[_ Old Earth _] Why Evolution Cannot Be A Religion

[Evointrinsic]

I don't understand how it does either. Who was the one making such a point?

you brought up social darwinism... and i am asking why you brought it up?

 

[Guest]

you brought up social darwinism... and i am asking why you brought it up?

It was only intended as an example. That is, my argument is that people can develop myths around evolution and the theory of evolution. Social Darwinism is one example of how that could be done.

 

[Crying Rock]

The source of social Darwinism was not Darwin but Herbert Spencer and the tradition of Protestant nonconformism going back to Hobbes via Malthus. Spencer's ideas of evolution were Lamarckian. The only real connection between Darwinism and social Darwinism is the name. Evolutionary theory shows us that the long-term survival of a species is strongly linked with its genetic variability. All Social Darwinist programs advocate minimizing genetic variability, thus reducing chances of long-term survival in the event of environmental change. An understanding of evolution should then rebuke any attempt at social Darwinism if the long-term survival of humanity is treated as a goal. Eugenics and social Darwinian accounts are more often tied to the rise of the science of genetics than to evolutionary theory.

Geez. Now, I understand why you're misreading my posts now about social Darwinism. You're not thinking for yourself. Plagiarism is unethical. This marks the second time you have been nailed for it.

Indeed, you should cite your sources, and not give the impression that what you've wrote are your own thoughts:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Ul17Oc ... t&resnum=5

Evolution merely describes part of nature. The fact that that part of nature is important to many people does not make evolution a religion. Consider some attributes of religion and how evolution compares:

http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA610.html

There's nothing wrong with incorporating other's work in an argument, but the work should be cited. No huge sin, just a learning experience.

 

[Evointrinsic]

my bad, I usually remember to do that.

 

[Guest]

my bad, I usually remember to do that.

No worries, mate.