Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Plebe · 11-01-2002, 05:02 PM

I looked in infidels.org past news postings and did not find this there or here in the evolution forums and was wondering if there is any truth to? This site was included in a 'fun topics' email from <a href="http://www.linkydinky.com," target="_blank">http://www.linkydinky.com,</a> the actual email with all content is posted below this article.

Christian News <a href="http://www.ChristianReporter.com" target="_blank">www.ChristianReporter.com</a>
Edited by Brian Robertson

To read the news stories, you must allow pop-up windows. There are NO pop-up ads on this site.

$250,000 RewardTo Prove Evolution Accepted! written - 11 October, 2002

A long-standing offer to prove evolution has been accepted by John D. Callahan, a theistic evolutionist and president of Faith & Reason Ministries. The offer is being made by Dr. Kent Hovind, a young-Earth creationist and leader of Creation Science Evangelism.

Callahan writes Dr. Hovind, in a widely distributed open letter: "I accept your offer to prove evolution and win $250,000. I will prove secular, scientific evolution as it is appropriately taught in our schools. As you stipulate, this includes both the large-scale evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang, and Darwinian biological evolution. I could appeal to the mountain of empirical evidence (observation and experimentation) from many areas of science, which puts evolution beyond doubt to almost all scientists. However, this would be overkill, and since evolution is so simple to prove, I will do it in this letter. You insist evolution is an unsubstantiated, immoral religion; this is incorrect."

"First consider biological evolution. Besides innumerable transitional fossils -- dating billions of years to very primitive forms -- there are many living species (of the millions on Earth) and breeds that are obvious cousins and direct descendants of one another. An illustration is the domestic dog, which can produce a generation 30 times faster than man. From gray wolf populations the domestic dog has evolved (naturally and via human intervention) into dozens of species and hundreds of breeds (enormous gene pool) over the last 10,000 years. These are more than minor variations and indicative of macroevolution. Further, since a gray wolf has evolved into a pug dog, an ape has surely evolved into a Homo erectus and then a man."

"As far as large-scale evolution, the cosmic background radiation confirms the Big Bang and structure of the universe. Also light travels at 186,000 miles per second. Thus when astronomers look at distance objects, they are looking back in time. This 'time travel' clearly shows the evolution of the universe, from quasars and primitive galaxies (billions of years ago) to the modern appearance of our local universe. In addition we see stars in various stages of evolution, nucleosynthesis in supernova 1987A, molecules in space, and solar systems forming from dust and gas. Not every detail is understood, such as dark matter and energy, but this in no way negates the basic age and evolution of the universe."

"However, evolution makes no statement as to the existence of God. (For proof of His being, please see <a href="http://www.faithreason.org/.)" target="_blank">http://www.faithreason.org/.)</a> Therefore I address your point, '1. Time, space, and matter came into existence by themselves,' by stating that God created the universe with physical and spiritual laws facilitating evolution. Moreover, God is present and working in our lives and the universe, but not as envisioned by modern creation mythology: young-Earth creationism (your conviction), old-Earth creationism, and intelligent design theory."

"Please send my $250,000 to the address above. Thanks. If you wish more detail, from the ever-increasing mountain of empirical evidence, I would be happy to present before your review committee (or debate) provided you sponsor a public event and pay my traveling expenses (outside the Los Angeles, CA area)."

Dr. Hovind's challenge has been a rallying cry for creationists, and he asserts few, if any, legitimate inquires have been made -- and certainly no proof. However, evolutionists contend Dr. Hovind is not open to empirical evidence and scientific method.

[Edit by Kevin Dorner: Removed many extraneous links that somehow appeared in the post]

[ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Dorner ]</p>

RufusAtticus · 11-01-2002, 05:12 PM

Damn, Kevin you beat me too it.

Kevin Dorner · 11-01-2002, 05:14 PM

Oops.

Also, I bumped the duplicate so I'll close this one down.

11-01-2002, 05:02 PM	#1
Plebe Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Contra Costa County Posts: 168	$250,000 RewardTo Prove Evolution Accepted! written - 11 October, 2002 I looked in infidels.org past news postings and did not find this there or here in the evolution forums and was wondering if there is any truth to? This site was included in a 'fun topics' email from <a href="http://www.linkydinky.com," target="_blank">http://www.linkydinky.com,</a> the actual email with all content is posted below this article. Christian News <a href="http://www.ChristianReporter.com" target="_blank">www.ChristianReporter.com</a> Edited by Brian Robertson To read the news stories, you must allow pop-up windows. There are NO pop-up ads on this site. $250,000 RewardTo Prove Evolution Accepted! written - 11 October, 2002 A long-standing offer to prove evolution has been accepted by John D. Callahan, a theistic evolutionist and president of Faith & Reason Ministries. The offer is being made by Dr. Kent Hovind, a young-Earth creationist and leader of Creation Science Evangelism. Callahan writes Dr. Hovind, in a widely distributed open letter: "I accept your offer to prove evolution and win $250,000. I will prove secular, scientific evolution as it is appropriately taught in our schools. As you stipulate, this includes both the large-scale evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang, and Darwinian biological evolution. I could appeal to the mountain of empirical evidence (observation and experimentation) from many areas of science, which puts evolution beyond doubt to almost all scientists. However, this would be overkill, and since evolution is so simple to prove, I will do it in this letter. You insist evolution is an unsubstantiated, immoral religion; this is incorrect." "First consider biological evolution. Besides innumerable transitional fossils -- dating billions of years to very primitive forms -- there are many living species (of the millions on Earth) and breeds that are obvious cousins and direct descendants of one another. An illustration is the domestic dog, which can produce a generation 30 times faster than man. From gray wolf populations the domestic dog has evolved (naturally and via human intervention) into dozens of species and hundreds of breeds (enormous gene pool) over the last 10,000 years. These are more than minor variations and indicative of macroevolution. Further, since a gray wolf has evolved into a pug dog, an ape has surely evolved into a Homo erectus and then a man." "As far as large-scale evolution, the cosmic background radiation confirms the Big Bang and structure of the universe. Also light travels at 186,000 miles per second. Thus when astronomers look at distance objects, they are looking back in time. This 'time travel' clearly shows the evolution of the universe, from quasars and primitive galaxies (billions of years ago) to the modern appearance of our local universe. In addition we see stars in various stages of evolution, nucleosynthesis in supernova 1987A, molecules in space, and solar systems forming from dust and gas. Not every detail is understood, such as dark matter and energy, but this in no way negates the basic age and evolution of the universe." "However, evolution makes no statement as to the existence of God. (For proof of His being, please see <a href="http://www.faithreason.org/.)" target="_blank">http://www.faithreason.org/.)</a> Therefore I address your point, '1. Time, space, and matter came into existence by themselves,' by stating that God created the universe with physical and spiritual laws facilitating evolution. Moreover, God is present and working in our lives and the universe, but not as envisioned by modern creation mythology: young-Earth creationism (your conviction), old-Earth creationism, and intelligent design theory." "Please send my $250,000 to the address above. Thanks. If you wish more detail, from the ever-increasing mountain of empirical evidence, I would be happy to present before your review committee (or debate) provided you sponsor a public event and pay my traveling expenses (outside the Los Angeles, CA area)." Dr. Hovind's challenge has been a rallying cry for creationists, and he asserts few, if any, legitimate inquires have been made -- and certainly no proof. However, evolutionists contend Dr. Hovind is not open to empirical evidence and scientific method. [Edit by Kevin Dorner: Removed many extraneous links that somehow appeared in the post] [ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Dorner ]</p>

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-01-2002, 05:12 PM	#2
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	Damn, Kevin you beat me too it.

11-01-2002, 05:14 PM	#3
Kevin Dorner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 762	Oops. Also, I bumped the duplicate so I'll close this one down.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.