Freethought & Rationalism Archive

scigirl · 02-14-2002, 10:09 PM

<a href="http://www.celebatheists.com/" target="_blank">The celebrity atheist list</a>.

Ok, James Watson and Francis Crick. Both atheists. Now, these guys probably know more about DNA than anyone else on the planet. They discovered it's structure. So, if THEY don't think it was intelligently designed. . .

scigirl

lpetrich · 02-14-2002, 10:20 PM

And if I believed in intelligent design, I would

(1) consider extraterrestrial visitors or time travelers the most likely designers; these are fellow residents in the physical context of our Universe, with only finite powers and even with some possible fallibility.

(2) treat with great respect the concept of evolution by natural selection, and not indulge in the Darwin-bashing that the ID movement seems addicted to.

Oolon Colluphid · 02-15-2002, 01:15 AM

I've long liked that page. My favourite is from the estimable Terry Pratchett:

"I think I'm probably an atheist, but rather angry with God for not existing."

Oolon

bluefugue · 02-15-2002, 02:10 AM

lpetrich, don't you think the infinite-regression problem is even more glaring with ET designers than a God? At least with a God you can sort of define him as outside of time, beyond space, eternally existing -- all that rot. But ET designers not only would have to have been created themselves, they also would have had that many billion *fewer* years in our universe to have done it. (Then you factor in star generations, heavy elements, etc., the timetable gets tighter.)

You did mention time travelers. I guess you could do one of those paradox loops in which life comes back from the future to create itself...

[ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: IesusDomini ]</p>

02-14-2002, 10:09 PM	#1
scigirl Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,261	Watson and Crick are both atheists! <a href="http://www.celebatheists.com/" target="_blank">The celebrity atheist list</a>. Ok, James Watson and Francis Crick. Both atheists. Now, these guys probably know more about DNA than anyone else on the planet. They discovered it's structure. So, if THEY don't think it was intelligently designed. . . scigirl

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02-14-2002, 10:20 PM	#2
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	And if I believed in intelligent design, I would (1) consider extraterrestrial visitors or time travelers the most likely designers; these are fellow residents in the physical context of our Universe, with only finite powers and even with some possible fallibility. (2) treat with great respect the concept of evolution by natural selection, and not indulge in the Darwin-bashing that the ID movement seems addicted to.

02-15-2002, 01:15 AM	#3
Oolon Colluphid Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Alibi: ego ipse hinc extermino Posts: 12,591	I've long liked that page. My favourite is from the estimable Terry Pratchett: "I think I'm probably an atheist, but rather angry with God for not existing." Oolon

02-15-2002, 02:10 AM	#4
bluefugue Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,427	lpetrich, don't you think the infinite-regression problem is even more glaring with ET designers than a God? At least with a God you can sort of define him as outside of time, beyond space, eternally existing -- all that rot. But ET designers not only would have to have been created themselves, they also would have had that many billion fewer years in our universe to have done it. (Then you factor in star generations, heavy elements, etc., the timetable gets tighter.) You did mention time travelers. I guess you could do one of those paradox loops in which life comes back from the future to create itself... [ February 15, 2002: Message edited by: IesusDomini ]</p>

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