# I Don't Like Being Called Irrational. \[Just because I do not accept the Theory of Evolution.\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 19, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755 "2013-05-19T19:55:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/21 "2013-05-19T21:31:39Z")
There’s an interesting question here, though: if a Christian who actually believed in evolution, for example, had posted complaining about being called irrational, how many here would’ve responded in the same vein of “well, then, stop being religious”? I can think of at least one… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/22 "2013-05-19T21:35:42Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > There’s an interesting question here, though: if a Christian who actually believed in evolution, for example, had posted complaining about being called irrational, how many here would’ve responded in the same vein of “well, then, stop being religious”? I can think of at least one… It might be an interesting question in another thread. It is not really relevant, here. Every group has its bigoted partisans–and they are often present on the SDMB. Their presence or absence, however, has no specific bearing on the OP’s misunderstandings or ignorance regarding the theory of Evolution. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/23 "2013-05-19T21:41:50Z")
Who is David? If it’s David B he hasn’t been on this board in a long time, and there haven’t been staff reports in a long time either. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/24 "2013-05-19T21:42:47Z")
> [@Atarii](#): > > (Oh, yeah, we know this creature existed because of two teeth the size of grains of rice. We know it’s habits and exactly how it looked. . . because of two teeth. Not possible.) A bit more than [two teeth.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkana_boy) Scientist agonize about NOT being able to know its habits or exactly how it looked. If you want to see well documented “macro-evolution” read up on the evolution of the cetaceans. In the last few decades, their evolution has been incredibly well documented in the fossil record. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/25 "2013-05-19T22:02:50Z")
> [@Atarii](#): > > I’m a Christian, but I am filled with doubt, conflict and wonder, but even despite questioning my own beliefs, I have no doubt that evolution is false, because the evidence is weak or contradicts known laws. As opposed to “God did it”, which doesn’t contradict known laws? From the limited quantity of actual content in your OP, I’d say your problem is more with ignorance than with irrationality. The fossil record, which gets better and better all the time, coupled with DNA analysis show how robust the theory of evolution is when it comes to making testable predictions. “God did it” is not a testable, nor is it capable of making predictions (or rather, it could be used to predict anything, so is not useful in predicting particular things). At any rate, ignorance is a lot easier to fight than irrationality, so you’ve come to the right place for the former. Enjoy your stay. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/26 "2013-05-19T22:28:49Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > David who? > Recommended reading for you: the (perhaps misleadingly-titled) book by Francis Collins: [The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief](http://www.amazon.com/Language-God-Scientist-Presents-Evidence/dp/1416542744/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368998293&sr=1-1%5B/url), especially the latter part of the book, where he, as a scientist and a Christian, explains the case for evolution, and what’s wrong with Creationism and Intelligent Design. Also “Finding Darwin’s God,” by Kenneth Miller, a highly respected evolutionary biologist and devout Catholic. That book has a lovely demolition of the “God of the gaps” fallacy. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/27 "2013-05-19T22:46:48Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I, too, am curious as to what laws you believe are violated by the Theory of Evolution. The standard Creationist claptrap is that it somehow violates the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/28 "2013-05-19T23:05:27Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > The standard Creationist claptrap is that it somehow violates the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Hah yes; I recall a quote from some forum called Smashboards from such a Creationist poster that got quoted at various other places under the title _“Creationist Almost Discovers the Sun”:_ > [@](#): > > One of the most basic laws in the universe is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that as time goes by, entropy in an environment will increase. Evolution argues differently against a law that is accepted EVERYWHERE BY EVERYONE. Evolution says that we started out simple, and over time became more complex. That just isn’t possible: UNLESS there is a giant outside source of energy supplying the Earth with huge amounts of energy. If there were such a source, scientists would certainly know about it. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/29 "2013-05-19T23:24:25Z")
> [@Atarii](#): > > For instance, microevolution is true, but evolutionists like to say that macroevolution is true too, by extension, which is like saying that if I can walk across the street, then I can fly across the Atlantic, “by extension.” Look at the variety of breeds of dogs today. Have you ever wondered why poodles and chihuahuas don’t appear in the wild? They’ve been bred from wild dogs over the past 10,000 years. People chose which dogs to mate in order to produce certain characteristics, which is in a sense a kind of natural selection. See how much dogs have changed in 10,000 years, and imagine what could happen in 10 _million_ years. Then think about how life has been around for 4 _billion_ years, and hopefully you’ll realize how we can have such a wide variety of lifeforms today through completely natural processes. And don’t try to quibble with the Earth being so old, because every field of science from geology to astrophysics independently came to the conclusion that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old. It’s not just an evolution thing. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/30 "2013-05-19T23:38:08Z")
Duplicate Post ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/31 "2013-05-19T23:39:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Hah yes; I recall a quote from some forum called Smashboards from such a Creationist poster that got quoted at various other places under the title _“Creationist Almost Discovers the Sun”:_ That is a classic paragraph demonstrating the Dunning-Kruger effect in a remarkable fashion. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/32 "2013-05-20T00:01:49Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Hah yes; I recall a quote from some forum called Smashboards from such a Creationist poster that got quoted at various other places under the title _“Creationist Almost Discovers the Sun”:_ That is one of my absolute favorite quotes!! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/33 "2013-05-20T00:16:51Z")
There is more physical evidence for evolution than for any other theory humankind has ever come up with. University, library, and museum warehouses all over the world are filled with that evidence. There are all sorts of Christian denominations that accept evolution. The ones that do not may behave toward their fellow people as loving Christians, but their literalistic views of the story of creation always amaze me in the same way that talking apes amaze me. I am amazed that members of my species can abandon education, reason and critical thinking so easily. Really, it stuns me whenever a supposedly educated person says that they do not understand evolution, the reasoning for it or the evidence in favor of a creation myth. Why would they reveal their gullibility so readily? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/34 "2013-05-20T02:05:29Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Why would they reveal their gullibility so readily? It’s how God/the Universe/the Force tells you who to play poker with. “Luke, use the bluff!” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/35 "2013-05-20T03:00:58Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, **Atarii**. As do some other posters in this thread, I would love being enlightened on a couple of points brought up in your OP. First, who is this “David” to whom you refer in your opening sentence? And second, of course, to which “known laws” are you referring in your second paragraph? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/36 "2013-05-20T04:37:11Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > The standard Creationist claptrap is that it somehow violates the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. Credit where it’s due, several creationist web-sites have moved beyond this. I believe “Answers in Genesis” has told its readers to stop using this argument, because it is so embarrassingly wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/37 "2013-05-20T07:52:59Z")
What’s wrong with being irrational? Rational is boring. All the best things in life are irrational: Twin Peaks, PI, The Universe, women. Embrace your irrationality. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/38 "2013-05-20T08:02:25Z")
> [@Atarii](#): > > I Don’t Like Being Called Irrational. And I don’t like being called fat and ugly, but I prefer it to being called thin and gorgeous. Truth matters. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/39 "2013-05-20T11:08:29Z")
David? Dave’s not here man. . . ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755/40 "2013-05-20T13:39:10Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > One thing I’ve never seen creationists even attempt to explain, when they say that microevolution is fine, but macroevolution is impossible: > > How do you stop it? If you accept that microevolution happens, then you’re accepting that genes can change, mutate, adapt, etc, over time, leading to small-scale changes in a species. OK, so how do you then draw a line and say evolution can’t go farther than that? Easy; God must use his magic to stop it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-like-being-called-irrational-just-because-i-do-not-accept-the-theory-of-evolution/658755.md?page=3)