>> >> No - it's a common misconception but evolutionary theory doesn't actually >> say anything about the origin of life itself. > >This statement isn't clear. You think evolution claims to know the origin of >life?
I'm not sure how it's unclear: the Theory of Evolution says nothing (not a thing, not even a little bit, not even a sidebar) about the origin of life. Evolution is only concerned with how (already existing) life changes and adapts. The pressures which trigger those changes and the mechanisms for those changes. >However there are many scientific hypothesis that DO concern the origin of >> life - the Pope says nothing about them. > >Why would he? He is discussing EVOLUTION, not any of those other hypothesis. >His position is very simple: The Catholic church will not take a stance >against evolution because it is able to reconcile their belief in a Creator >with the very obvious fact that evolution is indeed reality. It was the Pope (not me) that brought up the origin of "everything". He skirted the issue, but did not address it, he pushed it back. It's the "god of the gaps" argument: point to a hole in scientific understanding and say "That's where God is". I'm not saying it's a bad position, per se, but it IS a wishy-washy one. >Personally I find the Pope's position a bit frustrating. He makes his case >> only >> by assuming, but not actually stating, Catholic beliefs: namely that the >> bible is >> not to be taken literally. > >Frustrating?!?! Are you on drugs? This is as refreshing a position as you >are going to find from a religious leader! What do you expect man? He is >saying that his faith can be reconciled with the reality of evolution, and >he is suggesting that his flock (the largest in the world, if statistics are >to be believed) should do the same. Yes, frustrating. He's not saying anything new or challenging. All he's saying is "this doesn't seem to conflict with what I already believed so I'll let it stand." As a position that's all well and good - applaud it. But to suggest that this will somehow mitigate or reduce the controversy around the topic is ridiculous. In effect he's attempting to address a controversy that doesn't exist: catholics already believe as he do. If you're catholic there is no controversy. Again I applaud the church's position - I always have. But it adds nothing to the discussion he seems to addressing. >How is that frustrating? That is all that we evolutionists can possibly ask >for from a religious group. For the above reasons. The frustration is NOT with the church's position - it's with his commentary on the controversy. Remember his statement both reiterates long standing church opinion (evolution as fact) AND the controvery (which he calls "an absurdity".) Well, clearly it would be an absurd argument if everybody believed as he does! But they don't - that's WHY there's a controvery! His comments on the churches postion are welcome but nothing new. His comments on the controversy display a complete lack of understand and a disturbing elitism in who is nominally a world leader. >He's basically saying that the whole issue is just "absurd" - but only if >> you >> believe exactly as I do. It's the same as if somebody said "Racism is >> stupid - >> there's no reason to hate others because of the color of their skin!" > >I don't see that at ALL. He is saying that evolution is a reality, and that >the faith of his Church can easily be reconciled with that reality. >Evolution answers the "how", and he believes his faith answers the "why". >Where is the absurdity in that? He has a clear concept of the separation of >"faith" and "science"....how is that absurd? Again - I'm on a different point. I've no problem with his position IN the controversy, I've a problem with his positon ON the controversy. In other words I've not problem with his stand in the argument I've a problem with his view of the argument. This is EXACTLY like arguments over racism. Most people have no idea how somebody could be a racist - the very idea is absurd! And yet we have a serious, severe problem with racism. My frustration with the Pope's comments is in that aspect. "Hating somebody because of their race is absurd and so the racism problem is absurd." isn't any different for my purposes than "Evolution is well supported by science and so the entire controversy over it is absurd." In both cases there are TWO positions stated - I've no problem (and agree with) one of them and find the other frustrating in it's ignorance. >It doesn't do much to deal with the problem only because, generally >speaking, the Catholics haven't been the source of the problem. If the >leaders of the other major churches, especially the fundamentalist nutty >ones, would issue the same kind of decree as Benedict, that would help out >tremendously! Again tho' - if those churches WOULD issue such decrees then there wouldn't BE a problem. These people DON'T think like the Pope and, to them, the issue is far, far from "absurd". The Pope reiterating the church's position: good! The Pope dimissing the controvery as "absurd": frustrating. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Get the answers you are looking for on the ColdFusion Labs Forum direct from active programmers and developers. http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/categories.cfm?forumid-72&catid=648 Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:239131 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
