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• Under the Scope
Five Proofs of Evolution -
In this article, we look at five simple examples which support the Theory of Evolution.
The Probability of Life -
Creationists have long asserted that the chances of life forming naturally are so remote that they could not have happened. Read about how, in fact, the chances are much wider than most think.
• Featured Videos
Transitional Fossils -
This video shows pictures of fossils slowly transitioning from simple life-forms to vertebrates.
• Latest FAQ Additions• External LinksResources Science/Skepticism Blogs |
Intelligent DesignIntelligent Design (ID) is the hypothesis that a higher intelligence (ex: a god, space aliens, time travellers from the future, etc.) guided the course of evolution. Most often, Intelligent Design refers to a god, typically the Christian/Jewish/Muslim god, YHWH or Allah. In other words, God from the Bible. ID differs from traditional religions in that proponents recognize that biological evolution is responsible for the development and diversity of life on Earth. It is similar to traditional religions in that it typically posits a supernatural explanation for what guided the evolution of certain species (including humans). In this way, ID is similar to the 4th century BC belief put forward by Plato and Aristotle of a "prime mover," that is, a being which set the natural world in motion. This has been a hotly debated question in the media, classrooms, and many churches. According to authors like Michael Behe, there are certain structures in nature which he terms "irreducibly complex," which, he asserts, could not have evolved naturally. He gives bacterial flagellum and the eye, among others, as examples. If true, these might be evidence for Intelligent Design. However, the vast majority of the scientific community regards Intelligent Design as psuedoscience or "junk science." The structures that Behe and others give as examples have proven evolutionary histories. For an example, watch The Evolution of the Eye video on this site. Recently at the famous Dover trial, the court held that "Professor Behe's claim for irreducible complexity has been refuted in peer-reviewed research papers and has been rejected by the scientific community at large." To date, there has never been any evidence, agreed upon by the scientific community, to be proof of Intelligent Design. This is a statement often asserted by proponents of Intelligent Design, but it is simply not true. The argument goes that since the flagellum (the tail-like structure many bacteria have which helps them "swim") is a very complext machine, it could not have evolved naturally. This is because if you remove any of the proteins that make up the flagellum's motor, it can no longer function. However, as this video beautifully demonstrates, the flagellum does function with fewer proteins, just not as a flagellum. Every part of the flagellum is made of proteins already in the cell, performing other functions. This is one of the most interesting aspects of Evolution: that adaptations can change roles, or combine with other adaptations to perform new roles. |
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