Comment

Comment by Shaun Johnston on September 24, 2013 at 1:34pm

Therapist to new patient: What brings you here?

Patient: It’s my job. I teach schoolkids about evolution. It’s your genes that make you who you are and tell you what to do, I tell them. Evolution happens when new genes enter the gene pool--new genes come from old genes getting damaged then natural selection determines whose genes get passed on.

Therapist: That seems fine to me. What’s the problem?

Patient: The problem is, it makes my own life seems so meaningless. I’m determined by my genes. All that seems to matter is our own species continuing to evolve. But what can I contribute to that? Getting my genes damaged through radiation, that’s all I can think of. It’s so depressing.

Therapist: Then why not get another job?

Patient: What! And give up science!

Comment by Shawn Maple on September 24, 2013 at 11:06am

I agree completely. 

Comment by Loren Miller on September 24, 2013 at 10:58am

Utterly agreed ... but when people sneer at evolution as being "just a theory," they have ZERO idea of what they're talking about.  As has been discussed here on A|N and elsewhere, such people need to learn the definition of the terms they're using (as though they cared, which they don't).

Comment by Shawn Maple on September 24, 2013 at 10:53am

It still needs to be taught in schools correctly so that people understand it better. I find evolution has more explanatory power if taught in the correct way and not misrepresented like it has been.

Comment by Loren Miller on September 24, 2013 at 10:25am

Gentlemen, the theory of evolution is just that - A Theory.  It takes facts, data and observations and provides and explanation as to the how and why of their existence.  Indeed, a theory is greater than a single fact, datum or observation because it provides that explanation which accounts for them and/or the relationship between them.

Worthy of note, the theory of evolution, while well established and supported, is incomplete, even as the theory of gravitation is ... and even if ALL the data on either were available, the term we would use to refer to both would be: THEORY.

Comment by Shawn Maple on September 24, 2013 at 10:09am

I am concerned what may happen next, but I also know that currently evolution is not being taught as it should and most people don't even know or understand what it is about. Yes, we should look at implications and we need to be mindful.

Comment by Shaun Johnston on September 24, 2013 at 9:49am

I'm in favor. Are you concerned about what may happen next, once one accepts the fact? What does accepting the fact lead to? If I say, it's just a fact that I evolved, what does that imply? Or do you want not to look at implications?