Evolution Debate?

Question

I need to do a debate for school and I am on the side that says that humans and monkeys did not come from a common ancestor. Does anyone have any information or websites to back this up.
P.S. It does not necessarily have to be creationist stuff, just to prove that false.

this is for 10th grade

and biology class

Answer 1

A good resource for your point of view is http://www.answersingenesis.org/ . There's plenty of information there if you are willing to dig for it.

They have a section up for anthropology, which can be found here. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/Anthropology.asp

They'll ask you for your sources on your report, so be sure to note the sources at the bottom of each article. (That's where they got their information)

Answer 2

Behe did a horrible job, and so did Dembski in the Dover trial. Behe said (under oath) that redefining science to include Intelligent Design would mean astrology could also be considered a science and taught as "an alternative" to astronomy.

You got the short straw here. There is no reputable research or information about humans and apes (humans are apes, to be picky) don't have a common ancestor.

The only way to win a debate like this is to pump up the charisma without actually saying anything of substance. That's what creationist do all the time. Appeal to "common sense" and say "Humans are cousins with monkeys? Isn't that silly?" like the people feel that that's just a bit quirky.

Answer 3

Can I ask what class (and grade level) this is for?

Thanks for answering this question. (10th Grade Biology.)

I have to say that it is *deplorable* that a 10th grade biology classroom is having an evolution vs. creationism debate.

It may even be illegal (what state are you in?).

This is a great topic for a debate class, or a political science class, or a sociology class, or even a comparative religion class.

But in a 10th grade Biology classroom it is wrong, wrong, wrong. Do you have pro-con debates about gravity in physics class? Debates about the atomic theory of matter in chemistry class? Debates about the germ theory of disease in health class? An astronomy-vs-astrology debate, or geocentrism-vs-heliocentrism in Astronomy class? Flat-earth vs. round-earth in geology class?

And by the way, make no mistake about it ... this is about creationism. If humans and monkeys did not come from a common ancestor, then the only alternative is that they both came into being as separate forms. Calling it "intelligent design" doesn't make it any more scientific ... it just substitutes a pseudo-scientific term, "intelligent designer", instead of "the Creator."

If you had 31 students take the evolution side and 1 student take the creationism/ID side, then this would be a fair representation of the percentages of scientists who accept common ancestry between humans and monkeys vs. those who don't.

Instead, it will be presented as an even debate ... same number of students presenting each side of this "scientific" debate.

And 10th graders walk away with the impression that "the jury is still out" among scientists about the validity of evolution.

This is "teach the controversy" tactic in action folks.

Holy CRAP this pisses me off!!

Answer 4

The only information you'll find WILL be creatioist stuff. There is no science of any sort that supports the notion that humans and monkeys did not share a common ancestor.

Good luck on your side of the debate.

Answer 5

Where is this school? secretsause has already told you what many others would have; this is wrong on many levels. It rather reminds me of going into Boarders Book Store, where they have much nonsense interspersed among books on evolutionary theory. Seems everyone is jumping on the anti-evolution train. The motive could be any thing from conviction, money making, to trying to get some notoriety for yourself. Even if you won this so called debate, the truth would still be true. The theory of evolution by natural selection is the cornerstone of biology because it is the truest and best explanation of life's history on earth.

Answer 6

I am very sorry for you, because there is no scientific evidence against evolution. Every argument against evolution is false, as seen in the website below, which give sources against every argument.

When Behe testified to the Supreme Court, his argument for Intelligent Design as a science had to redefine science to include such fields as astrology. There is no evidence for astrology, and there is no evidence for ID or creationism.

Answer 7

You will have to argue using all the tired Creationist arguments like, "monkeys are smelly."

Answer 8

Lie.

Convincingly.

Evolution is established fact - supported by direct and indirect evidence and lab experiments (yes, its mechanism can be reproduced in a lab).

You have drawn the equivalent straw of proving that gravity does not exist.

Answer 9

Look up Dr. Richard Behe. During the supreme court case in Kansas that outlawed teaching ID (intelligent design) in public schools, he was the defense's primary witness. He did a pretty good job of denouncing Darwinism.

Here is a link to a list of his primary arguements for that case:

http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/filesDB-download.php?command=download&id=697

p.s. When argueing, take an intelligent design position rather than a creationist one, it is more scientific.

Answer 10

well evolution is still a theory and has not been proven in a lab setting. you can also states that animals adapt to different environments instead of becoming a whole new species altogether.Good luck!