Intelligent Design or Accident?

PM:

Every new and more generalized theory makes predictions and reveals new information which was beyond the capability of the old theory. For example, Einstein`s theory of relativity provided information, which was not deducible from Newton`s theory. For instance, it came out from Einstein`s theory that speed of light has to be constant for it to work. Energy and mass are essentially the same entity at a very high speed, close to the speed of light. The proof was the atomic bomb. The light rays bend close to a massive body which is symptomatic of the material characteristic of light. There is host of other information which the theory of relativity revealed.

Although it is not known what specific information would be revealed by the unified theory, it would certainly provide great insights into the origin of the universe. Is it multidimensional, more than four dimensional as we know now? Did it start from a big bang (our universe did) or whether numerous other big bangs are occurring every other second as some of the string theorists believe. It might (ought to) explain the nature of the universal constants. What is ``dark mass`` and ``dark energy?`` It might tell us about the ultimate fate of the universe. It is not for nothing that hundreds of the scientists are working on it day and night. Wishing you well,

Mohammad Gill

Hallo... I just know that there is something greater than us. Recently, a planet 5 times the size of Jupiter was discovered in another galaxy. I don`t think the little spider that shares my bathroom with me has any idea of how large I am at just 5`5`` - nothing compared to Jupiter! Wow, huh?

-zensufi-

Your contention that biologists do not have any ``concrete proof to show that God does not exist and that God did not create the universe`` is nothing more than a religious attempt at confusing an issue. The onus of providing proof is on those who say that something exists and not on those who are skeptical of it`s existence. Biologists do have evidence of the process of evolution. Fundamentalists have little more than mythology from their scriptures.

In all this noise the fact that religion was a very important force in the evolution of human morals and thought is ignored as fundamentalists use inherently devious theories like Intelligent Design to justify their miserable existence. Moderate religionists have no problem with accepting sientific evidence side by side with following rituals and other religious processes.

Ref: #51 by mehulkamdar

Absolutely correct. Thanks for the fresh breath of reason. No one can prove non-existence of a phantom. This is a standard and wholly specious ploy often used by fundamentalists, UFO proponents and mystics who count on the ignorance and gullibility of the public.

Here`re a couple of comments I made on September 30, 2005 to ``Intelligent Design versus Natural Selection`` by Dr. Gill:

Dr. Gill says: ``Even after the passage of more than a century, theory of natural selection continues to be hotly debated...``

Not, Dr. Gill, among the biologists that I know. All, myself included, believe evolution through natural selection to have as solid, perhaps an even more solid, foundation as anything in science. However creationists (fundamentalists) have established their own universities that award degrees in science. It`s to be expected that ``biologists`` graduating from these universities would espouse creationism.

And again Dr. Gill says: ``The micro changes that are responsible in creating a random mutant occur over a period of several generations and are not reproducible in the laboratory, at present at least.``

Dr. Gill, how long has it been since you were in a biological laboratory? It`s quite easy, really. Here, as one example among many, is an extract from an article in ``New Scientist.`` I give the URL that will take you to the entire article at the end of my comment.

Evolution in the Laboratory: Up Close and Personal

No longer content with analyzing the fossil record, scientists are returning to the lab in a bid to understand the forces that shape living beings. In these controlled conditions, they can ``create`` evolution for themselves. They can introduce environmental changes to see how species adapt and can watch new species evolve in just a few days.

The following excerpt comes from an article in ``The Observer`` of Sunday, October 2, 2005. Anyone interested should read the entire article at:

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,6903,1582943,00.html

Sunday October 2, 2005
The Observer

The American Museum of Natural History in New York will open the most far-reaching exhibition in its history on Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, next month. In most countries such a display by one of the world`s top museums would not be the stuff of heated controversy.

But not in America. Not in 2005.

As the rest of the world looks on in amazement at a debate that seemed to have been settled long ago, America is now gripped by a raging battle between evolution and creationism. The museum`s Darwin exhibition will be just the latest battle in the continuing fight.

At the centre of it is the concept of intelligent design, which critics call `creationism lite`. This theory holds that evolution is not a proven fact and nature is so complex that it betrays the existence of `a designer`. Without being explicit there is little doubt the designer is intended to be God.

The exhibition will tackle this theory head on by trying to point out the difference between science and religion. Intelligent design will be explicitly mentioned. `We expect that in some corners the show will be controversial. We are prepared for that,` said Michael Novacek, provost of the museum.

I also suggest that those interested in lucid discussions on evolution (Dr. Gill`s discussion is anything but lucid in my opinion) visit these pages:

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/18363

http://www.science-spirit.org/patriotledger.htm

http://www.science-spirit.org/archive_cm_detail.php?new_id=84

http://www.science-spirit.org/current.php

Ghalib also said:

Vain is the boast of wisdom, and
The gain of worship is well known

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Mere dregs in the cup of forgetfulness,
The world of religion.
(from Qasida in praise of Ali)

mirmir