The Origin of Species. Topics To Be Covered Why is this issue important? Why is this issue important? Four views on this issue and their rationale Four

The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species

Topics To Be CoveredTopics To Be Covered

• Why is this issue important?Why is this issue important?

• Four views on this issue and their Four views on this issue and their rationalerationale

• Two opposing models explaining lifeTwo opposing models explaining life

• Effects that each model has on lifeEffects that each model has on life

Why Is This Issue Why Is This Issue Important?Important?

• Necessity of a worldview - for all Necessity of a worldview - for all people regardless of time and place people regardless of time and place

• Identifying the purpose of life – It is Identifying the purpose of life – It is essential to know how it is that we essential to know how it is that we exist so that we may then know what exist so that we may then know what the purpose of our existence is. the purpose of our existence is.

Four Views On This Issue and Four Views On This Issue and Their RationaleTheir Rationale

• Religious – Judaism, Christianity, IslamReligious – Judaism, Christianity, Islam– Reason for belief – Coherence of religious systemReason for belief – Coherence of religious system

• Theistic - no particular religionTheistic - no particular religion– Reason for belief – This universe and everything in it Reason for belief – This universe and everything in it

indicates the existence of a “Designer” indicates the existence of a “Designer”

• Agnostic - Not sureAgnostic - Not sure– Reason for uncertainty – Not convinced by the Reason for uncertainty – Not convinced by the

arguments that have been presented to me and I don’t arguments that have been presented to me and I don’t need to take a standneed to take a stand

• Atheist - Disbelief in GodAtheist - Disbelief in God– Reason for disbelief – Both “God” and “organized Reason for disbelief – Both “God” and “organized

religion” is irrational and unscientificreligion” is irrational and unscientific

Survey of BeliefsSurvey of Beliefs

• World Population: World Population:

6.5 billion6.5 billionMajorityMajority

• 2.1 billion 2.1 billion Christians Christians

• 1.5 billion Muslims 1.5 billion Muslims

• 1 billion agnostic / 1 billion agnostic / nonreligious / nonreligious / secular secular

JesusJesus MuhammMuhammadad

DarwinDarwin

EvolutionCreation

Micro

-Evolu

tion

Two Opposing Models Two Opposing Models Explaining LifeExplaining Life

• Nature = Design with a ‘Designer’ Nature = Design with a ‘Designer’ (i.e. God) (i.e. God)

• Nature = Design without a designer Nature = Design without a designer (i.e. natural forces) (i.e. natural forces)

Nature = Design With A Nature = Design With A ‘Designer’‘Designer’

• The natural explanation for the The natural explanation for the amazing complexity and design we amazing complexity and design we observe in nature is that it was observe in nature is that it was consciously and deliberately designed consciously and deliberately designed by a power that possesses the ability to by a power that possesses the ability to create such a remarkably complex and create such a remarkably complex and efficient living thing. To attribute all efficient living thing. To attribute all this to blind forces of nature is nothing this to blind forces of nature is nothing but irrationality.but irrationality.

A Natural InferenceA Natural Inference

Cell Microchip

100 Trillion In Body

Nature = Design Without A Nature = Design Without A Designer Designer

• The apparent design and complexity The apparent design and complexity in the world can be in the world can be explainedexplained without without having to resort to believing in God having to resort to believing in God and can be shown that it is and can be shown that it is possiblepossible that it came into being by chance that it came into being by chance coincidence.coincidence.

How Could It Be Explained? How Could It Be Explained? Darwin’s Theory of EvolutionDarwin’s Theory of Evolution

Topics To Be CoveredTopics To Be Covered

• History of the origin of the theory History of the origin of the theory

• Importance of the TheoryImportance of the Theory

• How it is supposed to workHow it is supposed to work

• What is needed for the theory to be What is needed for the theory to be legitimatelegitimate

• Reasons why it is accepted/rejectedReasons why it is accepted/rejected

• Effects of this theory on the Effects of this theory on the individual/societyindividual/society

History of the Theory’s History of the Theory’s OriginOrigin

• Copernican Copernican revolutionrevolution

• 1543 “On 1543 “On Revolutions of the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres”Celestial Spheres”

• Earth is not the Earth is not the center of the center of the universeuniverse


• Darwinian Darwinian RevolutionRevolution

• 1859 “Origin of 1859 “Origin of the Species”the Species”

• Mankind is not the Mankind is not the center of life but center of life but just another just another speciesspecies


• Current model at Current model at Cambridge – DesignCambridge – Design

• Textbook – “Natural Textbook – “Natural Theology”, William Theology”, William PaleyPaley

• Compared structural Compared structural complexity of a watch complexity of a watch to immune system, to immune system, eye, blood clotting eye, blood clotting mechanismmechanism


• Darwin goes on an expedition after Darwin goes on an expedition after graduation, seeking a graduation, seeking a naturalistic naturalistic explanation rather that a supernatural oneexplanation rather that a supernatural one

• Why? Because atheists could not be Why? Because atheists could not be intellectually satisfied without an intellectually satisfied without an explanation (Hume)explanation (Hume)

• Before Darwin all an atheist could say is, “I Before Darwin all an atheist could say is, “I have no explanation for complex design in have no explanation for complex design in the world. All I know is that God isn’t a good the world. All I know is that God isn’t a good one.”one.”

• Story of Imam Abu HanifaStory of Imam Abu Hanifa


• After observing finch After observing finch beaks in the Galapagos beaks in the Galapagos Darwin formulates Darwin formulates theory of ‘natural theory of ‘natural selection’. Analogy selection’. Analogy from micro-evolution from micro-evolution within a species (which within a species (which is fairly well-attested is fairly well-attested to by breeding horses, to by breeding horses, pigeons, useful plant pigeons, useful plant hybrids, etc.) hybrids, etc.) applicable to macro-applicable to macro-evolution, from one evolution, from one species to another.species to another.

Tree of Life

Forest of Life

Importance of the TheoryImportance of the Theory• It is not It is not justjust a scientific theory like String Theory, a scientific theory like String Theory,

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (the speed Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity (the speed of light is a constant), or Plate Tectonics. of light is a constant), or Plate Tectonics.

• ““Next to the Bible, no work has been quite as Next to the Bible, no work has been quite as influential, in virtually every aspect of human influential, in virtually every aspect of human thought, as thought, as The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species.” Ashley .” Ashley Montagu Montagu

• ““Natural selection allows biologists to dispense Natural selection allows biologists to dispense with such notions as purpose and design” – with such notions as purpose and design” – Michael Ghiselin, NY TimesMichael Ghiselin, NY Times

• ““Darwinism encompasses all of life…it provides Darwinism encompasses all of life…it provides the the onlyonly satisfying explanation for why we all satisfying explanation for why we all exist, why we are the way that we are.” – Richard exist, why we are the way that we are.” – Richard Dawkins, Oxford UniversityDawkins, Oxford University

How It is Supposed to WorkHow It is Supposed to Work

• The idea - The idea - Every Every living beingliving being descended from a descended from a common ancestor common ancestor by means of small by means of small cumulative natural cumulative natural changes over a changes over a large period of large period of time.time.

What is needed for the theory to be What is needed for the theory to be legitimate?legitimate?

• What is a theory? A What is a theory? A logically self-consistent logically self-consistent model or framework model or framework for describing the for describing the behavior of a related behavior of a related set of natural or social set of natural or social phenomena. It phenomena. It originates from or is originates from or is supported by supported by experimental evidence experimental evidence (scientific method).(scientific method).

EvolutionCreation

Micro

-Evolu

tion

What is needed for the theory to be What is needed for the theory to be legitimate?legitimate?

• Chapter VI: Chapter VI: Difficulties of the TheoryDifficulties of the Theory

• ““Long before the reader has arrived at Long before the reader has arrived at this part of my work, a crowd of this part of my work, a crowd of difficulties will have occurred to him. difficulties will have occurred to him. Some of them are so serious that to this Some of them are so serious that to this day I can hardly reflect on them day I can hardly reflect on them without being in some degree without being in some degree staggered…” staggered…” The Origin of SpeciesThe Origin of Species, , p. p. 178178

What is Needed – Transitional What is Needed – Transitional FormsForms

• ““Why, if species have Why, if species have descended from other species descended from other species by fine gradations, do we not by fine gradations, do we not everywhere see everywhere see innumerableinnumerable transitional forms? Why is not transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion, all nature in confusion, instead of the species being, instead of the species being, as we see them, well as we see them, well defined?” p. 178defined?” p. 178

• ““But just in proportion as this But just in proportion as this process of extermination has process of extermination has acted on an enormous scale, acted on an enormous scale, so must the so must the number of number of intermediate varietiesintermediate varieties, , which have formerly existed, which have formerly existed, be truly enormousbe truly enormous. Why . Why then is not every geological then is not every geological formation and every stratum formation and every stratum full of such intermediate full of such intermediate links? Geology assuredly does links? Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely-not reveal any such finely-graduated organic chain; and graduated organic chain; and this, perhaps, is the most this, perhaps, is the most obvious and serious objection obvious and serious objection which can be urged against which can be urged against the theory. The explanation the theory. The explanation lies, as I believe, in the lies, as I believe, in the extreme imperfection of the extreme imperfection of the geological record.” p. 333-334 geological record.” p. 333-334


• What is a fossil? – The What is a fossil? – The remains of a living remains of a living thing that has lived in thing that has lived in the past. The skeletal the past. The skeletal structures of living structures of living beings whose bodies beings whose bodies are rapidly insulated are rapidly insulated from air can survive from air can survive intact. Remains give us intact. Remains give us information about the information about the history of life on earth.history of life on earth.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? ArchaeopteryxArchaeopteryx

• 1861 – After Origin of 1861 – After Origin of Species publishedSpecies published

• London specimen London specimen found (found (BMNH 37001BMNH 37001) in ) in GermanyGermany

• Missing most of its Missing most of its head and neckhead and neck

• Claim that Claim that Archaeopteryx was a Archaeopteryx was a half-bird that could not half-bird that could not fly properly fly properly

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? ArchaeopteryxArchaeopteryx

• The seventh specimen The seventh specimen of the Archaeopteryx of the Archaeopteryx preserves a partial, preserves a partial, rectangular sternum rectangular sternum (breastbone, observed (breastbone, observed in all flying and non-in all flying and non-flying birds), long flying birds), long suspected but never suspected but never previously documented. previously documented. This attests to its strong This attests to its strong flight muscles. flight muscles.

A model of Archaeopteryx lithographicaon display at the Oxford Univeristy Museum

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? Coelacanth Coelacanth

• 1930’s – fossil1930’s – fossil

• Fin-to-limb evolutionFin-to-limb evolution

• Assumed that it would Assumed that it would use its fins to walk use its fins to walk around on the bottom around on the bottom of the sea floorof the sea floor

• Dubbed “Old Dubbed “Old Fourlegs,” because of Fourlegs,” because of its husky, limb-like fins its husky, limb-like fins

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? CoelacanthCoelacanth

• 19381938

• First living fish First living fish caught, thought to caught, thought to be extinct for 70 be extinct for 70 million years – million years – “Dinofish”“Dinofish”

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? ApeApe

• Human evolutionHuman evolution• "Light will be thrown on "Light will be thrown on

the origin of man and his the origin of man and his history," was all Darwin history," was all Darwin wrote on the subject.wrote on the subject.

• Thomas Huxley described Thomas Huxley described many of the similarities many of the similarities and differences between and differences between humans and apes in his humans and apes in his 1863 book “1863 book “Evidence as to Evidence as to Man's Place in NatureMan's Place in Nature.” .” Then Darwin published his Then Darwin published his own book on the subject, own book on the subject, ““The Descent of Man.”The Descent of Man.”

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? ApeApe

• Many of Darwin's original Many of Darwin's original supporters (such as supporters (such as Alfred Russel Wallace Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Lyell) balked and Charles Lyell) balked at the idea that human at the idea that human beings could have beings could have evolved their impressive evolved their impressive mental capacities and mental capacities and moral sensibilities moral sensibilities through natural selection.through natural selection.

• Balking applies to Balking applies to animals as well (like animals as well (like warm->cold blood, egg-warm->cold blood, egg->mammal,etc.)>mammal,etc.)

• Similarity in bone structure Similarity in bone structure doesn’t mean anything.doesn’t mean anything.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? NeanderthalNeanderthal

• 1856 - “Neanderthal man”1856 - “Neanderthal man”• Neanderthals (Homo Neanderthals (Homo

neanderthalensis) were neanderthalensis) were human beings who suddenly human beings who suddenly appeared 100,000 years ago appeared 100,000 years ago in Europe, and who in Europe, and who disappeared, or were disappeared, or were assimilated by mixing with assimilated by mixing with other races, quietly but other races, quietly but quickly 35,000 years ago. quickly 35,000 years ago.

• Their only difference from Their only difference from modern man is that their modern man is that their skeletons are more robust skeletons are more robust and their cranial capacity and their cranial capacity slightly bigger.slightly bigger.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? NeanderthalNeanderthal

• ““Detailed comparisons Detailed comparisons of Neanderthal skeletal of Neanderthal skeletal remains with those of remains with those of modern humans have modern humans have shown that there is shown that there is nothing in Neanderthal nothing in Neanderthal anatomy that anatomy that conclusively indicates conclusively indicates locomotor, locomotor, manipulative, manipulative, intellectual, or linguistic intellectual, or linguistic abilities inferior to those abilities inferior to those of modern humans.”of modern humans.”

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? Piltdown Piltdown ManMan

• 1912 Piltdown Man1912 Piltdown Man• Found a more ape-like Found a more ape-like

jawbone and a cranial jawbone and a cranial fragment where the teeth fragment where the teeth and skull were more and skull were more human-like.human-like.

• Alleged to be 500,000 Alleged to be 500,000 years old. years old.

• Displayed as absolute proof Displayed as absolute proof of human evolution for 40 of human evolution for 40 years in several museums.years in several museums.

• No fewer than 500 doctoral No fewer than 500 doctoral theses were written on the theses were written on the subject.subject.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? Piltdown Piltdown ManMan

• 1949 Applied "fluorine testing," a new 1949 Applied "fluorine testing," a new test used for determining the date of test used for determining the date of fossils.fossils.

• A trial was made on the fossil of A trial was made on the fossil of Piltdown man. The result was Piltdown man. The result was astonishing.astonishing.

• During the test, it was realized that the During the test, it was realized that the jawbonejawbone of Piltdown man did not of Piltdown man did not contain any fluorine. This indicated that contain any fluorine. This indicated that it had it had remained buried no more than remained buried no more than a few yearsa few years..

• The The skullskull, which contained only a small , which contained only a small amount of fluorine, showed that it was amount of fluorine, showed that it was only a few thousand years oldonly a few thousand years old..

• It was determined that the teeth in the It was determined that the teeth in the jawbone, belonging to an orangutan, jawbone, belonging to an orangutan, had been had been worn down artificiallyworn down artificially and and that the "primitive" that the "primitive" toolstools discovered discovered with the fossils were simple with the fossils were simple imitationsimitations that had been sharpened with steel that had been sharpened with steel implements.implements.

• Forgery was revealed to the public in Forgery was revealed to the public in 1953.1953.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? Nebraska Nebraska ManMan

• 1917 1917 Nebraska Nebraska Man Man ((Hesperopithecus Hesperopithecus haroldcookii)haroldcookii)

• Analysis of the Analysis of the uncovered tooth.uncovered tooth.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? Nebraska Nebraska ManMan

• Further field work on Further field work on the site in 1925 the site in 1925 revealed that the tooth revealed that the tooth was falsely identified. was falsely identified. Other parts of the Other parts of the skeleton were also skeleton were also found. According to found. According to these newly discovered these newly discovered pieces, the tooth pieces, the tooth belonged neither to a belonged neither to a man nor to an ape, but man nor to an ape, but to an extinct pig.to an extinct pig.

• Retracted in the journal Retracted in the journal ““Science”Science” in 1927 in 1927

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? Ramapithecus Ramapithecus • 1932 Ramapithecus1932 Ramapithecus• The first incomplete The first incomplete

specimens of specimens of RamapithecusRamapithecus were found in Nepal on the were found in Nepal on the bank of Tenau River.bank of Tenau River.

• The finder (G. Edward The finder (G. Edward Lewis) claimed that the jaw Lewis) claimed that the jaw was more like a human's was more like a human's than any other fossil ape than any other fossil ape then known.then known.

• Later, more complete Later, more complete specimens of specimens of RamapithecusRamapithecus were found in 1975 and were found in 1975 and 1976, which showed that it 1976, which showed that it was less human-like than was less human-like than was imagined.was imagined.

Transitional Form? Transitional Form? AustralopithecusAustralopithecus

• AustralopithecusAustralopithecus ((Australopithecus afarensisAustralopithecus afarensis))

• 1974 “Lucy” AL 288-11974 “Lucy” AL 288-1• Estimated age – 3.2 million Estimated age – 3.2 million

yearsyears• Chimp-sized brain, chimp-Chimp-sized brain, chimp-

shaped rib cage and jawbone, shaped rib cage and jawbone, and arms and legs that indicate and arms and legs that indicate it walked like a chimp.it walked like a chimp.

• Lord Zuckerman, spent 15 years Lord Zuckerman, spent 15 years studying various studying various AustralopithecusAustralopithecus specimens specimens with a team of five experts with a team of five experts backed by the British backed by the British government. Arrived at the government. Arrived at the conclusion that conclusion that AustralopithecusAustralopithecus was was an ordinary species of an ordinary species of ape and very definitely did ape and very definitely did not walk uprightnot walk upright..

Lucy


• The power of The power of imagination imagination belongs in the art belongs in the art classroom, not classroom, not science class.science class.

• Face on moonFace on moon

• Butterfly alphabetButterfly alphabet

Original photo

1976 200120 meters/pixel

What is Needed – Refutation of Sudden What is Needed – Refutation of Sudden EmergenceEmergence

• ““If numerous species, If numerous species, belonging to the same belonging to the same genera or families, have genera or families, have really started into life at really started into life at once, the fact would be once, the fact would be fatalfatal to the theory of to the theory of evolution through natural evolution through natural selection.” p. 355selection.” p. 355

• ““To the question why we do To the question why we do not find rich fossiliferous not find rich fossiliferous deposits belonging to these deposits belonging to these assumed earliest periods assumed earliest periods prior to the Cambrian prior to the Cambrian system, I can give no system, I can give no satisfactory answer.” p. 316satisfactory answer.” p. 316

• Cambrian explosion 530 Cambrian explosion 530 million years agomillion years ago

• Sudden appearance of Sudden appearance of hard-bodied animals in the hard-bodied animals in the fossil record, accompanied fossil record, accompanied by a profound by a profound diversification of life on diversification of life on Earth.Earth.

What is Needed - What is Needed - Evidence of an evolutionary Evidence of an evolutionary mechanismmechanism

• Mechanism of natural Mechanism of natural selection refuted by fossil selection refuted by fossil record and the discovery of record and the discovery of the laws of genetics.the laws of genetics.

• When such observations When such observations contradict a theory's contradict a theory's predictions, it may be predictions, it may be revised or discarded if an revised or discarded if an alternative better explains alternative better explains the observed facts. For the observed facts. For example, Newton's theory example, Newton's theory of gravitation was replaced of gravitation was replaced by Einstein's theory of by Einstein's theory of General Relativity when General Relativity when the latter was observed to the latter was observed to more precisely predict the more precisely predict the orbit of Mercury.orbit of Mercury.

What is Needed - What is Needed - Evidence of an evolutionary Evidence of an evolutionary mechanismmechanism

• 1941 Geological Society of America 1941 Geological Society of America meets meets

• ““The Modern Synthetic Evolution The Modern Synthetic Evolution Theory“Theory“

• Advantageous mutationsAdvantageous mutations• 1972 Punctuated Equilibrium (rapid 1972 Punctuated Equilibrium (rapid

bursts)bursts)

What is Needed – What is Needed – Reasonability of Chance Reasonability of Chance FormationsFormations

• Probability of the random formation of an average Probability of the random formation of an average protein molecule made up of 500 amino acids:protein molecule made up of 500 amino acids:

• Condition 1: all amino acids are of the right type Condition 1: all amino acids are of the right type and in the right sequenceand in the right sequence

• Condition 2: all amino acids in the chain are left-Condition 2: all amino acids in the chain are left-handedhanded

• Condition 3: all amino acids united by forming a Condition 3: all amino acids united by forming a peptide bondpeptide bond

• Probability: 1 chance in 10Probability: 1 chance in 10950950

• Enzyme formation is only one step necessary for Enzyme formation is only one step necessary for life and says nothing of the more complex life and says nothing of the more complex processes like the formation of DNA, the processes like the formation of DNA, the transcription of DNA to RNA or mitosis and transcription of DNA to RNA or mitosis and meiosis, etc.meiosis, etc.

Reasons Why it is Reasons Why it is Accepted/RejectedAccepted/Rejected

• Anti-religion Anti-religion sentiment, past sentiment, past and presentand present

• Classroom Classroom conditioningconditioning

• PropagandaPropaganda

Reasons: Anti-religion Reasons: Anti-religion Sentiment, Past and PresentSentiment, Past and Present

PastPast• European contextEuropean context• Science vs. ReligionScience vs. Religion• Reason vs. ReligionReason vs. Religion• Do we “just have to have Do we “just have to have

faith” / “just have to faith” / “just have to believe” / “leap of faith”?believe” / “leap of faith”?

PresentPresent• Young earth creationism – Young earth creationism –

Using genealogies in Using genealogies in Genesis and later parts of Genesis and later parts of the Bible, both Jews and the Bible, both Jews and Christians have Christians have independently worked independently worked backward to estimate the backward to estimate the time of the creation of the time of the creation of the world. Results vary from world. Results vary from about 5500 BCE to 3700 about 5500 BCE to 3700 BCE. Belief that the Earth is BCE. Belief that the Earth is "young", on the order of "young", on the order of 6,000 to 10,000 years old 6,000 to 10,000 years old rather than the age of 4.5 rather than the age of 4.5 billion years calculated by billion years calculated by modern geology using modern geology using scientific methods including scientific methods including radiometric dating. radiometric dating.

• Noah’s flood worldwideNoah’s flood worldwide• Religious bias in classrooms Religious bias in classrooms

unconstitutionalunconstitutional

Reasons: Classroom Reasons: Classroom ConditioningConditioning

Reasons: PropagandaReasons: Propaganda

Prof. Xavier: “Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve

from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This

process is slow, and normally taking thousands

and thousands of years. But every few hundred

millennia, evolution leaps forward.”

Every life form is based on this simplicity

The soul that you have is electricity

You can't avoid thatEvolution is fact

We're all from the same Lucy

Despite differences you see

Music Movies

- Chimps ‘raid’ fruit for mates- Learning from ‘Little Foot’- Skulls reveal human evolution- Fossil fish link to evolution discovered

News

ScientificTabloids

Effects of this theory on the Effects of this theory on the individual/societyindividual/society

• Discrimination – “I was reminded of the Discrimination – “I was reminded of the creationist student who, through some accident creationist student who, through some accident of the selection procedure, was once admitted to of the selection procedure, was once admitted to the Zoology Department at Oxford University. He the Zoology Department at Oxford University. He had been educated at a small fundamentalist had been educated at a small fundamentalist college in the United States…” – Richard Dawkinscollege in the United States…” – Richard Dawkins

• John Maddocs – editor of nature – article “down John Maddocs – editor of nature – article “down with the big bang” - philosophically unacceptable with the big bang” - philosophically unacceptable because creationists have justificationbecause creationists have justification

• Social Darwinism - Survival of the fittest. Racism Social Darwinism - Survival of the fittest. Racism and competition.and competition.

Effects That Each Model Has On Effects That Each Model Has On LifeLife

• Man is an accident. Man is an accident. No purpose except No purpose except the purpose he the purpose he invents.invents.

• Moral relativismMoral relativism

• A cruel world A cruel world where criminals where criminals “get away”“get away”

• Man was deliberately Man was deliberately created. Absolute created. Absolute purpose of life.purpose of life.

• Absolute moral Absolute moral principlesprinciples

• Absolute justice Absolute justice where everyone gets where everyone gets “what they deserve”“what they deserve”

ConclusionConclusion

• ““the belief in natural selection must at the belief in natural selection must at present be grounded entirely on present be grounded entirely on general considerations…when we general considerations…when we descend to details…we cannot prove descend to details…we cannot prove that a single species has changed, nor that a single species has changed, nor can we prove that the supposed can we prove that the supposed changes are beneficial, which is the changes are beneficial, which is the groundwork of the theory” Charles groundwork of the theory” Charles DarwinDarwin


• ““The probability of the The probability of the formation of a formation of a Cytochrome-C [enzyme Cytochrome-C [enzyme essential for life] sequence essential for life] sequence is is as likely as zeroas likely as zero……Otherwise, some Otherwise, some metaphysical powers metaphysical powers beyond our definition beyond our definition should have acted in its should have acted in its formation. To accept the formation. To accept the latter is not appropriate to latter is not appropriate to the goals of science. We the goals of science. We therefore have to look into therefore have to look into the first hypothesis.” Prof. the first hypothesis.” Prof. Ali DemirsoyAli Demirsoy

• Probability of natural Probability of natural (materialistic) explanation -(materialistic) explanation -> virtually 0%> virtually 0%

• Probability of supernatural Probability of supernatural (God) explanation -> (God) explanation -> virtually 100%virtually 100%

• ““but to the darwinist, the but to the darwinist, the idea is accepted without a idea is accepted without a ripple of doubt – the ripple of doubt – the paradigmparadigm takes precedence” takes precedence” – Michael Denton– Michael Denton

• ““You must have (blind) faith You must have (blind) faith in the theory”in the theory”


• ……they say, “we found our predecessors they say, “we found our predecessors following this way and we will follow in following this way and we will follow in their footsteps.” Someone said, “What! their footsteps.” Someone said, “What! Even if I bring you something better than Even if I bring you something better than what your predecessors followed?!” They what your predecessors followed?!” They said, “we deny that with which you have said, “we deny that with which you have been sent.”been sent.” (Qur’an 43:23-24) (Qur’an 43:23-24)

• ……The truth has come and the falsehood The truth has come and the falsehood has disappeared. In the end, truth has disappeared. In the end, truth overcomes falsehood. overcomes falsehood. (Qur’an 17:81)(Qur’an 17:81)

www.mustafaumar.com

Documents

The Origin of Species. Topics To Be Covered Why is this issue important? Why is this issue important? Four views on this issue and their rationale Four