tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post1415731777347611853..comments2024-03-29T06:03:45.545-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Darwinians and Other Intellectual Darwin Award WinnersGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-61566591266884327472008-05-16T06:52:00.000-07:002008-05-16T06:52:00.000-07:00"Make no mistake: no scientist has the slightest i..."Make no mistake: no scientist has the slightest idea how this can be, for the gap between their abstract model and the concrete reality is literally -- literally -- infinite. You can't get here from there, and you never will."<BR/><BR/>I was struck by the similarity of the above to this quote from a prominent physician, J. S. Haldane, close to a century ago, discussing the "mechanistic theory of heredity" (<I>Mechanism, Life, And Personality</I>, 1913):<BR/><BR/><I>On the mechanistic theory this [cell] nucleus must carry within its substance a mechanism which by reaction with the environment not only produces the millions of complex and delicately balanced mechanisms which constitute the adult organism, but provides for their orderly arrangement into tissues and organs, and for their orderly development in a certain perfectly specific manner.<BR/><BR/>The mind recoils from such a stupendous conception; but let us follow the argument further... This nuclear structure or mechanism must, according to the mechanistic theory, have been formed within a very short period by the union of two others - a male and a female one. How two such mechanisms could combine to form one is entirely unintelligible, and the observed details of the process tend only to make it, if possible, more unintelligible. When we trace each nuclear mechanism backwards we find ourselves obliged to admit that it has been formed by division from a pre-existing nuclear mechanism, and this from pre-existing nuclear mechanisms through millions of cell-generations. We are thus forced to the admission that the germ-plasm is not only a structure or mechanism of inconceivable complexity, but that this structure is capable of dividing itself to an absolutely indefinite extent and yet retaining its original structure...<BR/><BR/>There is no need to push the analysis further. The mechanistic theory of heredity is not merely unproven, it is impossible. It involves such absurdities that no intelligent person who has thoroughly realised its meaning and implications can continue to hold it.</I><BR/><BR/>Reading this passage, it's striking how clearly he recognized the functional requirements that a mechanism for inheritance would have to meet. But he could imagine no physical arrangement that could satisfy those conditions, and concluded that therefore such a mechanism was impossible. Indeed, he insisted that a spiritual explanation was the only remaining option. Laborious work by Watson and Crick (and Wilkins and Franklin) has since discovered DNA, however, greatly illuminating that which was previously obscure. What if Haldane <I>had</I> decided to "push the analysis further"?Ray Ingleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290483120987779339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-29681647980410077102008-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:002008-05-14T09:04:00.000-07:00Ximeze - No, I didn't post on Monday. LittleRed1Ximeze - No, I didn't post on Monday.<BR/> LittleRed1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-19957296085582539832008-05-14T06:56:00.000-07:002008-05-14T06:56:00.000-07:00According to Herbert E. Meyer, when he asked Dr. J...According to Herbert E. Meyer, when he asked Dr. Jonas Salk if he subscribed to Darwin's famous theory about "survival of the fittest", Jonas Salk replied, “Survival of the fittest is correct, but we need to change the definition of "fitness" from what it meant when Darwin used it. In the modern world, "fitness" no longer refers to physical strength. From now on, it means wisdom."NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-39382608129931417632008-05-14T05:16:00.000-07:002008-05-14T05:16:00.000-07:00"You can't get here from there, and you never will..."You can't get here from there, and you never will. Rather -- and this is the key -- you can get there -- to the abstract world of quantum physics -- from here -- the mind -- and only from here. "<BR/><BR/>Excellent!<BR/><BR/>"Part 2 of 87"<BR/><BR/>Cool.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-78326283857048761662008-05-14T01:53:00.000-07:002008-05-14T01:53:00.000-07:00"Will this scientific twoness ever be bridged? Wel..."Will this scientific twoness ever be bridged? Well, you can imagine that it will be, and that is again where scientistic faith comes in. This is what string theory is all about -- the attempt to harmonize the macro and micro realms with ever-more complex mathematical formulations, similar to the way complex planetary epicycles were added to save the appearances of the ancient Ptolemaic system."<BR/><BR/>Or as I like to call it, "silly string theory." <BR/><BR/>Great post, Bob!USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-61907507405020672102008-05-13T21:45:00.000-07:002008-05-13T21:45:00.000-07:00You spoke too soon.You spoke too soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-48454085011569741722008-05-13T21:32:00.000-07:002008-05-13T21:32:00.000-07:00You cant get nuch nore shallow and reductionist th...You cant get nuch nore shallow and reductionist than the propaganda/ideology that the barbarians at the so called "Discovery" Institute peddles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-8315325951046610442008-05-13T21:19:00.000-07:002008-05-13T21:19:00.000-07:00Darwin - That was no mistake, dude. You're part of...Darwin - That was no mistake, dude. You're part of the vast left-wing conspiracy. There's no do overs for you. Just look how much trouble you caused. Monkey-boy!NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-67813338721418561282008-05-13T16:34:00.000-07:002008-05-13T16:34:00.000-07:00Alright, ALRIGHT!I made a mistake!Do over?(RR)Alright, ALRIGHT!<BR/>I made a mistake!<BR/><BR/>Do over?<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>(RR)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-74785911277465793252008-05-13T15:16:00.000-07:002008-05-13T15:16:00.000-07:00Here is how I see it. Original humanity, made in t...Here is how I see it. Original humanity, made in the image of God, consisted of a trinity of body, mind and spirit. The fall from that state is often referred to as spiritual death or separation from God (Spirit) because it resulted in a mind and body devoid of spirit - leaving a gap (gaping hole). Perhaps what we refer to as “soul” is what was left in the gap – a phantom remnant of spirit – something often mistaken for spirit. As a fallen human <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%202:14;&version=49" REL="nofollow">(“natural man”)</A>, one is literally incapable of seeing anything beyond the realm of body and mind. Only revelation from beyond that realm can lead to <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%201:23;&version=49" REL="nofollow">rebirth</A> and subsequent <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=word+bread&searchtype=all&version1=72&bookset=2" REL="nofollow">spiritual growth</A>. Every false faith – scientism, materialism, atheism, Darwinism, etc. – seeks to bridge the spiritual gap “naturally” - an ultimately fruitless undertaking. What is referred to as being born again <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:5-6;&version=49" REL="nofollow"> “of the Spirit”</A> is God individually re-creating a triune human – body, mind, and spirit – resulting in open eyes of faith and the very possibility of believing. After all, the <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=54&chapter=4&verse=18&version=72&context=verse" REL="nofollow">unseen</A> is where it’s at!NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-69953249659771188832008-05-13T14:34:00.000-07:002008-05-13T14:34:00.000-07:00Please do! And feel free to let us know what your ...Please do! And feel free to let us know what your doctor says. I can't give specific advice, but I can certainly share some general guidelines. There are wonderful things that can be done for depression these days, as is true of most any medical condition.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-72225565431934782772008-05-13T14:15:00.000-07:002008-05-13T14:15:00.000-07:00this is the depressed anonymous from yesterday -- ...this is the depressed anonymous from yesterday -- thank you for responding. I will contact my doctor and discuss it with him. I guess I should have realized something wasn't right. Thanks again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-87262304626041032952008-05-13T13:47:00.000-07:002008-05-13T13:47:00.000-07:00Ouff! “Gödel”… “Coherence”… “Imagination”… Wow, yo...Ouff! “Gödel”… “Coherence”… “Imagination”… Wow, you don’t know much this post “re-minded” me of today. A couple of keystones that will help putting the picture in so much more clarity now, thank you!<BR/><BR/>I kind of hoping for a post of thins kind would come now... it's been like a tension beeing build up the last three or four posts.<BR/><BR/>And regarding the comment from yesterday – If anything at all seems truly meaningless, that would be to stop looking for the meaning. Please follow the already given advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-85558829814783996252008-05-13T13:41:00.000-07:002008-05-13T13:41:00.000-07:00LittleRed1:Are you the first Anonymous from yester...LittleRed1:<BR/>Are you the first Anonymous from yesterday's comment thread?<BR/><BR/>As jwm said yesterday:<BR/> Anon:<BR/> It's nice to be addressing an 'anon' who has a point and a question, rather than a bone to pick. Welcome.<BR/><BR/>Unlike you, Aninnymice often show up here to snark & display their stupidity squared, as Dear Leader so aptly put it.<BR/>One comment is usually enough to peg them as trolls, with predictable nonsense sure to follow.<BR/><BR/>Qualitative un-stupidity resonates with Raccoons also. Just trying to figure out how many more place-settings to add at the den feast-table.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-39870389933458112432008-05-13T12:28:00.000-07:002008-05-13T12:28:00.000-07:00Scientists imagine that they know what's going on;...<I>Scientists imagine that they know what's going on; but what's really going on -- and what their science cannot explain -- is that the immaterial soul is capable of imagining what's going on.</I><BR/><BR/>Wow. <BR/><BR/>One of the RSS feeds I have to my homepage is for science news from space.com. I have it mainly to get reminders of various celestial phenomenon Every few days there are new revelations about dark matter, missing pieces of the cosmic puzzle, quirks in quarks, etc. If you bother to read the articles, which I do occasionally, you are struck by how unenlightening and equivocal most of the "discoveries" are, especially relative to the headline. Part of that is journalism versus science, but there is also the element of scientism's proselytizing, as GB says. The thoughtless hear and believe, yea, verily, for it was published in a peer-reviewed journal. <BR/><BR/>Let me tell you, I have had more than one piece of peer-reviewed code crash and burn with a fervent heat.<BR/><BR/><I>Will this scientific twoness ever be bridged? Well, you can imagine that it will be, and that is again where scientistic faith comes in.</I><BR/><BR/>The "theory of everything" is scientism's holey grail.mushroomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651027035577798096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-3903121352710944972008-05-13T11:55:00.000-07:002008-05-13T11:55:00.000-07:00Anon from yesterday,Don't give up.Humbly pray for ...Anon from yesterday,<BR/><BR/>Don't give up.<BR/>Humbly pray for Divine help while actively seeking earthly help. And DON'T quit until the paradigm shifts.<BR/>Look forward to it, it will come, and that's a promise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-76161159327443922092008-05-13T11:20:00.000-07:002008-05-13T11:20:00.000-07:00Book of the Hopifirst world tokpelafootprint of ou...<A HREF="http://robinstarfish.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-of-hopi.html" REL="nofollow">Book of the Hopi</A><BR/>first world tokpela<BR/>footprint of our emergence<BR/>spiral galaxiesrobinstarfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15665546554663005609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-34520831307864347642008-05-13T10:36:00.000-07:002008-05-13T10:36:00.000-07:00One aspect of the examination process for obtainin...One aspect of the examination process for obtaining a doctorate in my field is passing "comprehensive exams" over all of one's subject area. As I was in the throes (and throws, some of the books were rather bad) of the process, a senior professor asked me how I was doing. "I'm plumbing the depths of my ignorance and still haven't hit bottom." She replied that I never would, and never should, because there is always more to learn, find, explore and study.<BR/> As in my faith, so in my worldly vocation, apparently :)<BR/><BR/> LittleRed1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30694659098241044622008-05-13T10:26:00.000-07:002008-05-13T10:26:00.000-07:00No need to apologize. The whole purpose of this bl...No need to apologize. The whole purpose of this blog is to save people from various forms of suicide -- intellectual, spiritual, political, and others.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-66020204080097055602008-05-13T10:14:00.000-07:002008-05-13T10:14:00.000-07:00Er, I meant to say "we non-professional raccoons,"...Er, I meant to say "we non-professional raccoons," of course as opposed to you who <I>are</I> a professional.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-55544234396474880302008-05-13T10:12:00.000-07:002008-05-13T10:12:00.000-07:00Thanks, Bob, and sorry for hijacking the thread. I...Thanks, Bob, and sorry for hijacking the thread. I just hate to see a comment like that, if it is serious, go unanswered, even though there's probably nothing we non-professional can say to be very helpful.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-22337146828784632702008-05-13T09:31:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:31:00.000-07:00This person is depressed and needs urgent psychiat...This person is depressed and needs urgent psychiatric help, just as a person with chest pain needs to go to the ER. There is no reason in this day and age for a person to suffer with this kind of senseless depression.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30829521931932539122008-05-13T09:22:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:22:00.000-07:00This comment was posted anonymously at the end of ...This comment was posted anonymously at the end of yesterday's comments; I'm copying it here, because it seems like an honest call for help, and I know it might be missed otherwise:<BR/><BR/>"I have a slightly off-topic question, but you guys seem to be a good group to ask. Is suicide ever an option for a person?<BR/><BR/>I am often extremely depressed and/or angry. Suicide often crosses my mind since my life just does not seem worth living. I don't see much reason for continuing to face the pain of existence. About the only reason I haven't bailed out yet is because I do not want to hurt my friends and family. I don't want them to feel like they failed me. It really has nothing to do with them. I just look around and see no good reason to put up with all the crap of going on.<BR/><BR/>Could this be one of those be mind parasites you mention?"juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-54296817819574403222008-05-13T09:20:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:20:00.000-07:00No, the book recommends itself.No, the book recommends itself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-18162121053911492552008-05-13T09:15:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:15:00.000-07:00Excellent writing today. (Do you recommend the bo...Excellent writing today. (Do you recommend the book, or no?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com