We are doing a evolution v.s creationist thing...help?

Question

Hi, I said that I would take up the evolutionists side, I'm homeschooled and go to a christian science class, I was wondering if some evolutionists could come up with some good questions for creationists and all, and if the creationists say something that totally defies evolution (let's say a tooth said to be millions of years old, but then a guy got another one and it was from a rare pig, what should I say to the creationists, a good come back an all.)

What are some good books that I can get from the library that I could get to see what evolutionists believe and all. Some good questions and good come-backs.I want to get a good grade, I am stuck with three boys and 1 girls, and when ever we try and say stuff to the guys that take something like, when were talking about the ice age, they start talking about the Ice age movies, so I am afraid they aren't going to do anything, so have to double the work. Thanks for any help.

P.S please be respect full to whatvere people believe

The thing is in 1 week.

"I have one. "I f god made man from dirt, how come theres still dirt?"

I am sorry, but that was a bad answer, because he made people from dirt doesn't mean he took up all the dirt to make them.

Actually, what I am doing is trying to find some evolutionists things, and try to find the best ways that I can rfute them, and if I can't those questions will be my favorable ones to ask. Any one says that evolution is a fact, nothing CAN be a fact, science will never prove anything, it is just a THEROY, even if you believe in it, I beleive in Creation but still, it is just a theory, not a fact.

Just because I am a creationist doesn't mean I am so stupid enough to debate something I don't know about, and make wrong claims.

"Why defend evolution to a bunch of theists? They reject it because they cant understand it, no amount of proof will change their minds."

Who the heck told you that?? You talked to heard some Christians that was like that, and so you assume every christian is like that? I feel sorry for you being so closed minded. There are millions of them in the world.

"Nicholas H"

Thanks for the site, but when I am reading the thing, many of the wuestions and answers are VERY opininated, I don't think evolutionists are immoral because of what they believe, but not everything about science is all very nice, I remeber (some) evolutionists killed aborigines because they have wider jaws and darker skin because they thought that they were lower on the evolutionary skale, why not kill apes then? (Take head, I don't mean every evolutionists, that was just a small minority.) The answers and questions and of creationists are VERY oppininated on that site, I find a lot of things about evolution very good, but I've actually found out a lot of things that aren't very beilivebal, but that doesn't mean they don't make good points either.

"Seriously, ANY of the hundreds of ridiculous arguments that creationists make about evolution can be refuted by this site."

I don't like those types of anwers, when you refer to the ridiculus claims creationsts make, you should say what (some) ridiculus claims creationists make, you are implying that every creationist is like that. Which isn't true.

I hope people who read that site really don't think creationists are really that cloose-minded, (there are always going to be close-mided people NO MATTER what they believe.)

Like this claim that (a) creationist made-
"Evolutionists are intellectual snobs."

I would NEVER say something like that!

Answer 1

Scientist know that mistakes are made, and they acknowledge it readily.

Answer 2

Start by reading "The Origin of Species."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Origin_of_Species

Make sure you understand what it is really saying, not what you think it is saying. Don't read anything into it or engage in speculation based upon it, approach it academically and keep it in its own historical context (meaning, remember when it was written and what was going on at the time).

The Theory of Evolution is a scientific theory, and creationism is theological. This is a relevant dissimilarity.

Another relvant dissimilarity is that the Theory of Evolution is not about abiogenesis - the origin of life:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenesis

Evolution is about what has happened since life began. If you want to make comparisons, at least compare creationism with abiogenesis, although I personally wouldn't even do that.

Also, understand that in science, there is a difference between a hypothesis and a theory. If test results provide sufficient support for acceptance, then that is the point at which a hypothesis becomes a theory. There is a Theory of Relativity and a Theory of Gravity. These are valid theories, and evolution should not be dismissed as "just a theory", as you have done. That is intellectually irresponsible, and if you are doing school work, deal with facts, not opinions.

Answer 3

I would encourage you to look at Steven Jay Gould's books in particular.

Here's another thought: the Judeo-Christian creation myth is only one creation myth among literally thousands believed in by people today. So one helpful way of considering the creationist argument is to look at other creation myths. Should schools teach that the Universe was dreamed up by Vishnu as he sleeps at the bottom of the Cosmic Ocean (Hindu)? Or that the world grew out of four earlier worlds that exist below the surface of the Earth (Hopi)? Or that the world was made from the body of the giant Ymir and the milk of the cow Audhumla (Asatru)? And so on. You see, once one discounts the secular scientific evolutionist account, there is no greater *scientific* evidence that the specifically *Christian* creationist account is true that does not also support other religions' creation myths. So, if anyone who is anti-evolutionist cannot also accept the possibility that the Asatru creation story is true, that clearly means that they are motivated by *belief* not *scientific inquiry.*

Answer 4

You're going to play the bad guy? Fun! First, attack the idea that the world is only 6000 years old. Carbon 14 is only one of MANY isotope counting tools that tell us the age of the universe. Bring up potassium and a few others too.

Look up a good site showing the fossil record, especially the animal they found that bridges between dinosaurs and mammals.

Admit that mistakes have been made with regard to pig teeth, and even a few fake fossiles. But remind them that there are many more REAL fossiles that tell a similar story.

Oh, and that Texas fossil with a 'human' footprint in it? It just looks human, but the size is wrong. Seems it's a natural part of the dino's foot.

I'm really surprised the atheists here aren't being more helpful. This is their strong point.

Answer 5

You need to understand that a scientific theory is not a "theory" as the word is used in everyday language.

A scientific theory can also be regarded as a fact. Like electrical theory, gravitational theory etc. Unless you argue that elctricity and gravity don't exist.

Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory from the very beginning, if only because we have always acknowledged how far we are from completely understanding the mechanisms (theory) by which evolution (fact) occurred. Darwin continually emphasized the difference between his two great and separate accomplishments: establishing the fact of evolution, and proposing a theory--natural selection--to explain the mechanism of evolution.

Good luck

Answer 6

What a large project you have taken on, and expect a lot of controversy !! Evolution can be proven somewhat, Darwinism is "theory", and Creationism has to do with your religious beliefs. There is no right or wrong answer here . . . Try to keep your class discussion "non-argumentative" and open minded on both sides. I believe the purpose here is to get people to use their brain -think- and see other views even if they don't agree

Answer 7

Ask them if they think that early man (homo erectus, homo habalis, which ever) deserved to die off in the eyes of god. Did not their "creator" consider them to have feelings, fears, hopes? Did they not feel love, or friendship, What were they? Experiements? Toys?

In regard to verifying the age of artifacts and their origin, just always keep in mind that a creationist cannot "prove" the "theory" of evolution is wrong. They can give alternative explainations but cannot offer scientific proof.

Answer 8

any questions you have about evolution can be answered by this site:
http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/list.html

It is a list of claims that creationists make, and the facts that refute them. if you are going to debate it, then this site is perfect because all of the arguments creationists use can be refuted by this site. Seriously, ANY of the hundreds of ridiculous arguments that creationists make about evolution can be refuted by this site.

Answer 9

The talkorigins site is a great one. Wikipedia can give you some great basic info, but remember that it is not regulated, so it isn't necessarily the most accurate site, but it's a good place to start. Just search for things like evolution, missing link, transitional fossils, evidence for evolution, etc.

Here are two related articles:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa027&articleID=000A040D-36A2-1434-B6A283414B7F0000
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=ECC43BE1-E7F2-99DF-39AD691683DE05AD&ref=rss

And don't forget to understand the true meaning of "theory" as it relates to science:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory (second full paragraph)

Answer 10

Earthday, evolutionists base their belief in unbelief that God created everything. There is no proof that God did not create everything. There is no proof that God did create everything.

Belief in God is based on faith and a personal relationship with Him. If one does not have faith, then it is easy to accept evolution. If one does have faith and a personal relationship, no one can ever change their mind.

Answer 11

LOL

You poor fool... actually its horrific. Your parents must despise you to steal your chance of getting an education.

Why defend evolution to a bunch of theists? They reject it because they cant understand it, no amount of proof will change their minds.

'Please be respectful' How about if I told you in my religion I forced my wife to stay at home and if she answered back I mutilated her face - would you say 'I respect your belief' ? No? Where do you draw a line. Religion isn't entitled to any automatic respect.

If you want ammo pick up a book by Dawkins or go to talkorigins online and look at goulds http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html in case they say its just a theory.