Sunday, September 14, 2008

I was Never on the Debate Team

While I do love a good conversation, a debate is where I falter. I don't have much of the wit or cunning to come up with immediate answers.


A religion vs evolution debate just happened between two of my co-workers. One higher up in the heirarchy of our business is an evolutionist. We'll call her Jynn. The other, who is a bit on the same level of the heirarchy, is a Christian. We'll call him Jonny. You can imagine the vibe within the room of those who happen to listen to their conversation. I was among those people within the room. I'm kind of glad I was there to witness the arguments.


The conversation about Sarah Palin somehow seeped into our business talk. It is a well known fact that Palin is a creationist. This angers Jynn. Jonny asks why and Jynn says, "If you're in the position of power, how can anyone believe such a ridiculous thing as creationism?"


Jonny asks Jynn how we go to where we are and she says, "We got to where we are through millions of years of evolution."


This does not sit well with Jonny and he responds, "How are you absolutely sure about that?"


"We have fossil records. Creationist don't believe in dinosaurs."


Jonny rebuttals, "I highly doubt that."


I jump in and say, "Well, there is that creationist museum in Kansas and they claim that dinosaurs lived among humans - which of course is ridiculous." I probably should have kept my mouth shut.


Jonny looks at me and says, "Oh yeah, I know about those museums, but did you know that they found human footprints along side dinosaurs?"


I make a grimiaced face, because the claim is ludicrus, "Oh really? ... Well, I guess I have to look that up."


"Yeah, they say the found footprints of both man and dinosaurs together side by side. They even found dinosaur eggs that are still soft in the inside." Jonny continues.


I just sit there just nodding away doing my job as if we were talking about sports.


At this point, Jynn and Jonny start talking back and fourth about creationism; the fact that the Bible doesn't specifically say 'apple' as the forbidden fruit; and how evolution can't be proven.


I think the conversation evolved where Jonny says that "A horse is still a horse" beliving that animals are immutable, while Jynn says that, "We are evolved forms."


"If you believe in evolution, how can you explain how perfect the universe is? How does chaos turn into order? Is there an example of chaos coming into order? If you believe in the big bang then how did something from immense chaos come into order and life on this planet is possible?" Jonny asks Jynn.


It's obvious Jynn is put aback by the question. Her reaction a bit hesitant. She doesn't know how to answer the question. I sit there hoping she can answer the question. She replies, "I don't Know."


I don't know? Oh come on! If you're going to argue religion vs science you should be able to answer something like that. That question has been used by so many religions I don't know why anti-theist don't give an answer. Jynn should have told Jonny that the universe is not perfect. We're not perfect. Why are our reproductive organs tied in together with our waste system? Why is the human wind pipe easy to block with food? If we were perfect nothing would be questionable about our lives. Chaos into order? Let's see, how about our sun? our solar system? How about our universe? Look at the bigger picture and not just your backyard. What chaos he speaks of probably is that of the big bang and the cooling effect of space.

We live in a world, solar system universe of constant chaos.

Give credit where credit is due, not where you believe.