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Tuesday 7 April 2015

Why one should never buy a watch from a blind watchmaker

Why St. Denis Should Be the Patron Saint of Evolutionary Theory


On seeking clarity in the design debate II.

I've noticed certain recurring approaches by Darwinists in their attempts to cloud the issues re:the design debate what follows is a lists of 5 such approaches along with my reasons for calling fudge in each instance.
  1)Downplaying the relevance of abiogenesis to the design debate.I call fudge because obviously if one is arguing that Darwinian evolution is the sole cause of the design/the appearance of design in biology any design/appearance of design in the pre-evolutionary proto-life constitutes a serious indeed potentially fatal difficulty.The autotrophic unicellular lifeforms that were present at the very beginning of the history of life have continued with us down to the present essentially unchanged,while numerous multicellular species have long passed off the scene.We can thus conclude that not only was the proto-life designed but it was as at least as well designed as any succeeding life.This utter failure to arrive at the simple beginning upon which their argument depends and flippant waving away of sophisticated pre-evolutionary design might play well to the gallery but well read neutrals rightly insists on an actual response.
 2)Treating as self-evident the extrapolation from micro-evolution to macro evolution.I call fudge because Darwinian apologists are appealing to processes that mainly produce a loss/suppression of biological information to explain the massive increase in biological information that has occurred over the course of the history of life,also this particular extrapolation is not based on any observations either in the present or in the fossil record Darwin himself admitted as much.More recently astronomer Carl Sagan(that champion of creationism) stated in his book 'Broca's brain' that the fossil record seems  consistent with a special creation.Thus it seems fair to insists that when Darwinists use the term evolution they specify whether they're referring to micro-evolution(which has never been controversial) or macro-evolution which has quite a bit of controversy(even among its advocates)to deal with.
  3)The insistence of Darwinists in portraying the design debate as a clash between religion/philosophy and science/modernity.I call fudge at this gross oversimplification.Evolutionary ideas were being discussed among western and eastern philosophers from antiquity,The notion of theistic evolutionism is therefore nothing new and not so much a retreat in the face of onslaught of secular Darwinists as a restoring of evolutionism to its roots.Also many who are expressing scepticism at Darwinian macro-evolution are secular in outlook (some are concerned by what they see as a corruption of science by politics.)and are primarily concerned by the kind of slipshod scholarship and philosophy that is being passed off as science.
  4)Portraying any expression of scepticism about Darwinism as creationism or any Darwin sceptic as a creationist.Fudge again the obvious implication is that there are no truly scientific objections to  Darwinism.Why then are Darwinists so busily striving to keep scientific objections to certain aspects of the their theory(many of which have been raised by evolutionists themselves)from being aired or discussed in public.Have Darwinists ever considered that their habit of treating the public like children might be triggering more scepticism about their position among those they're seeking to win over.
 5)Claiming that majority of educated people subscribe to Darwinism.Fudge,even if we grant that this proposition is true would it be the first time that the intelligentsia subscribed en masse to some kind of pseudo-scientific hokum we can think of alchemy,astrology,geo-centrism,more recently eugenics.Truth has never been determined by popular vote and there have been numerous periods in human history where the intelligentsia (and indeed the masses) have been deluded by subsequently discredited ideas.Many are convinced ,for various reasons,that we are now witnessing something similar with Darwinism. 
  
     

A lively discussion about alchemy then and now.

David Berlinski Crosses Swords with Pharyngula's PZ Meyers


Tuesday 31 March 2015

Jehovah's Witnesses remain clear on the concept.

Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Maintain Political Neutrality?



Jehovah’s Witnesses remain politically neutral for religious reasons, based on what the Bible teaches. We do not lobby, vote for political parties or candidates, run for government office, or participate in any action to change governments. We believe that the Bible gives solid reasons for following this course.
  • We follow the example of Jesus, who refused to accept political office. (John 6:15) He taught his disciples to be “no part of the world” and made it clear that they should not take sides in political issues.John 17:14, 16; 18:36; Mark 12:13-17.
  • We are loyal to God’s Kingdom, which Jesus spoke of when he said: “This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth.” (Matthew 24:14) As representatives of God’s Kingdom, commissioned to proclaim its coming, we remain neutral in the political affairs of all countries, including the one where we live.2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20.
  • By remaining neutral, we are able to speak freely to people of all political persuasions about the good news of God’s Kingdom. We try to show by our words and practices that we rely on God’s Kingdom to solve the world’s problems.Psalm 56:11.
  • Since we avoid political divisions, we are united as an international brotherhood. (Colossians 3:14; 1 Peter 2:17) In contrast, religions that meddle in politics divide their members.1 Corinthians 1:10.
Respect for governments. Although we do not take part in politics, we respect the authority of the governments under which we live. This is in harmony with the Bible’s command: “Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities.” (Romans 13:1) We obey the law, pay taxes, and cooperate with efforts of the government to provide for the welfare of its citizens. Rather than participate in any attempt to subvert the government, we follow the Bible’s counsel to pray for “kings and all those who are in positions of authority,” especially when they are making decisions that could affect freedom of worship.1 Timothy 2:1, 2, footnote.
We also respect the rights of others to make their own decisions in political matters. For example, we do not disrupt elections or interfere with those who choose to vote.
Is our neutrality a modern innovation? No. The apostles and other first-century Christians took an identical stand toward governmental authority. The book Beyond Good Intentions states: “Though they believed they were obligated to honor the governing authorities, the early Christians did not believe in participating in political affairs.” Similarly, the book On the Road to Civilization says that early Christians “would not hold political office.”
Is our political neutrality a threat to national security? No. We are peace-loving citizens from whom governmental authorities have nothing to fear. Consider a 2001 report produced by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Commenting on our political neutrality, the report stated: “Today some may dislike this stand of Jehovah’s Witnesses; it was a basic reason for their being accused by the totalitarian Nazi and Communist regimes of the past.” Yet, even under Soviet repression, the Witnesses “remained law-abiding citizens. They honestly and selflessly worked in collective farms and at industrial plants and presented no threat to the Communist regime.” Likewise today, the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses do not, the report concluded, “undermine the security and integrity of any state.”

Saturday 28 March 2015

A line in the Sand X

Revelation17:16,17ASV"And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished."


Indiana's anti-LGBT law a preview for 2016?

Plagiarising the original technologist.

Nature Credits Evolution for Biomimetics Revolution