# Creationism questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 11, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837 "2000-02-11T03:27:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![batgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@batgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/21 "2000-02-12T06:02:00Z")
I don’t know why God would create dinasours just to destroy them; I don’t know why God does a lot of things. And God doesn’t owe me any explanations. By evidence, if you mean anything other than what’s written in the Bible, I haven’t looked for any, because I believe what’s written in the Bible, so why look for other evidence? ---
**Author:** ![batgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@batgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/22 "2000-02-12T06:05:00Z")
Zor, I was writing my response to Hardcore while you were posting yours. 1. I think I’ve already said I don’t feel qualified to answer physics questions, so I’ll leave that one for a physicist. 2. Fossils exist because animals and plants died and left their remains. I don’t see how that proves or disproves anything. ---
**Author:** ![Zor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/848f3c/32.png) [@Zor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/23 "2000-02-12T06:06:00Z")
Uh-huh… Well, we might as well stop here then. If you’re content with whatever the bible says, you ain’t going to change. For your own godd, I hope don’t bring this kind of blind faith into your studies… ---
**Author:** ![Zor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/848f3c/32.png) [@Zor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/24 "2000-02-12T06:08:00Z")
Oh, thought you were answering mine… Well, visit this site if you’re ever brave enough to challenge yourself… [http://www.talkorigins.org](http://www.talkorigins.org) I suggest you start with the FAQ. This going to take some time… ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/25 "2000-02-12T06:09:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by batgirl: > \*\* > By evidence, if you mean anything other than what’s written in the Bible, I haven’t looked for any, because I believe what’s written in the Bible, so why look for other evidence? \*\* I think that there are two important questions here: 1. Are you a professional scientist? 2. Do you claim that you have a scientific, creationist explanation of protein homology which takes all the observed data into account? Or do you just believe the Bible and not really try to explain protein homology? The reason I ask is because your earlier explanation doesn’t even begin to explain homology, but clearly it would be a waste of time to ask you for more details if you don’t really feel that you have a scientific explanation. -Ben ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/26 "2000-02-12T06:10:00Z")
batgirl: > [@](#): > > By evidence, if you mean anything other than what’s written in the Bible, I haven’t looked for any, because I believe what’s written in the Bible, so why look for other evidence? Why do any science at all? Why not close your eyes to any evidence and remain in ignorance? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/27 "2000-02-12T06:32:00Z")
Well, I believe the earth exsisted a looong time before man was created! ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/28 "2000-02-12T06:37:00Z")
See, like I told you, we killed 'em all, and ate them. You didn’t believe me, and now the blood flows everywhere. Oh, the Humanity! \

          **Tris** \ \\ \*\*\*\ -\\\*\*\* ---

**Author:** ![batgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@batgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/29 "2000-02-12T06:38:00Z")
Yes, I am a professional scientist. I am currently a post-doctoral research fellow at Washington University School of Medicine. My research is on asthma. My graduate work was on bone development and osteoporosis. At last count I was co-author on six publications. As I stated earlier, I became a creationist in graduate school when I realized that the evolutionists had no more proof than the creationists AND in order to believe the evolutionists I would have to believe that a series of highly unlikely events all happened in a precise order for the world to come into being. I simply don’t believe this happened. No one can prove it did and no one can prove it didn’t, so it’s really just a matter of faith. (And if you don’t think there’s just as much dogma in science as there is in religion, try and disprove the department chairman’s hypothesis.) Ben, I’m not sure what questions you have about protein homology, but if you could be more specific I’ll try to give you a more complete answer. As to “why do science at all,” Rabbi Moses Maimonedes (the Rambam), one of the great Torah commentators of all time, said that there are two ways to come to know God: one is through the study of Torah, the other is through the study of his works. The more science I study, the more I appreciate what an amazing piece of work the world is. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/30 "2000-02-12T06:43:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by batgirl: > > \*\*By evidence, if you mean anything other than what’s written in the Bible, I haven’t looked for any, because I believe what’s written in the Bible, so why look for other evidence? \*\* [http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/genint.html](http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/genint.html) This link says thre are several different ways to look at Genesis and how it relates to what we know about evolution from science. Now, if you choose to have faith that in spite of the vast evidence to the contrary, that’s fine. I will never belittle faith, and thus far, you simply stated faith and not attempts at refuting any of the evidence for evolution. This is a new one for me - I never met a Creationist who simply didn’t care - and a scientist no less? If you were motivated enough to get into a science field as your degree (and presumably, occupation), how could you not be curious about the origins of us all, and the scientific evidence that accompanies it? That puzzles me. But if your reason for ignoring the issue is just because of what your Bible says, as you can see from the link I provided, there are many ways to interpret Genesis and be consistant with that and science. In fact, most Bible-based worshippers do. And most of them are not scientists. * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![batgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@batgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/31 "2000-02-12T06:47:00Z")
Satan, Haven’t had a chance to look at the link yet. I’m at work and trying to do an experiment while posting. I will certainly look at it, give it due consideration and get back to you after I’ve had time to analyze what I read. In the meantime, could you please explain what it is I’m (supposedly) ignoring? ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/32 "2000-02-12T06:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by batgirl: > > \*\*As I stated earlier, I became a creationist in graduate school when I realized that the evolutionists had no more proof than the creationists AND in order to believe the evolutionists I would have to believe that a series of highly unlikely events all happened in a precise order for the world to come into being. \*\* There is NO evidence for a young earth outside of faith. There is ample - I mean TONS - of evidence that the earth is ancient, the system around it also is, and we have evolved. How can a scientists not understand the scientific method and how it differenciates itself from philosophy, I cannot guess. > [@](#): > > \*\*I simply don’t believe this happened. \*\* You can choose to “believe” anything you wish. Doesn’t make it factual. > [@](#): > > \*\*No one can prove it did and no one can prove it didn’t, so it’s really just a matter of faith. (And if you don’t think there’s just as much dogma in science as there is in religion, try and disprove the department chairman’s hypothesis.) \*\* You used the word “prove” in a science discussion. Do I have to point out to you how much credibility you just lost from people who KNOW how science works? * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/33 "2000-02-12T06:50:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by batgirl: > > **In the meantime, could you please explain what it is I’m (supposedly) ignoring?** Um… EVERYTHING??? * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![batgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@batgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/34 "2000-02-12T06:53:00Z")
Ok Satan, Tell me what’s wrong with using “prove.” And while you’re at it, define “factual.” Last time I checked, evolution was a THEORY, that is something which by definition cannot be proven. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/35 "2000-02-12T06:58:00Z")
Well, far be it from Me to speak for Satan!, but I believe in non-evolution by faith alone. I am not a scientist. However, the theory of evolution does not mean(and Now I’m probably speaking for David B!)its just a wild guess someone thought up. I believe they have some facts for it! And I’m a christian! ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/36 "2000-02-11T19:02:00Z")
uh-oh… not another _theory_ argument. :::::shrugging in disbelief:::::: ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/37 "2000-02-11T19:04:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The colloquial use of the word “theory” corresponds more or less to the scientific word “hypothesis.” A hypothesis is a proposition or explanation that is not at all certain, and demands evidence prior to acceptance. In scientific circles, the word “theory” is much more than a hypothesis. “A scientific theory is the endpoint of the scientific method, often the foundation of an entire field of knowledge…” (Berra, 1990, 4). Calling evolution “just a theory” is an attempt to discredit the obvious by confusing colloquial and scientific terminology. Evolution is a theory in the same sense as Copernican theory (the theory that the earth goes around the sun), the theory of gravity, electromagnetic theory, quantum theory, and the theory of relativity. One cannot say of evolution that it is just a theory any more than one can say it of these other theories. Taken from [http://www2.uic.edu/~vuletic/cefec.html](http://www2.uic.edu/~vuletic/cefec.html) You can’t possibly be a scientist using this argument. A scientist should KNOW the difference between a theory and a **Scientific Theory**. * * * Yer pal, Satan ---
**Author:** ![batgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@batgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/38 "2000-02-11T19:06:00Z")
I never said that evolution “is just a wild guess that someone thought up.” A theory is an attempt to explain an observed phenomenon. By definition (go back to your high school science book) a theory cannot be proven. To call something a theory does not diminish it in any way. A prefer to use the term hypothesis because “theory” is often misunderstood to mean WAG becuase so many people use the term incorrectly. So the question becomes, given what we can all observe (fossil record, protein homology, etc.) what is the most likely explanation for how things got to be that way. I believe it’s that because God created it, others differ. And I don’t know why people don’t include the Bible as part of the “what we can observe.” If an archeologist finds some scrolls about ancient civilizations, that’s considered evidence. So why not consider the Bible as well? ---
**Author:** ![hardcore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@hardcore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardcore)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/39 "2000-02-11T19:12:00Z")
batgirl implied: > [@](#): > > in order to believe the evolutionists I would have to believe that a series of highly unlikely events all happened in a precise order for the world to come into being. What series of highly unlikely events do you find implausible? Please try to be precise, as this appears to be your entire foundation for believing creationism. For Tris: [http://freeweb.pdq.net/hardcore/anim/bbqflames\_sm\_clr.gif](http://freeweb.pdq.net/hardcore/anim/bbqflames_sm_clr.gif) ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837/40 "2000-02-11T19:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > And I don’t know why people don’t include the Bible as part of the “what we can observe.” If an archeologist finds some scrolls about ancient civilizations, that’s considered evidence. It’s not considered scientific evidence. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creationism-questions/17837.md?page=3)