thoughts on evolution please

[farmer giles]

ps i may or may not of borrowed some of spot's or gmc's posts to make me look like i'm not a moron on my other forum :

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by gmc

Actually he does make it clear in chapter 14 (guess who has just read it) There are seven major genetic clusters from which 96% of europeans can trace their descent. The book was about the origin of Europeans not the rest of the world and this research has finally laid to rest the controversy over whether Neanderthals have any part in our make up and also the once popular theory that the hunter gatherers in europe had been displaced by more advanced farmers moving out of the middle east. They weren't.

DNA research is new technology, the conclusions put forth in the book are less than ten years old. It is not a belief but a scientific theory which means if new evidence comes along that stands up to scrutiny it may change or be superseded.

He doesn't finish the book with stories about each of the seven he finishes it with a summary of how things stand at the time of printing.

Over the last ten years research from all corners of the globe have come up with 26 clans of equivalent status in the world making the total 33 world wide of those 33, 13 are from africa. It appears on the face of it hat one of those thirteen at some point moved out of africa and spawned the other 20. Clearly there is a lot of questions still to be answered.

This is all brand new research and of course the religious have leapt on it as proof of the existence of eve and therefore the truth of the garden of eden myth while continuing to ignore scientific evidence that points to conclusions they don't want to think about.

'

despite wondering what kind of experiments he did on the scientists I think I'll have a hunt for that book.

Ok. I forgot about the summary but he does dedicate a chapter depicting a likely lifestyle of each of the women. He takes into account the time period they lived in and incorporates a number of artefacts that have been found.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by what kind of experiments he did on the scientists. All he did was to take a sample of body tissue to examine the mitochondrial DNA.

[OpenMind]

One of the interesting things that Bryan Sykes discovered is that disasters experienced by a populace is reflected in the DNA and passed on to the next generation. If I get time today, I'll try and find where he used the Irish potato famine as an example of this.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

Ok. I forgot about the summary but he does dedicate a chapter depicting a likely lifestyle of each of the women. He takes into account the time period they lived in and incorporates a number of artefacts that have been found.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by what kind of experiments he did on the scientists. All he did was to take a sample of body tissue to examine the mitochondrial DNA.

Evolution' depicts one possible evoltion of mankind beginning with prehistoric animals and is based on research the author did with scientists.

It was a feeble attempt at humour. the way you phrased it suggested the author of evolution, steve baxter, might have done research on the scientists rather than the fossils

posted by farmer giles

i guess when it comes to god i want to be proven wrong i want there to be one when my friend talks about god any thoughts that evolution happens disproves god exists and this upsets him

If you could prove god exists then you wouldn't need faith would you? You wouldn't need any of the various religions to interpret for you so perhaps the churches have a vested interest in never having the existence of god proven. So any scientific endeavour that might challenge the literal belief in the writings of the bible is a challenge to their authority. It's not evolution per se they fear but rather the knocking away of that blind obedience to their tenets. Monotheism teaches you to bow down before a higher authority in unquestioning belief, by logical extension it teaches you not to question the authority of those anointed by god to rule on earth-divine right of kings etc etc. Pagans generally elected leaders and followed them if they seemed to be the best at it. Following a leader regardless of whether you think him an idiot because he is god's anointed if you is a whole different ball game. You can see the appeal of such a religion to a ruler, especially of a failing roman empire.

The question I would ask your god squad companion is why does your non-belief or questioning have any effect on HIS faith. His reaction would suggest that his faith is not so strong that he has to attack those who do not share it.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by gmc

It was a feeble attempt at humour. the way you phrased it suggested the author of evolution, steve baxter, might have done research on the scientists rather than the fossils

The fault is mine. I thought you were referring to The Seven Daughters of Eve. I get where you're coming from now.

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by gmc

If you could prove god exists then you wouldn't need faith would you? You wouldn't need any of the various religions to interpret for you so perhaps the churches have a vested interest in never having the existence of god proven. So any scientific endeavour that might challenge the literal belief in the writings of the bible is a challenge to their authority. It's not evolution per se they fear but rather the knocking away of that blind obedience to their tenets. Monotheism teaches you to bow down before a higher authority in unquestioning belief, by logical extension it teaches you not to question the authority of those anointed by god to rule on earth-divine right of kings etc etc. Pagans generally elected leaders and followed them if they seemed to be the best at it. Following a leader regardless of whether you think him an idiot because he is god's anointed if you is a whole different ball game. You can see the appeal of such a religion to a ruler, especially of a failing roman empire.

The question I would ask your god squad companion is why does your non-belief or questioning have any effect on HIS faith. His reaction would suggest that his faith is not so strong that he has to attack those who do not share it.

I used to love getting visits from Jehovah's Witnesses. Everything they throw at you from the Bible can be countered by other passages from the Bible. They called round on me one evening and told me they weren't going to continue with our sessions. I expressed my disappointment and haven't seen them since. That was back in the late 80s.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

I used to love getting visits from Jehovah's Witnesses. Everything they throw at you from the Bible can be countered by other passages from the Bible. They called round on me one evening and told me they weren't going to continue with our sessions. I expressed my disappointment and haven't seen them since. That was back in the late 80s.

They (or some of the more extreme religious believers) always assume you don't believe as they do because you haven't read the bible. It freaks them out when it dawns on them your non belief is not born out of ignorance of the word.

YouTube - Pastor Harry Hardwick Clips part 1

YouTube - Pastor Harry Hardwick Clips part 2

YouTube - Pastor Harry Hardwick Clips part 3

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by gmc

They (or some of the more extreme religious believers) always assume you don't believe as they do because you haven't read the bible. It freaks them out when it dawns on them your non belief is not born out of ignorance of the word.

YouTube - Pastor Harry Hardwick Clips part 1

YouTube - Pastor Harry Hardwick Clips part 2

YouTube - Pastor Harry Hardwick Clips part 3

I'll be glad when I get my sound system set up again.

[gmc]

Originally Posted by OpenMind

I'll be glad when I get my sound system set up again.

couldn't find the semaphore version but never mind maybe this will cheer you up

YouTube - Monty Python - The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights

[OpenMind]

Originally Posted by gmc

couldn't find the semaphore version but never mind maybe this will cheer you up

YouTube - Monty Python - The Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights

My god! I remember that sketch.

Wah! Wah!