There have been a few crazy letters to the editor recently attacking evolution. I heard this type of thinking, which is usually passed down through the religion meme, described as a “Tradition of Ignorance”. Ignorance is a negative word, but really it boils down to not knowing something. If you don’t understand something, you probably shouldn’t argue for or against it. I am going to trust that the thousands of working scientists today understand evolution and that they are right when calling it a fact. It is too bad that after 150 years with Darwin’s amazing discovery that we are still arguing with religious fundamentalists about it.
Here are the letters in chronological order.
Monday, October 24, 2011
The History Channel recently aired “History of the World in Two Hours,” which showed how man evolved from bacteria to fish to amphibian and so on.
If you believe in evolution as taught in our public schools, I challenge you to read part one of “In the Beginning” by Walt Brown PhD, seventh edition, 2001.
This book, recently loaned to me by my pastor, will scientifically show how evolution and Darwin don’t have a prayer.
Ray Greff
Rapid City
My reply was printed just two day later.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
In a recent letter, Ray Greff promoted the book, “In the Beginning” by Walt Brown. Greff writes that the book “will scientifically show how evolution and Darwin don’t have a prayer.”
Walt Brown isn’t a biologist, and his self-published book, “In the Beginning,” is the lowest order of junk science. It’s not just hogwash about evolution but makes claims (without credible evidence) that directly conflict with well-established biology, geology and cosmology.
The book quotes, treating them as reliable scientific sources, The Moscow Daily and Creation Research Quarterly. When he does cite reputable publications such as Science, quotes are taken out of context or are outright fabrications.
Did I write “junk science?” I meant “junk.”
If your faith demands belief in creationism, then you better stick to faith to support your claims and stay away from science. Evolution is the most well-proven and understood concept in all of science, with five distinct lines of evidence based on DNA, fossil record, embryology, geography and classification, respectively.
I would recommend “Why Evolution Is True” by Jerry Coyne or “The Greatest Show on Earth” by Richard Dawkins as actual science books, written by biologists, discussing evolution and its evidence.
Jason Jackson
Rapid City
That got the attention of a local politician named Don Kopp who apparently has written anti-science letters to the Rapid City Journal before. Here is his somewhat rambling reply.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Ray Greff’s attack on the religion of atheism by going after the Holy Grail (evolution) is guaranteed to draw an emotional response from the keepers of “real science.”
After all, everyone knows that “real science” predicts that nothing will produce something.
As Paul Davies, a physicist explains in his book, “Edge of Infinity”:
“The Big Bang represents the instantaneous suspension of physical laws, the sudden, abrupt flash of lawlessness that allowed something to come out of nothing. It represents a true miracle—transcending physical principals.”
Ah, you gotta love how well miracles fit into their science.
Or as George Wald, Nobel Prize recipient at Harvard stated: “One has only to contemplate the magnitude of this task to concede the spontaneous generation of a living organism is impossible. Yet here we are as a result.”
Shame on you, Mr. Greff, for believing that creationism demonstrates the giver of life must also be living. That’s “junk science.”
Dr. Giesler (University of Colorado) said: “May well be that creationism is correct about origins. But even if it were correct, it’s still not scientific.”
What the heck does truth have to do with it, anyway? Mr. Greff, you just gotta have more faith.
Don Kopp
Rapid City
At this point I wasn’t sure if I should reply. The letter was terribly written, and almost stands in opposition to itself. In the end I decided I should continue to defend science and replied.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Recent letters attacking evolution have failed to actually assail any of the salient points regarding the scientific concept. In the most recent letter, Don Kopp does everything except write about any of the evidence, instead using a series of straw man and ad hominem attacks, and cherry picking quotes.
He tries to tie evolution to the “religion of atheism,” which is like calling “not collecting stamps” a hobby, and neglects that the majority of Americans supporting evolution are religious. He steers a wide path around any discussion of the actual science involved.
DNA-based data provides the strongest of five distinct lines of evidence for evolution. Developed in the 1980s, with work continuing through today, DNA evidence for evolution is so convincing that it should push away all but the most unreasonable doubts.
We have also seen evolution played out before our eyes in the lab and nature. A recent study found that 99.9 percent of working scientists accept evolution, due to this overwhelming evidence.
There is no controversy, save amongst religious fundamentalists.
I would encourage such individuals to either stick to faith, or bring an intellectually honest, science-based argument to the table. I am doubtful this will occur.
Jason Jackson
Rapid City
Apparently Mr. Kopp felt he needed to reply, and this time really showed that he doesn’t actually understand the topics at hand. I am sad to say that this is how almost every debate I have had with any creationist has gone. They usually don’t understand what evolution is, sometimes thinking it is everything from the big bang to abiogenesis to a religious creed. When they do have some grasp on some part of the concept of evolution they usually hold on to it tightly, even if it is a minor point. And many creationists simply aren’t very good at scientific thinking. They may have a wealth of scientific knowledge on a number of subjects, but the scientific method is foreign to them. Here was his reply.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Jason Jackson, I was in total agreement with one of your evolution-minded colleagues who stated that the spontaneous generation of life from non-life is impossible. Then you reply that DNA presents the best evidence for evolution — really?
DNA in symbiosis with its RNA counterpart is so incredibly complex that it does, in fact, make spontaneous generation impossible as Dr. Wald so stated.
Let the reader understand: There is no random process that can assemble such complexity. To believe otherwise is akin to thinking a tornado passing through a junk yard could randomly pick all the right components, then assemble them into a space shuttle.
In transcription, an RNA uses a gene in the DNA as a template to create a strand of messenger RNA (mRNA). The RNA unzips a section of DNA then copies it.
This process continues trillions of times without error. If an error does occur, it is called a mutation, and according to evolution, this is how complexity occurred! We simply mutated upward. The second law of thermodynamics contradicts this idea.
This scientific fact can be stated without contradiction: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” — Psalm 139:14
Don Kopp
Rapid City
I almost laughed out loud when I saw the stuff about the second law of thermodynamics. But really it is sad, because he is just throwing mumbo-jumbo out there and people may very well believe it. I responded.
Friday, November 25, 2011
The letter by Don Kopp published Nov. 20 highlights the need for science education in general and an accurate teaching of evolution in particular.
He argues that evolution is random. This is wrong, but a common misunderstanding.
A gene may randomly mutate to provide a different trait. If this trait helps an individual survive to pass along the gene, then that gene is more likely to be found in the population in general over subsequent generations. The environment acts as a filter, and we call that filter natural selection.
This is the key to evolution. Saying evolution is based on randomness would be to say that Miles Davis made music with air, a misleading and intellectually dishonest statement.
Second, evolution does not violate the Second Law of Thermodynamics. To say so betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of one of the core principles of science. The law (to paraphrase) states that order goes to disorder in a closed system.
The Earth is not a closed system, and this argument is so obviously wrong that I am surprised it was made.
For a better explanation of evolution, I would suggest “The Greatest Show on Earth,” written by eminent biologist Richard Dawkins.
Jason Jackson
Rapid City
I doubt I convinced Mr. Kopp of anything, though that would be quite an achievement. My goal in these letters was two fold. First, I didn’t want such individuals to come off as having some special knowledge or expertise in evolutionary science in such a public forum. Second, I wanted to refute these false claims for those that might just be opening their eyes to science, such as our youth. When I was in high school I regularly read the newspaper, and I cringe at the idea that some young girl or boy might be swayed by the opinion of a public leader such as Mr. Kopp, and lead away from a career in life sciences.