Monthly Archives: August 2012
He said it: Toronto of TSZ etc on abductive inference to best explanation in science
| August 24, 2012 | Posted by kairosfocus under Design inference, Functionally Specified Complex Information & Organization, ID Foundations, Intelligent Design, Science, science education |
The illustration to the right is a Hertzprung-Russell diagram of two star clusters, and is used to infer ages for these clusters. How is that done? Stellar clusters are gravitationally bound and so the stars seem to be of the same general age and composition, also they are at about the same distance from us.… more
On the Extended Dawkins Scales: I’m a Creationist First, a Christian Second
| August 24, 2012 | Posted by scordova under Atheism, Creationism, Intelligent Design |
Continuing on with the wonderful Dawkins Festival at Uncommon Descent (UD), I would like to mention the Dawkins Spectrum of Theistic Probability. 1.Strong theist. 100 per cent probability of God. In the words of C.G. Jung: “I do not believe, I know.” 2.De facto theist. Very high probability but short of 100 per cent. “I… more
UD News away till October 30
| August 23, 2012 | Posted by News under Adminstrative, Intelligent Design |
Needing to finish up a manuscript for Christian Darwinism (Broadman and Holman, 2014), a book co-authored with Bill Dembski … more
“So what is bad for the next generation may be good for our species in general.”
| August 23, 2012 | Posted by David Anderson under Natural selection |
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… more
What I’d like to ask Richard Dawkins
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by vjtorley under Intelligent Design |
Recently, Uncommon Descent featured a post by News, inquiring of readers what they would like to ask Richard Dawkins, if they could interview him. I wrote a response. I have been told that News has gone on holiday and would welcome posts on UD, so I’ve decided to put up my question as a separate… more
Why is Dawkins making this so easy for us?
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by David Anderson under Religion |
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… more
Richard Dawkins is Playboy’s September interview
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by News under Atheism, Darwinism |
“PLAYBOY: You’ve had a lot of fun deconstructing the idea of the intelligent designer. ” more
For Record: Petrushka’s irresponsible deceit at TSZ in regards to an alleged “threat” of banning made by me
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by kairosfocus under Intelligent Design |
Occasionally, there is a need to make a note for record, and to document what we have to deal with here at UD. I do so now, as I have just learned how I have been slandered at The Skeptical Zone by Petrushka, as one who would censor for mere disagreement. (Joe, thanks for… more
Proponent of nearly neutral evolution theory offers her views on Darwinism
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by News under Evolution, News |
If you look at systems biology papers, you are struck by extreme complexities of various interaction systems. To me, the biggest question is how …? more
Well, if that’s all you mean by human evolution …
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by News under Human evolution, News |
In what sense is this evolution, as opposed to drawing on a library of existing traits? more
Atheism and sexual deviancy
| August 22, 2012 | Posted by David Anderson under Animal minds, Atheism, Religion, Science, worldview issues and society |
“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… more
Neuroscientists claim octopus has consciousness
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by News under Animal minds, Neuroscience, News |
The problem is that no one knows what consciousness is, exactly, or how it arises, and – hat tip to Thomas Nagel – no one knows what it is like to be a bat, or octopus. more
Bonobo Kanzi learns to make tools
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by News under Animal minds, Intelligent Design, News |
Both apes had been taught by humans how to make the tools, but only Kanji appears to have profited from the lesson. more
John Lennox replies to Larry Krauss’s claim that Higgs boson “arguably more relevant than God”
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by News under Cosmology, News |
“The internal combustion engine is arguably more relevant than Henry Ford to the question of how a car works, but not for why it exists in the first place.” more
So Two Atheists Are Playing Cards And One Says to the Other . . .
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by Barry Arrington under Intelligent Design |
Watching atheists debate moral issues is fascinating. Like a man wading a river with water up to his nose and saying “water, what water?” they are up to their noses in irony and yet appear to be completely oblivious to it. Two atheists debating moral issues are like two card players arguing over whether a… more
Human evolution: Fossil find suggests migrants left Africa earlier than thought, say paleontologists
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by News under Human evolution, Intelligent Design, News |
“The discovery also bolsters genetic studies that indicate that modern humans occupied that part of the world at least 60,000 years ago, she said.” more
Richard Dawkins defends the idea of having a mistress and lying about it
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by scordova under Culture, Evolutionary psychology, Humor |
Many felt disgust with former vice presidential candidate John Edwards for cheating on his terminally ill wife Elizabeth Edwards. In the process of his affair, Edwards fathered a child with his mistress, Rielle Hunter. Rielle is now one of the most hated women in America. But according to evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, men having mistresses… more
Not only did Darwin’s followers believe in a “vast amount of functionless so-called ‘junk DNA’” …
| August 21, 2012 | Posted by News under 'Junk DNA', News |
… they taught their fans to believe it too. more
Hot weather universe theory: Quantum graphity
| August 20, 2012 | Posted by News under Cosmology, News |
“”Think of the early universe as being like a liquid,” he said. … ” more
Human evolution: The old normal – we claim we know. The new normal – we hint we might not
| August 20, 2012 | Posted by News under Human evolution, News |
“First, the reader must wade through the standard tale. Then comes the overturn:” more