Do you believe in God? Options

[Kymra]

Just curious.

[seriakiLLa]

I always thought that evolution was/is part of the process of creation. So yes, it is ridiculous to think that after '7 days'... voila! everything is here.

[ladylakini17]

I always thought that evolution was/is part of the process of creation. So yes, it is ridiculous to think that after '7 days'... voila! everything is here.

in my opinion it's ridiculous to say that we evolved from monkeys...but hey...you never know i guess

[Lively Chick]

in my opinion it's ridiculous to say that we evolved from monkeys...

Yep, I agree. And my question to the scientists is why haven't the other monkeys evolved. Why did the evolution of monkeys end with us. C'mon primates! Whats taking y'all so long. Come join us in evolution
Utterly ridiculous!

[Senghe]

Yep, I agree. And my question to the scientists is why haven't the other monkeys evolved. Why did the evolution of monkeys end with us. C'mon primates! Whats taking y'all so long. Come join us in evolution
Utterly ridiculous!

This is a common misconception about evolution. Chimpanzees are NOT unevolved human beings. We had a common ancestor a couple of million years back and because of our differing environments/geographical location, one group of apes turned into humans, another the chimpanzee and another the bonobo etc... Simply, chimpanzees didn't need to evolve as they've stayed in the same environment all this time where our ancestors moved out onto the grasslands meaning we had to work harder for food and perfect standing on two legs to see above the grass for predators - the smart ones survived long enough to breed and pass on their genes, the others... lion food. Look at crocodiles - they have been the same for a hundred million years as they are so perfectly adapted to their ecological niche, there is no advantage for the species for them to change.

Evolution isn't a straight line with us sitting at the front of it, rather it's like a tree with many branches. To say that the other monkeys should evolve is as stupid and arrogant as saying when are black people going to evolve into white ones as white people are obviously more evolved - an argument that has sadly and shamefully been used more recently than we'd like to think.

My advice is find out about the Galapagos islands and read up on Charles Darwin. You'll be surprised to find out that Darwin at one point studied Theology, was at the beggining of his travels on the Beagle a deeply religious man and was frightened to share his theories as he was afraid he'd be ostracised as a heretic.

This post has been edited by Senghe: Oct 11 2006, 7:39 pm

[Lively Chick]

This is a common misconception about evolution. Chimpanzees are NOT unevolved human beings. We had a common ancestor a couple of million years back and because of our differing environments/geographical location, one group of apes turned into humans, another the chimpanzee and another the bonobo etc... Simply, chimpanzees didn't need to evolve as they've stayed in the same environment all this time where our ancestors moved out onto the grasslands meaning we had to work harder for food and perfect standing on two legs to see above the grass for predators - the smart ones survived long enough to breed and pass on their genes, the others... lion food. Look at crocodiles - they have been the same for a hundred million years as they are so perfectly adapted to their ecological niche, there is no advantage for the species for them to change.

First of all where in my quote did I mention chimpanzees? I used the term monkeys loosely as well as the term primates, which scientifically describes us humans and other mammals with the same characteristics shared. So apparently you were the one with the "misconception" seeing the word "chimpanzee" and not the word primates'

Evolution isn't a straight line with us sitting at the front of it, rather it's like a tree with many branches. To say that the other monkeys should evolve is as stupid and arrogant as saying when are black people going to evolve into white ones as white people are obviously more evolved - an argument that has sadly and shamefully been used more recently than we'd like to think.

Introducing race into this argument just shows your stupidity and arrogance sweetie. And the question still stands why one type of primate evolved, and the others havent. The question still stands unanswered because not you nor any scientist can give a real reason for this. You arrogantly proclaim that the animals that did not evolve, simply did not because they didnt have to. I'm sure it would benefit most animals to be faster. How come the tortouise hasnt caught up yet? Evolve tortouise evolve! What is it waiting on! In truth, there is no real answer.

My advice is find out about the Galapagos islands and read up on Charles Darwin. You'll be surprised to find out that Darwin at one point studied Theology, was at the beggining of his travels on the Beagle a deeply religious man and was frightened to share his theories as he was afraid he'd be ostracised as a heretic.

Ah, I already know about the Galapagos islands and Charles Darwin. Its doesnt mean I have to accept his theory/beliefs 100%. I believe some animals might have evolved. But humans, no way. We are too advanced, we have too much emotions. We are much more than just science.There are some mysteries in this world that just will never be solved. Personally, I can live with that, others cannot.

[Senghe]

First of all where in my quote did I mention chimpanzees? I used the term monkeys loosely as well as the term primates, which scientifically describes us humans and other mammals with the same characteristics shared. So apparently you were the one with the "misconception" seeing the word "chimpanzee" and not the word primates'

I used the example of chimpanzees (did I mention bonobos? can't remember) as they are one of our closest evolutionary ancestors. Seemed silly to go on about primates or monkeys when I was being specific about a certain point of taxonomy.

Introducing race into this argument just shows your stupidity and arrogance sweetie. And the question still stands why one type of primate evolved, and the others havent. The question still stands unanswered because not you nor any scientist can give a real reason for this.

Please don't be angry - I didn't mean to offend you as I know your ethnicity and it was in no way meant as a slight. It's just I wanted to make the point of how a little knowledge of a subject can lead to more than a rant on an internet message board. I would NEVER say a thing like that as I'm more enlightened in more ways than one - but I know that argument was a commonly held belief itself in the past by individuals with just a little knowledge of the subject of evolution.

Actually, there are two main trains of thought on why humans evolved in a different way to primates who share the most recent common ancestor with us. One that we moved out on to the grasslands and this is the one that there is quite a bit of fossil evidence for. The second is that we went back into the water like whales and seals have. True we don't know exactly why - could have been many combinations of environmental and climactic changes.

You arrogantly proclaim that the animals that did not evolve, simply did not because they didnt have to. I'm sure it would benefit most animals to be faster. How come the tortouise hasnt caught up yet? Evolve tortouise evolve! What is it waiting on! In truth, there is no real answer.

There's nothing arrogant about admiring something like a crocodile and marvelling at it's perfect adaptation to it's environment. Tortoises don't need to be fast as they don't have to run from or after any othe animal. They eat vegetation and if they are attacked, they pull their legs and head into their shell which is impenetrable by most animals. Being able to run at 30 mph would have no benefit to them at all.

And on the subject of animals benefitting from being faster... actually, nope - look at lions, cheetahs and leopards. Cheetah runs it's tripe out after a springbok and often gets it's dinner stolen by lions and hyenas. Leopard just wait up a tree or in long grass and ambushes whatever ambles past then drags it up a tree and dines in peace. Lions ar neither particularly fast or agile, so they live in family groups and co-operate to hunt and mug other animals of their prey unlike the solitary cheetahs and leopards. It's horses for courses.

Ah, I already know about the Galapagos islands and Charles Darwin. Its doesnt mean I have to accept his theory/beliefs 100%. I believe some animals might have evolved. But humans, no way. We are too advanced, we have too much emotions. We are much more than just science.There are some mysteries in this world that just will never be solved. Personally, I can live with that, others cannot.

You missed my point about Darwin - I wanted you to see that science and religion are not enemies. They are not even mutually exclusive. The father of the theory of heredity, Gregor Mendell, was an Augustininan monk. A lot of the roots of religion are the same as science - our quest for knowledge and explaining the world around us. In some weird way, science and religion are the same thing.

I do agree there's far more in the universe that we'll ever be able to explain, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try to challenge what we believe to be true with good old detective work. In the end we all have to make our own minds up, but I like to do it with as much knowledge as possible and regularly adjust accordingly. Personally I can live with being an animal just like any other and I already respect your beliefs - if you can respect mine that would be lovely.