tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post1004170035364243982..comments2023-06-23T10:26:21.277+02:00Comments on Memoirs of an ex-Christian: Carl Sagan - The Dragon in My GarageKevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16752824290056143050noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-3974109253655611732011-07-23T15:20:06.415+02:002011-07-23T15:20:06.415+02:00Hi Red
Thank you for your comment. The primary pr...Hi Red<br /><br />Thank you for your comment. The primary problem of using creation (birds, trees, stars, etc) for the existence of a creator is that you are assuming something that you haven't demonstrated: that these things were in fact created. So I would like to ask you: what is it about birds, trees and stars that convince you that they were created?<br /><br />Secondly, your criticism of evolution is based on a misunderstanding of how evolution (but more importantly, natural selection) actually works. As Richard Dawkins argues in <i>Climbing Mount Improbable</i>, the odds are not that great at all when you consider small <b><i>selected</i></b> changes over time. And 'selected' is the key word here.<br /><br />Keep well.<br />KevinKevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16752824290056143050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-24578797961651151602011-07-14T11:22:39.079+02:002011-07-14T11:22:39.079+02:00Well, there IS evidence, it just depends on how yo...Well, there IS evidence, it just depends on how you read it and what you consider credible. The primary evidence that an apologist would cite is that we use creation as evidence of the existence of God. <br /><br />To boil this down to invisible dragons doesn't do the subject justice or even encompass the meat of the topic. <br />1) The FIRST, most important question is: "How did we get here?" This is before we even argue which religion is historical, mythical, reasonable or fact. "Is there a God?" or "Are we here by chance?" If you can't prove this to a religious person, your arguments are invalid. Evolution does not disprove the existence of God. In some instances, I believe it will only fortify a creationist. Evolution can't hold water in coincidence simulations. The odds are stacked against it. I won't bother citing the numbers. Look up the Shakespeare statistics. Look up some intelligent design arguments. Some of those arguments do suck. I'm an engineer. I've taken biomechanics and I can point out that your body is more like a machine than you might like to admit.<br /><br />Next, you can address the smaller questions: <br />2) The second question is: If there is a creator, does he/she/they care about our affairs? <br />3) Is it possible to know that being(s)is? If you have a being or beings that meddle in the affairs of man, naturally they'd make themselves known? Or are we deluding ourselves into thinking that he/she/it/they cares?<br />4) Where do we fit in? What is expected of me? (If anything)<br />5) What does this do for me?<br /><br />The religious person does not want the answer to number 2 or 3 first. they will invariably use any Shallow argument and go back to question 1. Science does not offer us a meaty enough response to the patterns we see in life. You have to go back to the origin of it all and see exactly why people believe that there is something more? People usually have rational reasons to their beliefs (even if you don't believe in it).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02105873653856635264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-76499740114762371622008-04-21T02:35:00.000+02:002008-04-21T02:35:00.000+02:00Sagan is sorely missed.He was a beacon of sanity i...Sagan is sorely missed.<BR/>He was a beacon of sanity in an insane world.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09416885267226432023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-48083108502739943472008-04-13T23:51:00.000+02:002008-04-13T23:51:00.000+02:00I found you via cyberkitten's blog.I read Sagan ye...I found you via cyberkitten's blog.<BR/><BR/>I read Sagan years ago, but forgot how nicely he presents some things. This was an excellent re-introduction.wstachourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447198404608861357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-323270336613967442008-04-06T22:13:00.000+02:002008-04-06T22:13:00.000+02:00duke said: The time has come, the harvest is ripe....duke said: The time has come, the harvest is ripe.<BR/><BR/>Would that be broad beans or sunflower seeds? I understand that they are both harvested at this time of year........CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-75103410017246215572008-04-06T20:39:00.000+02:002008-04-06T20:39:00.000+02:00The time has come, the harvest is ripe.The Faithfu...The time has come, the harvest is ripe.<BR/><BR/>The Faithful WitnessDukehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18153748859932400566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17732427.post-49181084361526225722008-04-05T23:43:00.000+02:002008-04-05T23:43:00.000+02:00I guess *someone* had to do it - but Dr Sagan is s...I guess *someone* had to do it - but Dr Sagan is stating the patentently obvious here.<BR/><BR/>Of course absence of evidence is not evidence of absence but without *any* (credible) evidence what conclusions do we draw? What we can say is that there is no evidence to support the belief in the existence of dragons (either within or without garages). Does this disprove the Dragon Hypothesis - No. But it is not necessary for the skeptic to disprove the existence of dragons - or anything else for that matter. It is for the believers in dragons to *show* that they exist.<BR/><BR/>As much as I would like dragons to exist (I mean how cool would *that* be) I'm afraid that I do not believe in such fantasical beings. No credible evidence = no belief in my book.CyberKittenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06394155516712665665noreply@blogger.com