Creationists Turn

In which topic shall we start? You could choose one of the forums for one. Or we could start out with simple logic.Take the bombardier beetle. Here's a scientific, secular reference: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Bull's-eye beetle. Notice how the two types of chemicals involved in the reaction need to be kept in different compartments. If for some reason or other a pre-bombardier beetle evolved one chemical, the gun wouldn't work (and bring adverse effects upon the beetle.) If both chemicals evolved at the same time, kabam! Roasted coleoptera. You need both chemicals, separate chambers to keep them apart, the firing mechanism, the flexible abdomen (so spray can be directed even at parts of its own body held by a predator) and deflectors for aiming. Plus whatever means it uses to prevent harm when it sprays itself with the boiling liquid - something we don't comprehend yet. Unless all these things are in the correct places, fully functioning (not partially evolved parts) and put together in a precise manner, the beetle will either go bang or remain weaponless. Remember, the beetle needs this gun because it can't launch quickly into flight. Without the gun, it would probably become extinct very fast.

Uh, that changes nothing. Without the catalyst, the gun doesn't work. With the catalyst, bang goes the beetle, unless everything (including working separate compartments etc.) is perfectly in place and functioning - not partially evolved - in the first place. Which indicates, just like a man-made gun, that it was designed and built before being put into action.
But if you'd rather discuss creationism than the dubious ability of random mutation to form this delicate mechanism, I have no idea why intelligent design is a problem. We believe in an omnipotent God. Only such a One could design a living, complex creature like the bombardier beetle, which, as I said in post 2, we humans still don't fully understand. God, with His infinite intelligence, designed the beetle. Since He foreknew the beginning of sin, He would have been able to include latent genetic information for activation after the Fall. Or perhaps He added the mechanism afterwards. With his infinite power, He could create this predesigned animal and then modify it with a defence mechanism for protection in a sinful world - just like you'd modify your car with snow tyres if you moved to Greenland.
Pygidial Gland of the Bombardier Beetle, Brachinus sp. | Answers in Genesis
Pygidial Gland of the Bombardier Beetle, Brachinus sp. | Answers in Genesis Or, for more information about defence mechanisms, try Why Does God’s Creation Include Death and Suffering? | Answers in Genesis .{Put a space between the first two URL's, so that they wouldn't be one long line. This restored page width to normal. - Adminnemooseus}[This message has been edited by Adminnemooseus, 08-31-2003]

Um. Nice avatar, Brian.