Do you believe in evolution ?

Redz · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:02

Maybe it would be better to get the thread back on topic. Hijacking the thread to complain about someone getting banned won't end well methinks.

Monkeynut · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:05

Nitefly said:
In the real world, people that continually talk about themselves are grating. Theophany demonstrated an increasing sense of perpetuating self-promotion, as if he thought of himself as some sort of meme. Even his location became 'look at me I've been banned'. Then when unbanned he'd post 'look at me I've now been unbanned'.

Just, enough.

Where's the "Allow it" picture when you need it?

Castiel · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:05

Nitefly said:
In the real world, people that continually talk about themselves are grating. Theophany demonstrated an increasing sense of perpetuating self-promotion, as if he thought of himself as some sort of meme. Even his location became 'look at me I've been banned'. Then when unbanned he'd post 'look at me I've now been unbanned'.

Just, enough.

This is GD..if he grates on you, don't enter his threads.

Castiel · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:06

Redz said:
Maybe it would be better to get the thread back on topic. Hijacking the thread to complain about someone getting banned won't end well methinks.

The Do you believe in the evolution of Theophany thread.

tbyeah · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:08

Xordium said:
Think it was the straw that broke the camel's back. A mod posted to stop making threads about 'tanks' and he did before he spotted the thread. Was a shame I like him a lot and the forum is a worse place without him around imo. But I guess these will all get deleted as it is 'not to be spoken of' well not specifically that but such matters.

It was actually an insensitive joke that was in the Ukraine crash thread, he was suspended until that was found.

Uriel · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:11

Given these threads come up rather frequently I'm amazed I stayed clear for so long.

When I was at university I lived with 2 young earth creationists while doing a geology degree. That was fun...

Nitefly · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:13

Castiel said:
The Do you believe in the evolution of Theophany thread.

Proof if ever that evolution is blind that phenotypes can proliferate until they end up nuking themselves out of existence. Increased virulence will always be selected for!

dowie · 29 Jul 2014 at 00:28

Redz said:
Maybe it would be better to get the thread back on topic. Hijacking the thread to complain about someone getting banned won't end well methinks.

might not be noticed... though granted had someone started a new thread to ask about it they'd have a lock/telling off that they should message a don person privately

Freefaller · 29 Jul 2014 at 07:37

Uriel said:
Freefaller had a "hissy fit" to quote him. http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18612908&highlight=username_Theophany It was only a week ago.

This is completely off topic, and if you want to speak to me about it my contact details are below. That particular ban wasn't serious everyone was unbanned shortly afterwards - it was to prevent "tank threads" spamming.

Before you accuse me of things please get your facts in order.

Castiel said:
Seems a bit harsh. Freefaller isn't normally like that, he is one of the most rational dons we have. There must be more to it, or its a "teach Theo a valuable lesson" kind of thing...

If only every one was as intelligent/sensible as you.

dirtychinchilla · 29 Jul 2014 at 08:33

We all knwo how glorius you are, FreeFaller, so please unban Theo as we love him

Yaayuh! · 29 Jul 2014 at 08:43

Nah, let him squirm a little bit longer. He had it coming.

dirtychinchilla · 29 Jul 2014 at 08:46

Dj_Jestar · 29 Jul 2014 at 09:50

I thought it was a very well established joke that Theo gets banned a lot ;/

Uriel · 29 Jul 2014 at 10:58

Freefaller said:
That particular ban wasn't serious everyone was unbanned shortly afterwards - it was to prevent "tank threads" spamming.

Before you accuse me of things please get your facts in order.

Oops. I'd assumed that Theophany's ban was merely a part of the Tank Spamming issue and hence my comments were intended as light hearted.

More on topic - has anyone changed their perspective on evolution during the past few years and why? This might be moving from a postion of believing that ideas of creation and evolution are mutually incompatable to reconciling them or vice versa. It might be from the perspective of believing exclusively in a form of special creation to accepting evolution or vice versa.

I know Christians that have gone both ways. In each case the argument that convinced them was primarily theological - to do with the interpretation of scripture - rather than scientific.

Those that went away from beleiving in evolution became convinced that the bible demanded an exclusive interpretation that was incompatible with evolution. Likewise, those that moved to accepting evolution became convinced that such a view was acceptable on bibilical grounds. While I know a few people that have either come to faith or lost it, I don't know anyone for whom creation vs evolution was a deciding factor.

Edit: I suppose it comes down to - if you don't have some sort of a priori excuse for not considering evolution to be a reasonably successful scientific model, why wouldn't you accept it as such?

Castiel · 29 Jul 2014 at 16:47

Nitefly said:
Proof if ever that evolution is blind that phenotypes can proliferate until they end up nuking themselves out of existence. Increased virulence will always be selected for!

Ha!

elmarko · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:01

Uriel said:
While I know a few people that have either come to faith or lost it, I don't know anyone for whom creation vs evolution was a deciding factor.

Tbh the only people I know who have lost their faith truly are either a slow result of moving away from religion (nothing sudden just a gradual rejection) or people who have suffered an extreme lost (lost child/family member) & are unable to reconcile a loving god with the pain they endured.

mattyfez · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:20

Uriel said:
Oops. I'd assumed that Theophany's ban was merely a part of the Tank Spamming issue and hence my comments were intended as light hearted.

More on topic - has anyone changed their perspective on evolution during the past few years and why? This might be moving from a postion of believing that ideas of creation and evolution are mutually incompatable to reconciling them or vice versa. It might be from the perspective of believing exclusively in a form of special creation to accepting evolution or vice versa.

I know Christians that have gone both ways. In each case the argument that convinced them was primarily theological - to do with the interpretation of scripture - rather than scientific.

Those that went away from beleiving in evolution became convinced that the bible demanded an exclusive interpretation that was incompatible with evolution. Likewise, those that moved to accepting evolution became convinced that such a view was acceptable on bibilical grounds. While I know a few people that have either come to faith or lost it, I don't know anyone for whom creation vs evolution was a deciding factor.

Edit: I suppose it comes down to - if you don't have some sort of a priori excuse for not considering evolution to be a reasonably successful scientific model, why wouldn't you accept it as such?

I've generally always been agnostic, through my twenties more atheist, and in the last few years I guess I can only describe myself as antitheist. I see all religious people as intellectually challenged, mentally ill, or a combination of both.

To answer the question, the idea of religion and creationism has become more rridiculous to me the more I've grown observed and learned.

Sliver · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:38

mattyfez said:
I see all religious people as intellectually challenged, mentally ill, or a combination of both.

I've been atheist all my life and as I've gotten older and studied theology I've became more of an antitheist, like you. However I don't think all religious people are as you describe them. I think most are religious because of indoctrination at an early age and they have learned not to question their beliefs. I have a lot of religious friends and they are not mentally ill or intellectually challenged. They are just living with a set of ideas that they've had since childhood which they can not shake off.

I also have friends who were religious and are now atheists, and every one of them tells me the change came from learning more about theology and science and to be sceptical about non evidence based claims. Scepticism is one of the most important aspects when people drop religion and become an atheist. It's part of the critical thinking skills that people need in order to evaluate evidence properly. Without it, nobody would ever question their beliefs.

Some people though will never change their minds no matter what happens, and these people I would accept are at best intellectually dishonest or at worst, as you stated, intellectually challenged. I don't bother talking to these people though. You can never reason with the unreasonable.

Xordium · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:49

Sliver said:
Some people though will never change their minds no matter what happens, and these people I would accept are at best intellectually dishonest or at worst, as you stated, intellectually challenged. I don't bother talking to these people though. You can never reason with the unreasonable.

tbyeah · 29 Jul 2014 at 17:52

Xordium said:

He's right.

If you ask someone what will change their mind and they say nothing, there's no point in further discussion. They will ignore all evidence presented to them in favour of what they already think.