It is possible that all the complex organisms on our earth evolved, found a way to become interdependent for existence, and develop to their present state in such a short period of time?
What are the mathematical odds?
2007-12-04 06:01:12 · 20 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Several posters keep saying, "It did happen".
That is a major assumption on your part. The definition of this kind of hope is FAITH.
2007-12-04 06:23:11 · update #1
Atoms and molecules arrange themselves not purely randomly, but according to their chemical properties. In the case of carbon atoms especially, this means complex molecules are sure to form spontaneously, and these complex molecules can influence each other to create even more complex molecules. Once a molecule forms that is approximately self-replicating, natural selection will guide the formation of ever more efficient replicators. The first self-replicating object didn't need to be as complex as a modern cell or even a strand of DNA. Some self-replicating molecules are not really all that complex (as organic molecules go).
Some people still argue that it is wildly improbable for a given self-replicating molecule to form at a given point (although they usually don't state the "givens," but leave them implicit in their calculations). This is true, but there were oceans of molecules working on the problem, and no one knows how many possible self-replicating molecules could have served as the first one. A calculation of the odds of abiogenesis is worthless unless it recognizes the immense range of starting materials that the first replicator might have formed from, the probably innumerable different forms that the first replicator might have taken, and the fact that much of the construction of the replicating molecule would have been non-random to start with.
2007-12-04 06:07:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, evolution is not a miracle. If things evolved as some assert, where are the fossils of creatures half way between birds and reptiles? There are no fossiles of intermediate species.
Plus, there are no mutations that have positive effects. All mutations are a negative event, something is lost/broken.
Things never mutate up, only down.
There are no accurate mathematical odds for evolution, miracle or otherwise.
Miraculous is what I call when God created everything in six days and then rested from creating.
2007-12-04 06:11:38 · answer #2 · answered by LeslieAnn 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Three and a half billion years is hardly a short period of time. And since it did happen it is obviously possible.
As far as the odds, in an ergodic infinite multiverse the odds are 100%.
From time to time I see ridiculous odds estimates. These always make the false assumption that evolution is random. Evolution is based on Natural Selection which is the furthest thing from being random.
2007-12-04 06:06:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
you have to look at it from a universe perspective maybe that will lighten up the odds a little bit, lets say we are part of a billion planets with life and we just happen to be that one to evolve into an intelligent species, even though as time goes on life does evolve into higher forms in other words it finds better ways to fit into the enviroment that it lives in, life doesnt devolve it always gets more complex as proven in the fossil record
2007-12-04 06:06:03 · answer #4 · answered by Cracker's back 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
1:1
2007-12-04 06:11:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Evilution looks pretty stupid from any angle you look at it. How can swamp gas become anything living. Funny how as a child this seems perfectly obvious, but as some get older, they lose sight of this.
Evilution is a philosophy, a faith, a religion if you will...masquerading as science.
2007-12-05 17:33:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
???
Short time?
Billions of years is hardly a "short" time by any reasonable criterion.
The odds aren't as high as you think, given the amount of physical space and the time available.
A miracle? Not in the supernatural sense.
Just in the "Wow! Amazing." sense.
2007-12-04 08:35:52 · answer #7 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you talking about short period of time, if you think that 750 million to 2.5 billion years is short than I gues I don't know how to argue with a crazy person. The world is 5 billion years old.
2007-12-04 06:06:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Nope it's not a miracle. I don't know how 4+billion years seems like a short period of time.
2007-12-04 06:07:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You can take the finger out of your nose now. Given the number of planets in just our own galaxy it would be statistically unlikely for it to have NOT happened.
The problem with your thinking, and oh yes it is your thinking that is the problem, is that you're coming at the whole thing as though earth is unique and special.
Any time you people start talking about statistics the "doesn't understand math" alarms go off.
Next you'll be blithering about the statistical unlikelihood of the universe reaching stability after the expansion. And your poopy math will be based on you somehow knowing it didn't take many quintillion failed expansion to reach stability.
2007-12-04 06:05:50 · answer #10 · answered by tuyet n 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋