Habemas Papem!

[snoopy369]

A.. that's what I said. According to the theory of evolution, evolution happens at random. There is no goal of evolution. That's why the evolution of intelligent beings has such a low probability.

Erm, no. Evolution is an explanation of a long-term process that is driven by random mutations as well as many other factors. Evolution is not something that happens, it's an explanation for things that happen. It's species level, not individual level - so you can't even say it really has (directly) random factors. Evolution is the description for how some traits are chosen over other traits leading to species differentiation and natural selection. Requiring it to explain or even consider random mutations is like asking the theory of how cars work to explain proton-electron interactions.

[MichaeltheGreat]

We aren't even intelligent enough to survive. We will probably end up killing ourselves, and the cockroaches will take over.

Since you're a creationist and seem to think you have a close personal relationship with the almighty, why not ask him next time why a majority of the species on the planet are predatory (the nice ones), parisitic (fleas, ticks, phages, etc.), or vermin/scavengers (roaches, beetles, crabs, etc.) Not a very nice god if that's what he gave Adam and Eve for their little "garden"

[SlowwHand]

Eve screwed that up.

[MichaeltheGreat]

She was probably trying to learn how to get rid of all the damn fleas and roaches infesting the garden.

[Alexander's Horse]

A creationist showed up, that should keep this thread alive for another 6 pages.

[snoopy369]

[PLATO]

Creationism is the religious belief that life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being.

I think it takes more than this to describe Kid

[MrFun]

You would have to have a planet exactly like earth. It couldn't be even a little bit different. It would have to have exactly the same history etc..

Um, no, a planet does not have to be exactly like Earth in order to have life.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Um, no, a planet does not have to be exactly like Earth in order to have life.

Not to defend Kid here... but how would you know?

The answer in dealing with Kid's assertions is to ask him what proof he has, not make just as bold assertions with no proof from the other side.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Pretty much all you need is gravity > 0.5 earth gravity, < ~1.7-2.0 earth gravity, liquid water on a regular basis in at least temperate zones (though planet-wide mean temperature could be hotter or colder), relative tectonic stability, some magnetic field depending on proximity to star and mass, and ideally, a significant moon to create tidal activity, but that's really more of a speedup factor for primitive life development.

[MrFun]

Not to defend Kid here... but how would you know?

The answer in dealing with Kid's assertions is to ask him what proof he has, not make just as bold assertions with no proof from the other side.

If there is an unknown species of animal life on Earth somewhere, does that mean that it does not exist since no one has discovered it yet?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Not to defend Kid here... but how would you know?

The answer in dealing with Kid's assertions is to ask him what proof he has, not make just as bold assertions with no proof from the other side.

It's a matter of biochemistry, a little physical chemistry, physiology and geology. We know it's possible to have life in some form in significantly different environments, but the conditions for intelligent life in some form will tend more to the ideal, not because "it has to be like us" but because the environment has to support the widest possible range of organism development.

[MichaeltheGreat]

If there is an unknown species of animal life on Earth somewhere, does that mean that it does not exist since no one has discovered it yet?

In science, undiscovered means it doesn't exist. It may be hypothesized, so we go looking for it, but we can't conclude it exists without testable evidence.

[Dr Strangelove]

It's a matter of biochemistry, a little physical chemistry, physiology and geology. We know it's possible to have life in some form in significantly different environments, but the conditions for intelligent life in some form will tend more to the ideal, not because "it has to be like us" but because the environment has to support the widest possible range of organism development.

It's a matter of the amount of energy needed to run a big brain. Amongst the biological energys systems currently known Oxidative Phosphorylation is the only one that fits the bill. Anaerobic metabolisms, nitrogen based systems, sulfer and metal based systems simply don't yield enough energy.

[Dr Strangelove]

Anyway, new Pope. Love all the hoopla about his name choice, history of humility, Jesuit origins, but as his first sermon on line I can read the message between the lines: "business as usual". Seriously, has anyone ever accused the Roman Catholic Church of being nothing more than Oxfam with hats?