supports his take on the situation quite well, as far as I can see. Can you show me otherwise? StephenSteRusJon
September 21, 2015
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Sean @ 6: Beg the question much? You did not read the article. How can I tell? Because if you had read it, you would not have asked the question you asked at the end, because it is answered in the article. Here's my grand challenge for Sean: Make a minimal effort to inform yourself about a topic before you embarrass yourself like you did in comment 6.Barry Arrington
September 21, 2015
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This is an interesting double-standard you employ: if someone with no expertise at all in biology opines that because of their unrelated occupation they’ve concluded evolution is impossible, you give their amateur opinion great weight. But if an amateur offers their opinion that evolution is quite reasonable, or even if a practicing molecular biologist offers their expert opinion that evolution is quite reasonable, you will nit-pick those opinions to death. Hmm. Double standard. A Grand Challenge to Barry: tell us why we should care about Mr. Laufmann’s opinions regarding molecular biology? Designing “very large, very complex, composite information systems that are orchestrated to perform specified tasks in demanding environments” is a different area of activity from molecular biology. sean s.sean samis
September 21, 2015
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Well spoken Mr. Laufmann!tjguy
September 21, 2015
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The greatest challenge they have encountered is figuring out how to answer (in a logical, coherent, comprehensive manner) this very fundamental question related to their research papers: Where's the beef? Here's a very recent example: https://uncommondescent.com/evolution/a-third-way-of-evolution/#comment-581035 Everything else fall into the same category as political elections debates: just "parole, parole, parole" without substance. Hence they fail the other important requirement: Show me the money! :)Dionisio
September 20, 2015
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I like the way Laufmann put that. Almost poetic.bornagain77
September 19, 2015
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When all you have are stories, you tell stories.Mung
September 19, 2015
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Pfft- Obviously Steve Laufmann doesn't understand biology. Come on, just look at the equations: Mother Nature + Father Time + (known and unknown blind and mindless processes) = what we observe Repeated descent with modification + differing environmental pressures + contingent serendipity = the diversity of life It is uncannily Disneyesque...Virgil Cain
September 19, 2015
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