Comments on: Discovery Institute vs. Skeptoid: Round 2

By: bill don

bill don — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:07:09 +0000

Okay experts of evolution. Explain away the classic bombardier beetle to me please. I will include this little article for you:

Dr Schildknecht discovered that in the beetle’s specially designed combustion tubes are two enzymes called catalase and peroxidase which make chemical reactions go millions of times faster. These chemicals catalyze the extremely rapid decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen and the oxidation of hydroquinone into quinone, causing them to violently react and explode—but not so soon as to blow up the beetle, of course!

Common sense tells us that this amazing little insect cannon which can fire four or five ‘bombs’ in succession could not have evolved piece by piece. Explosive chemicals, inhibitor, enzymes, glands, combustion tubes, sensory communication, muscles to direct the combustion tubes and reflex nervous systems—all had to work perfectly the very first time—or all hopes for ‘Bomby’ and his children would have exploded!

(From Nature Friend magazine, P.O. Box 73, Goshen, Indiana, 46526 USA, March, 1989. Used by permission.)

So is this particular case fictional? Is it some hoax made up to dispel evolution? Let me explain what I think happened in this case:

1. God said let there be a bombardier beetle and there was.

Too simple? Stupid conclusion because it isn’t based on the famed empirical evidence? It seems to me that this example is often ignored or left alone. So explain it away for me. Convince me that I am wrong and that evolution can account for this amazing insect.

By: DavidA.M.

DavidA.M. — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:06:47 +0000

Indeed. Having religious beliefs shouldn’t have anything to do with scientific observation. How should any scientific discovery be an affront to my biblical understanding that the nature of God is revealed to us through his creation. The argument stating evolutionary disputes the existence of God is to me is as asinine as an argument stating that the existence of God disputes evolutionary theory.

The science-fiction fan in me drives me to theorize that
the debate is just one giant distraction from both scientific and spiritual discovery – a real ‘devil’! ;)

By: Paul D. Wilson

Paul D. Wilson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:43:55 +0000

“Problem #1 is that every community considers itself reality based.”

So true. This is why I keep hearing both side declare victory.

By: Paul Caggegi

Paul Caggegi — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:49:38 +0000

I am encouraged by the fact folks like him are confined to Christian radio stations. From down here in Oz, I get the impression Christian radio stations are ones you actively have to seek out rather than ones that are given prime-time slots?

Of course, I haven’t looked at the evidence to support that claim, but maybe someone can set me straight… :D

By: Devil's Advocate

Devil's Advocate — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:53:06 +0000

“For the reality based community, it is like a global game of whack-a-mole.”

Problem #1 is that every community considers itself reality based.

By: Paul Caggegi

Paul Caggegi — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:51:00 +0000

I merely have to look at my pathetic patch of Austin-Powers-esque chest hair to prove to myself that no designer would play such a cruel joke on their creation.

By: tmac57

tmac57 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:01:03 +0000

Neil,
It seems to me that at least a good portion of humanity are doing the later. Old superstitious beliefs die down but apparently never out, and new ones are constantly being created. For the reality based community, it is like a global game of whack-a-mole.

By: Neil

Neil — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:12:07 +0000

As most creationists are used to having their ‘beliefs’ fed to them, it takes a great mental stretch for them to understand that that’s not how everybody arrives at a conclusion. You, unfortunately, can’t just give them facts and let them make up their own mind, because the very activity of making up one’s own mind is as alien to a creationist as a marathon run is to a four hundred pound shut-in.

As we, gradually, grow out of certain superstitions, I wonder if humans are becoming more enlightened, skeptical and capable of making up our own minds, or if we’re the same as we always have been, just moving on to other memes.

By: doofus

doofus — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:03:44 +0000

Attempt at software humor:

So is God a YACC?
Yet another creature compiler?

By: The Blind Watchmaker

The Blind Watchmaker — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:55:20 +0000

Nobody ever “observed” a species being “created”. We have “observed” bacteria evolving, however, at alarming rates.

Radio talk shows make me dumber.