Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Privateer]

I posted this question in another thread but no-one responded, so here it is again.

If you don't accept evolution, how do you explain the fossil record?

There's a lot of interesting debate in some of the threads on evolution on stuff like how evolution works, how to explain gaps in the fossil record, mutation, biogenesis, and so on, but I'd just like to step back and ask something more basic!

It's all very well to pick holes in the theory of evolution but you've got to have an alternative and that alternative has got to take account of the fossil record.

For convenience, I've provided some possible answers in a poll. You can probably tell I don't take the other side seriously but honestly, if you can come up with another explanation that sounds reasonable, I'd love to hear it.

For me, the most logical one (although not the simplest - look out for Occam's razor) is that God created several different sets of dinosaurs, which got destroyed somehow, and then mammals. Not that I believe it for a second.

[seoulunitarian]

I do accept evolution, but I do not opt that the fossil record proves evolution. I chose the option that there have been multiple "creations" and extinctions.

Peace

[mnhnhyouh]

I cant vote for any options. I think evolution is the best explanation we have for all the current observations, but it cannot be proved.

While those who profess creationism use that to attack sience in general and evolution in particular, this is its greatest strength.

I believe that if you dont understand that, you dont understand science.

h

[Big_Bird]

[Manner of Speaking]

To answer your question more broadly, I think the fossil record demonstrates a number of things. First of all, it demonstrates that the history of life is far, far older than accounted for in the creation myths of many of the world's major religions. So even if you discount evolution as the mechanism for the origin of species, the fossil record clearly shows that the creation myths of the world's major religions do not correctly explain the origin and history of life on Earth.

Second, principles of ecosystem dynamics - and even animal behavior - which can be observed in present-day ecosystems and species can also be observed or inferred to have operated in ancient ecosystems and now-extinct species.

Third, there are numerous examples of species change through natural selection which can be observed in the fossil record, but to a certain extent this is superfluous to the debate as to whether or not species evolve. This is because evolution HAS been observed in action by scientists in present-day species, even in Homo sapiens, to cite the recent thread I started regarding milk digestion in East African peoples.

[mnhnhyouh]

[khyber]

and for the record, we are now "homo sapien sapien"

Anyways, the fossil records seems to indicate evolution but I really can't be convinced that it's anything near an airtight case.

[Bondrock]

[Junior]

[Junior]

[laogaiguk]

[Junior]

[mnhnhyouh]

[Junior]

[Bondrock]