From here:
The anti-ID biologist Richard Dawkins once said, “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” Now some ID critics today are so fearful of lending any credence towards intelligent design that they are recommending that biologists stop using the word “design” entirely.
A recent article in the journal Bioessays by its editor Andrew Moore, titled “We need a new language for evolution. . . everywhere,” suggests that biologists should stop using the term “design.” According to Moore, under “Evolution old-speak” we would say, “Structure X is designed to perform…” but under “Evolution new-speak” we must simply say, “Structure X performs Y.”
This means that, since Richard Dawkins’ head isn’t designed to hold his ears six inches apart but merely performs the function of doing so, it is an even less important organ that I first thought.
When Christians use the word “design” they really mean “supernatural magic”. Using code words for magic doesn’t make magic any less childish.
From your blog:
“Instead of wasting my time complaining about religious idiots I’m going to ignore them.”
You should keep your promises.
I’m not complaining Kate. I’m just pointing out an obvious fact. Christians believe in magic and they often use code words like “design” in a pathetic attempt to make their magic seem less childish.
If you strange people are too cowardly to grow up, that’s fine with me.
You have rather an odd definition of “ignore”, if you take it to mean seeking out Christian blogs to comment on.
Then I presume that you think the pathetic attempts of the following cowards who never grew up to be little more than the delusions of failed magicians:
James Clerk Maxwell, Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle, Michael Faraday, James Joule, Louis Pasteur, Blaise Pascal.
David – the problem with your uncritical dragging in of star names (to prove religion I suppose) is that they don’t always lead to your conclusion. E.g. Newton didn’t think Jesus was a god. But do I hear you changing your mind just because Newton said so?
Citation for that, please?
Newton was an Arian, and did not accept the idea of the Trinity (Arianism was unorthodox and almost heresy).
E.g he wrote
Some of his complicated and interesting beliefs are described here:
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Extras/Newton_Arian.html
Arianism is a heresty, but he still believed in God, which is the point.
Also, Newton died long before Darwin was born. Newton was brilliant and if he lived today I’m certain he would have loved evolution.
Another interesting thing about Newton — he was a genius but his god disease was a big problem. He was too quick to invoke supernatural magic (what Christians today dishonestly call “design”) to solve scientific problems he could have solved himself.
You god-soaked science-deniers really need to read this. It’s by Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
The Perimeter of Ignorance — A boundary where scientists face a choice: invoke a deity or continue the quest for knowledge
http://darwinkilledgod.blogspot.com/2010/12/perimeter-of-ignorance-boundary-where.html
Please notice religion is obsolete. Science has killed it. Good riddance. Religions have contributed nothing to human progress. Religions, including the Christian death cult, just get in the way.
You both seem to have fixated on Newton who, although a Unitarian, was a theist and not “too cowardly to grow up” – along with the other names that I mentioned. There are hundreds of others, of course.
As for contemporary scientists, Francis Collins knows more about Darwin than the aptly self-named Human Ape and is a Christian, as is John Polkinghorne. So clearly modern scientific knowledge hasn’t killed religion and isn’t inconsistent with it.
As a matter of interest, what do you count as “human progress” and why? The atom bomb, perhaps? From a Darwinian perspective why is it better for the human race to survive than not survive? If, as Dawkins says “there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference” why do you even bother to peddle your trite incoherent atheism? If religion is “obsolete”, why are there 2.1 billion Christians in the world and only 1.1 billion atheists? Why do you think the “quest for knowledge” is a good thing? What is “good”? And how can I be “god-soaked” is there is no god?
Science “isn’t inconsistent with [religion]” when the idea of god is attenuated to the point of near-non existence.
I haven’t read Francis Collins (his last book got poor reviews) but to judge by scientist-Christian Ken Miller’s books, god is somewhere in the quantum world where we can’t detect him.
How this relates to a god with specific doctrines, who can’t stand adultery, gay sex etc etc, I don’t follow – I doubt few do.
Miller posited that quantum mechanics could explain how free will exists in a world determined by natural law, not that God somehow exists in quantum interactions – a notion that is patently absurd since it would make God subject to nature.
Collins’ argument, to judge by this quote from The Language of God, seems to be
Unfortunately for his argument Collin DOES believe in biblical miracles. A case of having his cake and eating it, perhaps?
From Human Ape”…I’m certain he would have loved evolution.”
Careful, your faith is showing.
“If religion is “obsolete”, why are there 2.1 billion Christians in the world and only 1.1 billion atheists?”
The Christians, Muslims, and Jews are insane. They believe in magic. That’s pure insanity and it’s childish.
“Why do you think the “quest for knowledge” is a good thing?”
I’m wondering. How is it possible for even a Christian to ask this idiotic question. Also, why do you think you’re incredibly stupid question deserves an answer? It’s like asking why do I eat every day, or why do I breathe.
Even the most retarded Bible thumper wouldn’t ask your strange question but you did. Perhaps it’s your hobby to waste people’s time. Or perhaps you’re even more tarded than the thumpers. Oh wait, you probably are a Bible thumper.
“trite incoherent atheism?”
Since when did being normal become trite and incoherent?
“And how can I be “god-soaked” is there is no god?”
It’s what I call your disease. It’s definitely a mental illness and in Idiot America where I live it’s an epidemic.
It’s very interesting that nobody here clicked the link I recommended:
http://darwinkilledgod.blogspot.com/2010/12/perimeter-of-ignorance-boundary-where.html
There’s nobody more willfully ignorant than Christians. Perhaps that’s why they still hide in the Dark Ages, forever terrified of reality.
“You both seem to have fixated on Newton who, although a Unitarian, was a theist and not “too cowardly to grow up””
Did you understand why I talked about Newton? Did you learn anything? A normal person would have figured from what I wrote the reason why Christianity is good for nothing but getting in the way of human progress. Neil DeGrasse Tyson explained it in greater detail. Click the link unless you don’t want to make your dead Jeebus cry.
In my experience it is usually the people who can’t construct a coherent argument who resort to insults. You are writing like a spoiled 13 year old.