creationism/ID/evolution summary

[gfunkusarelius]

sorry to post this because i know this is a topic that has been covered relentlessly, but my wife caught part of a presentation by ann coulter where she made several unchallenged digs at evolution, and my wife was surprised by it, i dont think she even really realized there were still people out there what really questioned the basic theory of evolution. so the reason i am writing is because i looked around thru past posts for a concise, short (at least introductory) summary of the common arguments against evolution that creationists use. there is lots of great stuff on wikipedia and skepdic but i am looking more for something with a sense of humor and or at least a fun writing style that goes over the basics. i think it is fascinating how creationists think (their utter terror that we could come from "lower" beings, etc), so i know she would get a kick out of it as long as it wasnt boringly technical...which all sources i found tended to be.
on a side note, i was a bit horrified to have her asking me about this because , evidently ann coulter was persuasive enough to make her ask "did i miss something?" in a way that i could tell she was questioning if maybe she had a popular and legitimate viewpoint.

[FFed]

Always a good place.

http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/outline.html

[senorpogo]

my wife was surprised by it, i dont think she even really realized there were still people out there what really questioned the basic theory of evolution

I remember a short part in Demon-Haunted World where Sagan mentions something along the lines that some of his colleagues felt that he shouldn't waste his time debunking creationism because there weren't any serious people out there who believed it. Written in 1997, I'm guessing the ID/Creationist movement was not nearly as serious as it is now. It's truly stunning when you realize a.) these people exist, b.) how many of them there are, and c.) that you may actually know some of them.

As for your request - sorry, I don't know.

[Dave1001]

I remember a short part in Demon-Haunted World where Sagan mentions something along the lines that some of his colleagues felt that he shouldn't waste his time debunking creationism because there weren't any serious people out there who believed it. Written in 1997, I'm guessing the ID/Creationist movement was not nearly as serious as it is now. It's truly stunning when you realize a.) these people exist, b.) how many of them there are, and c.) that you may actually know some of them.

As for your request - sorry, I don't know.

I could care less about people "believing" in creationism: I think that 99% of the leaders of the movement, and at least 33% of the followers are doing it for a tactical, anti-elitist counterhierarchy.

What bothers me is that people who oppose stem cell research even though IT'S IN THEIR OWN INTEREST.

I'm happy with most people believing that God created man, as long as it's coupled with a belief that God wants us to support biomedical research, including using fetal stem cells, as part of his greater glory.

Let's juust have them consider those blastocytes as Amekalites, or the population of Soddom and Gomorrah, or some such thing.

[CaveDave]

Here is a start. the last link is a list of links to other sites.

http://www.talkorigins.org/

http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/faqs-qa.html

http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/other-links.html

HTH

Dave

[rjh01]

Or links to this forum creationism ID "evolution (http://www.google.com/custom?q=creationism+ID+%22evolution%22&sa=Google+Search&cof=S%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fforums.randi.org%3BAH%3Acente r%3BLH%3A75%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fforums.randi.org%2F images%2Fmisc%2Fsearchlogo.gif%3BLW%3A849%3BAWFID% 3A31746880203d5407%3B&domains=forums.randi.org&sitesearch=forums.randi.org)"

[gfunkusarelius]

thanks...i think, while it isnt exactly humorous, this link (http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-misconceptions.html#observe) covers most of what i see argued a lot from creationists...

[Wolverine]

A perusal of TO's index of creationist claims (http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/list.html) might be helpful to obtain additional perspective, though it's also in the not-exactly-humorous category. The relative absence of "fun" reading materials on the subject can possibly be explained by that list's largely appalling content.

[Paulhoff]

Think of the horror that the apes will have when they find out that we have common ancestors.

Paul

:) :) :)

[gfunkusarelius]

A perusal of TO's index of creationist claims (http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/list.html) might be helpful to obtain additional perspective, though it's also in the not-exactly-humorous category. The relative absence of "fun" reading materials on the subject can possibly be explained by that list's largely appalling content.

i dont know, the inclusion of "Last Thursdayism" certainly made me chuckle...

[KingMerv00]

i dont know, the inclusion of "Last Thursdayism" certainly made me chuckle...

You want humor? http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB430.html


Claim CB430:

Evolution does not explain human personality, emotions, and the human mind in general, which make man distinct from animals.
Source:

Morris, John D., 2003. Is man a "higher" animal? Acts & Facts 32(7) (July), d.
Response:


Once the brain (http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB303.html) and consciousness (http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB400.html) have evolved, emotions, personality, and mind may be unavoidable. They certainly have selective advantage. Emotions serve to motivate us. And people without personality tend not to get laid.
People who have had pets know that cats, dogs, even birds also exhibit emotions and personality. :D