It's easier for me to believe that life was created by a Supreme Being, than by a quirk of nature. Life/life cycles are too perfect, as is earth, and all within it. It takes more "faith" for me to trust that everything living thing evolved from some primordial slime. So where did that first speck of life come from? There absolutely has to be an intelligent designer. All artwork has a creator. Which leads me to this conclusion....I'm thankful there is someone "bigger" than me who has control, because I sure as heck can't fix things. God, in his sovereignty, knows all. When He created it, it was "good" and perfect. Man messed it up through disobedience and sin. But God in His mercy, sent a Savior, to lift humankind out of our own mess; it's a free gift from a king! That's pretty special. Anyhow, faith is something that you can't see, but it is there.
Pfft. Zoos are like the best evidence against creationism. I always get depressed looking at our cousins in the primate enclosures (unless it's a really nice, accommodating space for them).
I say this as an atheist, but evolution and creationism don't have to be mutually exclusive; the Catholic Church has pretty much taken up this position, right?
Then again, I got some lovely literature the other day explaining that the Catholic Church is also the "Whore of Babylon," so what do I know?
@jengrrrl: I didn't realize it was the official stance when my Catholic school taught us evolution, I just thought my school was particularly liberal. Good to know.
@cait98: Yeah, Catholic schools teach regular old evolution as part of their science curriculum, but something more along the lines of theistic evolution--like "yes, scientists are right about these things, but God made it so"--in their religion classes.
I love the phrase "some speculate" in their literatute. Some speculate that you got found your "Oxford" degree on the floor of a particularly ill-kempt bathroom stall, Anthony Bush! Some also speculate that syphillis is to blame for all your opinions. Who are these people who speculate such things? My firm ethical convictions prevent me from revealing their identities.
@wilmawonker: That was my first thought. As a trained evolutionary ecologist, usually this kind of thing gets my hackles up, but this place is privately owned and alludes to the bible in its name, so I don't think too many people will be taken in by it.
It is probably much like the Creation Science museums in America - a place that draws primarily those who already believe that bunk anyway. I find these places comical/frustrating in their lack of logic and loud yelling about how science is lies, but I see them more as a symptom of the problem than as a tool for actively recruiting people to this point of view.
@luckylindz: This is why I'm saying: We don't give animals enough credit sometimes. Just because a form of communication is nonverbal, does that make it any less advanced?
@MilointheMeadow: Agree. I hate when people say "animals don't talk." They do, we just don't understand it. to me, it's almost like saying some jungle tribe's grunt-based language isn't real.
Watching my cats "talk" is amazing. They really do have a different meow for humans than themselves or with other animals. They really do sound very different when making sounds at birds or dogs (and it's not fear since they like this dog). It's like the meow we like is their human accent.
@tankearae: I'm'a be honest, I love cats so much that it's hard for me to be equal in my love for canines! But they always win me over (especially the LITTLE TINY chihuahuas. And Beagle Puppies. beagles are the cutest!)
@argle-bargle? or fou-ferraw?: Not to mention non-stop hilarity. My bendy border collie mix figured out she can catch her own tail last night. I laughed SO HARD.
@SarahMC: I'm doing this!: My dog is not a habitual poop eater by any means--he is not into it. But he is so concerned about accidents in the house that the one time he was sick and had diarrhea the poor thing tried to hide the evidence by eating it. I was at work, and the funny thing was, just that day I was wondering if my dog made my apartment smell noticeably doggy. So, I decided to pay special attention that day upon coming home. I could smell the rank in the hallway and was momentarily shocked at how I couldn't notice such a thing. Then I saw the carnage. Still worth having dogs X1000. Besides, what a good dog to be worried about the clean-up!
@margareita metermaid: Aww, the poor baby. My dog doesn't eat his poop but I know some who do. My dog had an intestinal infection a few weeks ago and every day for a week I came home to diarrhea on my cream colored carpet. Heinous. Still worth it.
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Then again, I got some lovely literature the other day explaining that the Catholic Church is also the "Whore of Babylon," so what do I know?
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It is probably much like the Creation Science museums in America - a place that draws primarily those who already believe that bunk anyway. I find these places comical/frustrating in their lack of logic and loud yelling about how science is lies, but I see them more as a symptom of the problem than as a tool for actively recruiting people to this point of view.
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Watching my cats "talk" is amazing. They really do have a different meow for humans than themselves or with other animals. They really do sound very different when making sounds at birds or dogs (and it's not fear since they like this dog). It's like the meow we like is their human accent.
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