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Debate Info

26
43
Yes, I don't see any proof No, you have to believe in it
Debate Score:69
Arguments:58
Total Votes:76
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 Yes, I don't see any proof (21)
 
 No, you have to believe in it (27)

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HoldTheMayo(5913) pic



Is it reasonable not to believe in evolution?

This is an entertaining evolution debate: Richard Dawkins interviews creationist Wendy Wright.

I've only watched the first 15 (out of 67) minutes. While I think evolution is scientific fact, it would be really hard to prove it in a conversation, and so far Dawkins isn't coming close.

At one point he tells her the evidence is there, she just needs to read an elementary science book. She should have said that her evidence is there too, and he just needs to read an elementary Bible. When he tells her to go to a museum, she should tell him to go to church, and so on.

Yes, I don't see any proof

Side Score: 26
VS.

No, you have to believe in it

Side Score: 43
3 points

It all depends on to what extent evolution is being advocated. Evolution does happen; it's why you need a flue shot every year. However, the Darwin's Theory of Evolution (humans coming from some sort of primitive ape-like thing) is just a theory. That is why it is referred to as a theory and not a law.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Doherty95(299) Disputed
2 points

The earth orbiting the sun is also a theory. A law and a theory in science mean different things, but both are supported by observation. A law describes an event, and a theory explains it.

Newtons law of Gravity and the theory of General Relativity show this. Newtons law describes gravity, but tells us nothing about what gravity actually is. Relativity on the other hand explains what gravity is.

Evolution explains and so is not a law.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
-SabeR-(3) Disputed
1 point

Ther Earth orbiting around the Sun is a fact not a theory.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Julius(201) Disputed
1 point

The Earth orbiting the Sun falls into the laws of motion.

Honnestly...

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Banana_Slug(845) Disputed
-2 points
kozlov(1754) Disputed
1 point

Theory- A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, esp. one based on general principles independent of the thing to be.

FYI. Gravity is a Law. It is not a theory www.astronomynotes.com/gravappl/chindex.htm

Please check some things before you decide to insult someone

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

Although I personally believe in evolution, I don't think it's unreasonable to not believe in it. Although I do think it's unreasonable to write it off as "not a possability".

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

Yes its reasonable not to believe in evolution it just doesn't make sense to me at all and it never will.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Elvira(3446) Clarified
2 points

Maybe you're trying not to understand it?

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Srom(12206) Disputed
2 points

I am trying to understand it so then I can study the flaws of it.

Side: No, you have to believe in it

I'm not saying that I don't believe in evolution.

I am agnostic, I don't really have a personal opinion on anything regarding religion, but what I do believe is that everyone should have the right to believe anything as long as it hasn't been disproved, and you have the right to disbelieve anything as long as it hasn't been proved - if you wanna believe in unicorns please do, just don't bother me with it.

Not believing in evolution is being ignorant, ignoring basic biology. So I think it is stupid to not believe in evolution.

BUT it is okay to not believe in Darwin's version of evolution. It hasn't really been proved that we come from monkeys.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Elvira(3446) Clarified
1 point

We don't come from monkeys, we evolved from a similar ancestor. Like sharks evolved from a similar ancestor as the clown fish, but didn't come from clown fish.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

It would be no more unreasonable than disbelieving in the law of gravity, theory of osmosis or genetic engineering. As outrageous as it would sound for someone to say "I don't believe in gravity", if you have tangible, replicable evidence for the contrary, then you have a good opinion. If you simply don't "believe" in them, then you look like a fool.

Evolution is occurring - dogs evolved from wolves, dinosaurs into birds, large cats (like lions) into small, domestic cats. Genetic modification and evolution go hand in hand - if you breed a group of dogs with different dogs (shepherds with pit bulls), you will be inducing directional selection, a method of evolution. Natural selection, as proposed by Darwin, isn't actually about "adapting" as it would seem when Giraffe's stretch their necks for leaves and eventually become completely long necked. Rather those with long necks were able to reproduce, passing along their genotypes.

So yes, all evidence points to the living primates (humans, gorillas, chimps, orangutans, baboons) as evolving from a common ancestor - meaning we didn't evolve from each other, rather we are distant cousins, part of a family with the same "grandpa".

In summation, if you have evidence (IE you've found through break through research that humans are not at all related to chimps or the other living primates OR you have arranged an interview with God to discuss how humans got here, you will be able to state that you do not subscribe to the theory of evolution. Otherwise, you can claim ignorance using the "un-educated" excuse, and it would be "reasonable", but foolish.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

There is proof for evolution, I will not deny that. But evolution only tells HOW humanity and other creatures evolve, not ORIGIN or anything else on that matter. That's what bothers about this theory.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Elvira(3446) Clarified
2 points

It doesn't need to, it is simply the explanation of the diversity of species. Take the famed comparison of gravity. We are only just touching on the 'why does matter attract' question with the higgs boson particle research. Not so long ago we had no idea at all.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Kittiana(154) Clarified
1 point

It's supposed to, actually, otherwise the other choice would be creationism. Is there a theory of creation? No.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

Absolutely. It is completely reasonable for people do disagree with the theory of Evolution. I completely do. Also, Evolution radicals make no sense at all.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Doherty95(299) Disputed
1 point

Is it reasonable to deny that germs cause some diseases?

Is it reasonable to deny the earth orbits the sun?

Is it reasonable to deny that atoms make up matter?

Evolution is as well supported by evidence as these three. If it is unreasonable to deny them, it is also unreasonable to deny evolution.

Every bit of evidence supports evolution, unless you can provide evidence against it, it is unreasonable to deny it.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
Doherty95(299) Clarified
1 point

Down vote without even responding, if you don't like what I put respond to it.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

I'm not saying I don't see any proof. But I don't see how it isn't reasonable when it is still just a theory up to the person if they want tot believe it or not.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Doherty95(299) Disputed
1 point

Theory means something different in science to what it does in everyday language. In science there isn't anything above theory.

The earth orbiting the sun, is a theory in science, the heliocentric theory. Atoms making up matter is the atomic theory and germs causing some diseases is germ theory. All of these would be unreasonable to deny, it is also unreasonable to deny evolution.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
Vermink(1944) Disputed
1 point

I can see why it is unreasonable to deny germ theory, atoms making matter etc. But with evolution there are different view points: The religious view point and the scientific view point it's up to the person whether they believe it or not I don't see how it is unreasonable to say "I think evolution is fake" it's just like saying "I think god is fake."

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

its unknown if there is a god, therefor no one can point fingers and say

"god exists evolution is fake" nor can people say the opposite.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Doherty95(299) Disputed
2 points

Whether God exists or not is irrelevant. Evolution happened, it is supported by mountains of evidence from Fossils, Embryology, Genetics, Geographic Distribution and Morphology.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
1 point

It is reasonable to, but most people will call you unreasonable for it anyway.

Micro evolution, that is inter-species evolution, is observable, so it's relatively fact (feel free to dispute it and try to prove it wrong, that's a perfectly reasonable position as well).

Darwin's Theory of Evolution however, particularly the premise that animals all originated from some primordial soup, land creatures came from fish, and that humans evolved from primitive monkey-creatures, is complete hogwash.

There's just no real substantial evidence for it. All they have are a couple sample of bones and half skeletons they "assume" are links in the chain, and refuse to consider any other possibility, like, a genetic mutation disease of a regular human, or a separate creature completely unrelated, or improperly identified (see brontosourus).

While there's plenty of evidence to the contrary. (Skeletons of Giants, footprints of man with dinosaurs, physiologically and anatomically correct artistic depictions of dinosaurs on old human ruins, and reports of living dinosaurs still today.

(I'm a creationist BTW, if you hadn't figured that out)

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
1 point

People have the right to beleive what they wan't to beleive. Espicially with evolution, as there is no morals at all in evolution, nor is it religion.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof

Since evolution is just a theory, it can be reasonable for a person not to believe in it.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
Cartman(18192) Disputed
1 point

Why do you not believe in gravity or germs?

Side: No, you have to believe in it
4 points

I don't find it at all reasonable not to believe in evolution. If you look really really hard and close at reality you will see a trend of constant evolution. Nothing ever just pops into existence. Evolution is like saying "I am declaring everything takes time to achieve the state of here and now". Creationists I find fail to rationalize the concepts of kinetic energy and potential energy. For potential energy to become kinetic energy it must first come into contact with... say a planet. From then the disaster (in our eyes) Evolves from one thing (asteroid hitting the earth) to another (Impact winter). The evolution of the phone is another good example. The prime one for life is sex. Proven time and time again that we take on the traits of our earlier ancestors in a random shuffle of genetic code. But honestly, if you're more comfortable believing everything just popped into existence the way it is since you were born then you got a hard lesson of reality to come to terms with. Sad fact is no one knows how old the universe is. How big it is or if an atom has a consciousness all it's own. They will try to tell you their best guess and that's what makes it theory. These creationist have to remember and respect the fact that the universe is incredible and we are sorting out things the best we can as fast as we can. To me the creationist doctrine is just a lazy (or ancient way) of explaining things in low detail through the use of symbology. However, it is just that. Symbolic...

Side: No, you have to believe in it
link6065(740) Clarified
1 point

Nothing ever just pops into existence.

At least at the magnitude of life appearing instantly much like it is now only 2000 years ago. quantum mechanics does have that quirky virtual particle that blinks in and out of existence. anyways, cheers.

Side: Yes, I don't see any proof
2 points

Again, the word believe. I don't believe in maths, or science, I know they exist. Evolution has been proven, there is countless evidence proving so, so I really don't see why you wouldn't. Unless religion says otherwise, and you completely bypass modern logic.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

Evolution is one of the most tested theories in science, and still there is not any contradicting evidence. Evolution has evidence from Fossils, Embryology, DNA, Geographic Distribution and Morphology.

Evolution is as well supported as any scientific theory, it is unreasonable to not accept it.

I've added a link to a video in which Professor Jerry Coyne talks about the evidence for evolution.

Why Evolution is True
Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

Also, this is a neat little video I'd like to add. .

The universe is an Illusion, But conciousness isn't.
Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

Not a vast amount of evidence? I have so many fossils in my house, including my (most definitely real!) ammonite bracelet on my wrist now, there are also fossil 'hotspots' I can name close to my home, including one exactly 150m from my house (loads some kind of prehistoric stretched cockle). There are so many fossils, so much evidence, how much does she need?

Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

Whereas i agree with the No side i dont think you HAVE to believe it. Its just unreasonable to not accept it. If you are ignorant of the evidence then of course you may not accept it but if you are a person with full knowledge of evolutionary theory and the supporting evidence for it then id say yeah, you should accept it. If youre not convinced by that then youre either in denial or just stupid.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

I don't think you have to believe in it, but with the new evidence surfacing, and the logic behind it takes quite a stretch now not to believe it.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

You don't need to look back in time thousands of years in order to prove evolution. It usually takes about 9 months. Every time a baby is born it is slightly different to the mother and father but at the same time inherits some of their characteristics. The fact that people change generation by generation is proof that evolution over millions of generations is at the VERY LEAST possible.

Side: No, you have to believe in it
2 points

We have no alternative to Evolution and it seems to works so....

Side: No, you have to believe in it

I actually have personally known people who genuinely believe in Creationism 100% and claim that evolution is stupid because monkeys and apes both still exist and that at least monkeys should have been wiped out of the theory were true.

I have, however, had the fortune of being raised by scientifically-minded parents.

I find it amusing how Creationists always struggle to understand that evolution isn't a mass conversion, it's more like a sub-species to begin with.

Side: No, you have to believe in it