Public discourse in origins: here be dragons

[BrianLopez (Independent Christian Researcher (and IT Technician))]

swamidassS. Joshua SwamidassConfessing Scientist

Michael_Okoko

4m

Honestly @Michael_Okoko this doesn’t make much sense to me.

[quote=“Michael_Okoko, post:214, topic:13872”]

@BrianLopez

Evidence must be known , it must be learned, but then applied correctly in an all encompassing manner.
[/quote]

Evidence isn’t learned, it is discerned from data. What we learn is how to collect and process data to discern what type of evidence it provides.

Of course evidence is learned, and it is not discerned from data. Rather, we discern interpretations from data. Data that is relevant to our questions is evidence.

@Michael_Okoko

Creationists acknowledge phylogenetic trees are evidence for common descent as long as it doesn’t connect all extant organisms and excludes humans. When it connects humans and all extant organisms, they blatantly ignore it.

That is not quite correct. There is a range here.

[quote=“Michael_Okoko, post:214, topic:13872”]

@BrianLopez

Now you are dissecting my clarification when in fact my comment was generic and indirectly directed at Valerie’s YEC method of interpretation.
[/quote]

Valerie ignores evidence for and misunderstands evolution. However, its unlikely her participation here won’t keep her from regurgitating some creationist tropes.

I don’t think that’s true. @thoughtful is making the best effort she can to understand and engage the evidence. She does trust creationist scientists quite a bit, but she is also doing the best she can to think for herself.

I mostly second @swamidass 's responses to @Michael_Okoko

He still misunderstood the point I was making and I agree that Valerie is where she is for the reasons already perceived. She can progressively consider what I make of Biblical Studies over time.