Take the Atheist Challenge!!!

The mere fact that I can read what you type means that a lot of this "man's second worst enemy" is in your head. I'd visit an exorcist as soon as possible if I were you.If you are true to your words, I expect you to:

• stop using your computer
• never sit in a car again
• refuse medical treatment the next time you fall ill
• etc.
• etc.

After all, all of that is the result of Knowledge, remember?

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

It's Rrhaining again! And it never Rrhains but it Pphoors. If anybody can drown a deluded creationist in a steady downpoor of calm, composed and rational argument, it has to be Rrhain.Welcome back!

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

I did this and I couldn't find the deeper meaning of your statement about knowledge in it. Please explain.

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

If you still think that Rrhain isn't calm and rational after what he produced in this thread lately, you probably don't know the meaning of either 'calm' or 'rational'.He even takes on two of you at the same time. Admit it: he is calmly and rationally slicing you to shreds.

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

I love the sound it makes when you de-lurk. Can you do that more often?

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

You sound like you think someone's religion, someone's god, etc., are weapons of some sort. They're not. And even if they were, they would be no match for reason. You're making yourself the laughing stock of the forum.

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

You haven't been listening to anything you've been told about this so far, have you? I suggest you pay Rrhain the courtesy of actually reading his posts. He doesn't put all that effort in it for nothing, you know. Please, read (again? for the first time? who knows?) post #114 by Rrhain. Then come back and present a real argument. As long as you don't do this, there's really no point in talking to you.This message has been edited by Parasomnium, 05-13-2004 01:33 PM

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

(riVeRraT speaking about immunity On a positive note, I think this is about the most important thing you have said in this thread. And if anything is on-topic, this is it. If you would be willing to follow this up, I'd gladly forgo commenting on everything else you said.This is where knowledge comes from: curiosity. Don't be afraid to get "clouded" with knowledge. Eventually, knowledge will get you above cloud level, and the view there is breathtaking. Keep your god if you want to, but also immerse yourself in knowledge, question things, don't take anything for granted, investigate. That's your challenge. You won't regret it.

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

Lam, have you read "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" by Daniel Dennett? It's a marvelous book. With regard to Mitochondrial Eve, Dennett explains this idea under the title "Retrospective Coronations: Mitochondrial Eve and Invisible Beginnings". It's a must-read. (The whole book is, for that matter. If you could only afford to buy one book about evolution, this is the one you should get.)

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

Then you'll have to continue calling me that, because I plan on keeping that avatar for a while. Anyway, "7 of 9" is fine (what an understatement. She's gorgeous!), although I'd prefer "Seven of Nine". But I have the distinct impression that you're not somebody who can be forced easily. I could say "Resistance is futile" but with you I'm not so sure. Excellent! Not now, I'm sorry. (It's bedtime on my side of the pond.) But maybe I could tempt you (Uh-oh, belittling mode again. So sorry, not intended.) to ruminate a bit on the term "Retrospective Coronations". It's quite significant. Have fun.

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

Crash, it is unfortunate that you formulated it this way. It's exactly the kind of thing that makes it so easy for creationists to misinterpret the mechanisms of random mutation and non-random selection.The way you put it, it could be interpreted as saying that the virus has the intention to counteract the bacteria's resistance and that it's way of accomplishing it, is mutation. So, it actively mutates.You and I know, of course, that this is not how it goes. But a creationist who has little knowledge of evolution might construe it that way. And what's worse: they got it from an evolutionist, so that "proves" that evolutionists contradict themselves, because others tell the story differently.I don't mean to patronize you, but let's be very careful in how we formulate our explanations. Telling it the right way from the start saves a lot of damage control later.This message has been edited by Parasomnium, 05-14-2004 03:17 AM

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

They don't need to be technical enough, it's rather the very fact that they aren't that makes them misinterpret things. It's a natural selection kind of thing, I suppose you could say.On second thought, it's a meme thing really. If we can do the right amount of memetic engineering, we might be able to steer creationists' understanding of evolution. (Don't take this too seriously.)

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"It's amazing what you can learn from DNA." - Desdamona.

*sigh*