eklhad@ihnet.UUCP (K. A. Dahlke) (07/24/85)
> Paul DuBois {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois --+-- > another problem with this statement, i.e., that creationists suppose > that all species came into existence pretty much as we find them). > First of all, creationists typically suppose things not about species, > but about "kinds". Whatever a "kind" is, and we can perhaps agree that > a tight treatment of that has not been posted here, it is *not* > synomymous with "species". > Many creationists (including myself) recognize > speciation. Some creationists (including myself) feel that the > variation of organisms over time is of great importance. I'm glad you brought up this issue, Paul, since it is something I have always been a bit confused about. Creationists have been forced to accept some variation over time, since simple variations have occurred during recorded history. So where do they draw the line? The only objective line that *can* be drawn is around species. Animals either mate, or they don't. For this reason, some creationists (more in the past) hold tightly to a "no speciation" doctrine. Now you tell me, you (and others) *can* accept some speciation? So I am confused anew. Where do you draw the line? The "species" line was reasonable, but any "after its kind" line that allows speciation seems fuzzy; nigh unto nebulous. Give me creationist (or your own personal) criteria for determining whether two creatures are linked via their evolutionary past, or result from separate created ancestors. I think you will agree, this is very difficult. Much more important, *why* do you draw the line. Why do you feel there are limits to evolution? Whatever criteria you establish, I can find examples arbitrarily close to the threshold. I am confident some comparisons will produce ambiguous results. At first glance, animals *seem* very different (quantized), but upon closer inspection, life is more like a continuous spectrum. You can't draw artificial boundaries, and expect me to believe that evolution will obey those restrictions. Once you accept speciation, haven't you let the camel's nose poke under the tent flap? Please elaborate. Thanks. -- I never know what to put in these damn .signature files. Everybody expects me to be clever, or profound, or cute, or funny. I just can't take the pressure any more. They're out to get ... Doctor? ... Hey, where are you going? My session isn't over yet!!! Karl Dahlke ihnp4!ihnet!eklhad