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This is a general comment to all participants in this thread:
How can "secular proponents of evolution" be "critics of evolution" at the
same time?
There is a good answer to this. They are simply curious, and they are not
satisfied with the current theory. This situation is referred to as NORMAL
SCIENCE.
Some people see everyone as advocates of something. Others, particularly
those of us in the physical sciences, see ourselves as more or less objective
seekers of the truth. In so doing, we are always in the process of trying to
convince ourselves. In so doing, we may openly criticize the theories that
appear the strongest to us.
The Advocates see this as an admission of weakness. On the contrary, it is
really evidence of ruthless searching for truth, aversion to dogma, willingness
to change one's mind in the face of evidence, etc. All those attitudes are
alive and well in the scientific enterprise, as anyone who works in them can
testify (of course there are exceptions).
There are advocating professions (lawyers, marketers, politicians,
promoters), and there are objective professions (judges, reporters, librarians,
scientists). Both get paid by their sponsors for doing good work; both are
valid and respectable. But they are trained to think differently.
This is the Age of the Lawyer. In this era, one's Position, or Where One is
Coming From, is all that matters. Once this is established, there is no need
for further questions.
I have to get back to my work....
Paul Arveson, Research Physicist
73367.1236@compuserve.com arveson@oasys.dt.navy.mil
(301) 227-3831 (W) (301) 227-1914 (FAX) (301) 816-9459 (H)
Code 724, NSWC, Bethesda, MD 20084