MrDarwin

Something I said in this discussion made me think of something that seems pretty obvious to me, but apparently doesn't occur to creationists:

Let's face it: not a single species that appeared during the "Cambrian Explosion" is alive today; in fact, every species was extinct by the end of the Cambrian period. If there was/were a "creator(s)" or "designer(s)", what does that say about him/her/it/them?

stardog

It says that he/she/it has no damn idea what they are doing.

Peez

I would guess that when ‘rank and file' creationists hear (and use) statements such as: "scientists say that all major animal groups appeared suddenly in the Cambrian," they interpret it thus:

1) "major" groups of animals are things like felines, canids, bovids, etc.

2) there is no evidence for any animals before the Cambrian, and no evidence that any new "major" groups formed after the Cambrian

3) "suddenly" means, at the very least, less than one week

On top of that, I suspect that it is inferred that other organisms, notably plants, appear suddenly as well and in the Biblical order. I doubt much thought is put into it.

Peez

Steve_F

Who came up with the name Cambrian explosion anyway? Along with mitchondial eve, its just playing into creationist hands! Particularly when said creationists are too dumb to read up on the fact that the 'explosion' took millions of years.

SEF

The trouble is that scientists like little jokes, puns, witticisms and oblique references. It goes naturally with the higher IQ territory (along with other "geek" tendencies). When the terms were coined, the originators probably weren't having to contend with the more moronic and ignorant army of god. It's not as if many of that army have ever been capable of appearing in civilised scientific circles after all and their recent incarnation is just that - recent (and mainly US-based). The trouble is that the general increased access to media (including the internet) means that even those who are a waste of space get to have their own space. Similarly there will be plenty of people who can't then tell the difference between the top quality information buried under the floating mats of scum on the media flood.