1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Science or The Bible?

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by The Bible Answer Kid, Jun 17, 2005.

  1. Paul of Eugene

    Paul of Eugene New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2001
    Messages:
    2,782
    Likes Received:
    0
    Let me clue you in as to the difference between science and religion.

    Religion deals with supernatural agents such as God and Angels, immortal souls, things we cannot verify scientifically. Religion deals in values, saying for instance that God wants us to be good, and describes what good means.

    Science deals with what can be learned based on reasonable interpretation of physical evidence. It never determines values; it only observes things as they are according to the physical evidence. It takes note of how bacteria can evolve resistance to antibiotics without reference to whether that is good or bad.

    Evolution is a theory that makes sense as a way of understanding the evidence. Therefore it is a scientific theory.

    Evolution says nothing about values. Just because you have no descendents does not make you less valuable in the eyes of science, but it does have implications for the unique genes that make you up.

    (I wonder why this is so hard for some people to understand?)
     
  2. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    Macro evolution does not qualify as a scientific theory since there has been no verification. At best it is a hypothesis.
     
  3. UTEOTW

    UTEOTW New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2002
    Messages:
    4,087
    Likes Received:
    0
    "Macro evolution does not qualify as a scientific theory since there has been no verification. At best it is a hypothesis."

    What means would you propose to verify the theory, if it might be true? Something that would actually be possible according to the theory if possible.

    There simply is no competing theory that can explain the diversity of observations from the Creation.
     
  4. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    It can't be verified, therefore, it is incorrect to call it a theory.

    Your last statement is false. Creation itself explains the diversity of observations!
     
  5. Plain Old Bill

    Plain Old Bill New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2003
    Messages:
    3,657
    Likes Received:
    0
    Does anybody here think this thread has been hijacked?
    I think what our dear friend was trying to point out was that over time when there are differences between what science teaches and what the Bible teaches is that science eventually catches up with the Bible and proves Gods'Word true.
     
  6. Aaron

    Aaron Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    20,253
    Likes Received:
    1,381
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The same word is translated "circuit" in Job 22:14.

    But in Isaiah 40:22 almost all authorities are agreed that it means circle, most likely in reference to the horizon, which indeed appears circular.

    I don't believe "sphere" is the idea Isaiah was trying to convey. God was pretty good at saying precisely what He meant.

    So, you can still say that the Bible said the earth is round without having to suppose a weakness in the text itself.
     
  7. Paul of Eugene

    Paul of Eugene New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2001
    Messages:
    2,782
    Likes Received:
    0
    Regardless of whether one accepts the indentity between commnunications entropy and thermodynamics entropy . . . it doesn't matter.

    Because the theory of evolution never at any point requires any kind of opposition to the second law of thermodynamics.

    Why not, you ask, since increased order appears down the line of inheritance?

    Because, I reply, the living organisms along the way have contrived to take the increased entropy and move it away from themselves to the environment. Entropy has certainly been increased by all living things, but they all take the extra entropy and move it out to the environment, and this is how they manage to stay alive.

    Nothing will ever stop the 2nd law of thermodynamics from being in force except some supernatural intervention (and I'm looking forward to that when I get resurrected) and there is no such thing as an intelligent design exception to the law . . . its just that evolution never violates the law because extra entropy is, as predicted, created along the way, but it is simply moved away from the living organism.
     
  8. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    I repeat once again, evolution is not a science, it is an atheistic philosophy, even a religion for some.

    Also the increasing order claimed for evolution is a violation of the 2nd law. Even the honest evolutionists will admit this fact.
     
  9. UTEOTW

    UTEOTW New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2002
    Messages:
    4,087
    Likes Received:
    0
    "It can't be verified, therefore, it is incorrect to call it a theory."

    Avoiding the question. What observations should we expect to see if evolution were true? Please keep it to observations that actual evolution would predict and not a caricature.

    "Your last statement is false. Creation itself explains the diversity of observations!"

    Only with arbitray and capricious answers.

    http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/3019/4.html#000047
    http://www.baptistboard.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/3019/3.html#000042
     
  10. Plain Old Bill

    Plain Old Bill New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2003
    Messages:
    3,657
    Likes Received:
    0
    UTEOTW,
    Just what is it you believe about creation/evolution? I'm not trying to be mean spirited.I've seen your entries elsewhere so I believe you are a believer,you just confuse me sometimes.So I am sure you confuse others as well.I think if we knew what you really believed we would have a better idea of how to understand you and what you say.I am hoping you believe there was an original sin.
     
  11. Charles Meadows

    Charles Meadows New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2003
    Messages:
    2,276
    Likes Received:
    1
    I repeat once again, evolution is not a science, it is an atheistic philosophy, even a religion for some.

    Evolution is neither a religion nor a school of philosophy. It is a group of theories.

    Also the increasing order claimed for evolution is a violation of the 2nd law. Even the honest evolutionists will admit this fact.

    These are the type of statements which cost creationists credibility. Evolution on earth (if it occurred) would not violate the second law of thermodynamics.
     
  12. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    You are wrong on both counts.

    Evolution is an atheistic philosophy. :D

    Creation is a theistic philosophy. [​IMG]

    And never the twain shall meet! [​IMG]
     
  13. Paul of Eugene

    Paul of Eugene New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2001
    Messages:
    2,782
    Likes Received:
    0
    We turn now from our ordinary programing to listen in on the private counsels of the spiritual enemies of all mankind. Be quiet, we don't want to be overheard.

    Satan: So tell me, Beelzebub, how goes our plan to divide mankind by making them choose between evolution or spirituality?

    Beelzebub: It's going OK so far, your lowness, but there are some who keep repeating that they are not really in conflict.

    Satan: Thanks to our earnest efforts, the spirit of the age is against them. All that is necessary is to inflame some of our most trusted partisans into ever more loudly calling out the other side. This will keep each side blind to the truths the other possesses.

    Beelzebub: It shall be done, your lowness. But there are some who keep saying that G- excuse me I mean to say spiritual matters and evolution are not enemies. Any particular orders?

    Satan: At this time, lets just keep trying to shout them down. Hopefully, the day will come when more stringent persecutions can be used . . . how's the extremist political candidate program going?

    Beelzebub: progress has been made.

    Satan: Good. Keep up the bad work.
     
  14. yeshua4me2

    yeshua4me2 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2005
    Messages:
    214
    Likes Received:
    0
    earth is a closed system, what about sunlight, it adds energy to the system. well when has adding raw energy to a closed system ever decreased entrophy? the only way this happens is IF there is a mechanism to convert the energy to a useable form (i.e. photosynthesis). But in order for this to work there would have to be life BEFORE the closed system would open (the earth). and if there is life the has to be systems already in place to support that life. this clearly points to special creation, i may not be right but this makes sense to me.
     
  15. Charles Meadows

    Charles Meadows New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2003
    Messages:
    2,276
    Likes Received:
    1
    Yeshua4Me,

    No - you're a bit off. But that's OK.

    Why do we have to be able to explain things all the time anway?

    I have no problem at all with the young earth theories. My arguments are with those who are willing to put forth obviously wrong explanations (like the second law thing) as long as they are ANTI-evolution.
     
  16. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    Charles,

    Excuse me, but the 2nd law of thermodynamics DOES apply as the UNIVERSE is a closed system.
     
  17. Charles Meadows

    Charles Meadows New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2003
    Messages:
    2,276
    Likes Received:
    1
    Sky,

    This one is a non-issue.

    The second law, if applied to the universe would mean that all the evolution we would ever want could occur on earth by chance, but the entropy of the universe as a WHOLE would increase.

    The second law does not touch on evolution, yeah or nay.
     
  18. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    Charles,

    I disagree.

    Big Bang claims that a pure catalystic reaction of unknown gases resulted in an explosion that set the entire Universe into motion, and that in that explosion it created perfect order (by chance) out of total disorder (an uncontrolled explosion.)

    Yet, thermodynamics teaches that order deteriorates to disorder unless an outside force is applied.

    Since evolution is about the universe, and the creation of the earth is about evolution, you cannot say, "Oh, well, big bang only applies to the Universe, not to the earth."
     
  19. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2004
    Messages:
    22,678
    Likes Received:
    64
    Thermodymanicist Arnold Sommerfeld author of Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics [Academic Press, 1955] writes [page 155]: The statement in integral form, namely that entropy in an isolated system cannot decrease, can be replaced by its corollary in differential form, which asserts that the quantity of entropy generated locally cannot be negative irrespective of whether the system is isolated or not, and irrespective of whether the process under consideration is irreversible or not.
     
  20. Paul of Eugene

    Paul of Eugene New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2001
    Messages:
    2,782
    Likes Received:
    0
    TexasSky, the universe is expanding. You know what happens to expanding things? They get a lower temperature. The universe as a whole has expanded so much that its current temperature is about 2-3 degrees above absolute zero. It started much higher.

    To translate into terms about entropy: The entropy of the entire universe does, indeed, increase over time. But the amount of space to spread the entropy around in is increasing faster than the entropy, thanks to the expansion of the universe. Therefore, a given cubic mile of universe today contains much less entropy (on average, not counting special places like stellar interiors) than a cubic mile of space would have contained 7 or 8 billion years ago. But, nevertheless, the total entropy for the whole universe has, indeed increased.
     
Loading...