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From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: What is this thing called life?
Message-ID: <522@cybvax0.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-May-85 13:56:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: cybvax0.522
Posted: Wed May  8 13:56:05 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 10-May-85 22:14:35 EDT
References: <993@uwmacc.UUCP> <3674@alice.UUCP> <301@scgvaxd.UUCP> <1514@hao.UUCP> <308@scgvaxd.UUCP>
Reply-To: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
Lines: 37

In article <308@scgvaxd.UUCP> dan@scgvaxd.UUCP (Dan Boskovich) writes:
>   Punctuationist: Gradualism is out. NO EVIDENCE!!
> 
>   Gradualist: Punctuationism is ridiculous. Hopeful monsters are a myth!
> 
>   Creationist: I agree with both of your last comments!
> 
>   Gradualist and Punctuationist: Shut up! What an unscientific statement!
> 
>   Creationist: At least I'm consistent!

Tsk, tsk.  Such a gross oversimplification.  If I was foolish enough to
use this form of argument, I'd say "protestant, catholic, at least I'm
consistent in rejecting them."

The point is, that it is not the position that one takes which makes one
scientific or not: it is the reasoning and procedure used in arriving at
and supporting that position.

Creationism is driven by the scenario set by the Bible.  If the truth lies
outside of that scenario, creationists are restricted from finding it by
their dogmas.

Evolutionary theory is driven by the evidence of the history of life and
the earth.  Scenarios are proposed based on that evidence.  Numerous
scenarios have already been considered, accepted, rejected, and modified.

Gradualism and punctuationalism are not contradictory: both scenarios
may have taken place in the evolution of different lineages.  The question
is how important is each?  The purpose of the debate is to focus attention
on the evidence, to force both sides to marshall their best, to provide
direction for new research gathering new evidence.  Like many another
scientific debate, the resulting conclusion or synthesis will probably
incorporate both, as there is some evidence for each.
-- 

Mike Huybensz		...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh