I have an atheist friend that always brings up religion and tries to convert me. I never bring up religion and could care less if he goes to hell. He always sends me links to sites that "prove" evolution is occuring right now. One link showed a "lobster" family. Several members of a family had "lobster" hands and he was convinced that they are highly evolved humans and in the future many humans will have lobster hands because this family is in a freak show and very rich, therefore through natural selection they will be bread with many greedy women and produce many lobster-man offspring. He is also big on people born with 6 fingers and says in the future humans will have an extra finger, however when i mention babies born blind, with 4 fingers and children born with no legs or arms, and i ask him if this is evolution and future humans will have no arms/legs and swim in the ocean he just starts talking about spaghetti. How can atheists pick and choose which traits are evolution?
2007-03-22 15:30:12 · 11 answers · asked by Matt 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
http://phreeque.tripod.com/grady_stiles.html
that's the site he sent me. to me, it shows a sad family with some sort of severe medical condition.
2007-03-22 15:42:43 · update #1
I agree with the person above who said he thinks you're making this up.
Obviously what you're describing has nothing to do with evolution, and if the story is true, your atheist friend is almost as confused about evolution as creationists are. Those claims simply are indefensible - but they have nothing to do with evolution.
2007-03-22 15:42:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are beneficial mutations, harmful mutations, and inconsequental mutations. In past times, the "lobster" mutation would have been harmful. Anyone born with such a mutation would have likely been killed at birth or left to die shortly thereafter because they would have been a strain on the prehistoric community.. Had they been spared for some reason, it's unlikely they would have found a mate and reproduced and the mutation would not have been passed on through that person, though possibly through a carrier who was unaffected.
Today in western society it is inconsequential. The person lives and very often even marries and has children. The mutation itself isn't fatal.
An example of a beneficial mutation may be the absence of wisdom teeth, unless of course you're a dentist or oral surgeon.
Tell your friend that you enjoy his friendship and respect the fact that he is an athiest but he needs to respect the fact that you aren't and stop bothering you.
2007-03-28 03:00:38 · answer #2 · answered by minuteblue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one can pick and choose what is advantages to evolution. What he is showing you with those links is that genes do change, sometimes rapidly, within a species. And if you accept that, you have accepted evolution whether you know it or not. But there is no way of knowing what is advantages until it has been scrutinized by nature over many generations.
2007-03-23 10:28:49 · answer #3 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like the other two posters, I'm weary of believing this story. Mostly, it is the first statement you made. Atheism is not a religion, therefore, he would not try to "convert" you. He also seems to be as confused as you about evolution.
You really do entertain me with all of your shenanigans, but will you please read up some on evolution (reliable sources?)
2007-03-22 23:06:45 · answer #4 · answered by KS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolution only tells you how nature picks which changes that are beneficial. Individual changes aren't it, the overall effect of the selection over many generations is evolution.
2007-03-22 22:37:26 · answer #5 · answered by Alex 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's got the basic concept of natural selection, but not enough information on the conditions. Guessing the future is trickier than he thinks. What is favorable, and why is not always obvious except in retrospect.
2007-03-22 22:37:18 · answer #6 · answered by novangelis 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it's usually the other way round, Christians are said to be the ones talking about God all the time. It looks like your friend is very unsure and trying to come up with reasons of why he can't believe in God. Forget about his arguments, just pray for him. You will soon notice a change in him.
2007-03-30 17:49:46 · answer #7 · answered by warriorprincess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has the right to believe whatever they want, no matter how absurd it seems to you. Ancient Greeks believed in gods of love, war, seas, animals, beauty..etc and they had a firm belief that they did exist, although it may seem odd now to believe in it. If you don't believe in evolution, that's up to you, don't listen to him or simply tell him you don't want to discuss religious matters.
2007-03-22 22:41:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be honest with you. I think you're making this up.
As I've said before, atheists don't get to pick and choose. That is something Christians resort to.
If you are actually telling the truth, then shame on your friend. He should know better.
2007-03-22 22:39:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anthony Stark 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just follow what you want to. If he doesn't leave you alone, then try taking him to church repeatedly... give him a taste of his own medicine and tell him that he's annoying the shxt out of you.
And don't let him belittle you like he is. Obviously, this "friend" of yours has had a majorly negative impact on you. You should leave him alone or something.
2007-03-22 22:33:32 · answer #10 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋