On Wed, 17 Apr 1996, Chuck Warman wrote:
> ___________________SNIP____________________
>
> Very good. It's really "Catch-22" logic:
>
> 1. Only scientific experts can evaluate evolutionary theory.
Not true. But there are very few amateurs who can read the primary
literature because it is so darn technical.
> 2. To be an expert, you must have an advanced degree.
Not true. However, if an amateur is going to deal with the issues at the
edge of knowledge he/she is in for a lot of learning and reading, and the
best place for that is to get into an advanced program.
> 3. To obtain an advanced degree, you must buy into evolutionism.
This is where your argument really breaks down. This simply is not true.
I was a Progressive creationist right up to the end of my 3rd year in a
PhD program in biology. And I could have finished as a PC . . . but the
darn data kept convincing me, and I got tired of giving the ad hoc
arguments to save my PC.
> 4. Thus, *all* experts agree on "the fact of evolution."
Not true. Though non-evolutionist academics are a rarity--eg Dr. Mike
Behe.
> 5. Therefore, evolution is a fundamental, unarguable truth.
Give us a better theory then.
Regards,
Denis
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Denis O. Lamoureux DDS PhD PhD (cand)
Department of Oral Biology Residence:
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"In all debates, let truth be thy aim, and endeavor to gain
rather than expose thy opponent."
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