Dave,
The belief that not believing in evolution makes you an idiot is what I disagree with. In my opinion, to be certian of evolution, at where it stands, contradicts the whole notion of sceince. To believe in it, is a different story. My experience is that truely intelligent people will look at all sceince with skeptism, while others look at their belief with certainty. I can understand why a religious person may hold a belief without skeptism, as that is to a certain degree what faith is. But for sceintists to hold a belief with no skeptism, makes theirs one of faith. But faith in what? Their own intelligence? I suppose that's what makes so many of them so mad when some one questions them.

Tom,

Science accepts one theory until a better theory is put forward.

That's why "faith" isn't the correct term to use. It's lack of a better theory, not faith.

DanS

I agree with you but that is not how it is being used here. In DV's example abouve he is clearly putting his fatih in people trained in these issue's becasue he does not feel qulaified to make the case. How is that any different than someone turning to "God" for anwers on an issue that is beyond them at that place in time?

Tom:

BTW I love your board name.

I do not have blind faith in all science, but tend to believe that the issue of evolution is pretty well settled. If you choose to believe something else that’s fine with me but the one who hold such a minority belief is more likely to be the one who is operating on faith.

Faith too is fine but it has led an awful lot of people to really strange conclusions, Branch Davidians, Jim Jones’s followers etc. etc.

As for my ability to explain Darwinism, I am not qualified, never claimed to be. Are you qualified to attack it?

What did the creator make matter out of? Who or what created the creator? What was there before the beginning? Fun and entertaining during amateur hour philosophy over a beer; pretty pointless the rest of the time.

Regarding human induced increments to global warming, since we can't change it, we shouldn't try. How is that different than since we can't save the salmon and steelhead, we shouldn't try?

Is the good fight worth fighting? Or does that come down to a "maybe?" Where there's life, there's hope.

Sg

Too often it comes down to whether or not it can get someone elected/re-elected.

DV,


Not at all qualified , I am only qualified to offer my opinion:-) Are you qualified to attack religion? You offer some examples of bad things that come from religion with an implication that they are reasons to be suspect or apply avoidance. A lot of bad things revolve around many areas of our lives, sex, relationships, work, money etc yet we do not abandon our pursuit of knowledge on those topics. I am too pragmatic, I have no fear of where I am going or what road I make take to get there. Everything that will lead to truth and understanding is on the table regardless of societal conventions.