The Imminent Demise of Evolution. Imminent since 1878.

In recent reading, Dembski and other ID proponents make the claim that evolution (or major supporting concepts for it) is increasingly being abandoned by scientists, or is about to fall. This claim has many forms and has been made for over 185 years.

From: http://answersinscience.org/demise.html

It seems that some current commenters on the site are unaware of the long history of such claims.

To those commenters, I would ask – when do you predict evolution will fall?

1878: “There are some signs of this whimsical theory of Evolution soon taking another phase. Carl Vogt has given hints that perhaps they have, after all, made a mistake as to the line of descent. It may be found, he conjectures, that Man is not descended from the Ape family but from the Dog! “Other theories may soon be heard of–for the human mind is restless under the burthen of mystery.” Thomas Cooper, Evolution, The Stone Book and The Mosaic Record of Creation, (London: Hodder and Stoughton), p. 186-187

2008: “It is not too early to chart the intellectual course to the 22nd century. The 21st century may well mark a gradual disaffection with Darwinism, comparable to the 20th century’s loss of support for Marxism.”  Steve Fuller, Science vs Religion? Intelligent Design and the Problem of Evolution, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007, page 126

2017: “One would think that scientific, experimental evidence convinced Darwinists to change their mind… Unfortunately, just like many of my posts and comments have revealed, no such evidence has emerged…. ” TSZ

That last one there is from J-Mac, who apparently thinks evolution is on it’s deathbed but is also presumably unaware of the long long history of people making similar claims…

So, evolution denies, what year will it fall and why? What will be the final straw?

54 thoughts on “The Imminent Demise of Evolution. Imminent since 1878.

  1. Rumraket: Those questions are utterly irrelevant to whether it is true. Stop making it about your vain and selfish desire to get something out of it. The facts are what the facts are regardless of how they make you feel.

    It might be:

    Gene regulation differences between humans, chimpanzees very complex

    The team found 815 genes with differing mRNA expression levels but only 571 genes that differed in protein expression. In total, they identified an estimated 266 genes with mRNA differences that did not lead to changes in protein levels. They found similar results in rhesus macaque cell lines when compared to both chimpanzees and humans, confirming the trend.

    “Some of these patterns of mRNA regulation have previously been thought of as evidence of natural selection for important genes in humans, but this can no longer be assumed.”

    The study raises questions over why mRNA expression levels differ between species if they do not necessarily cause protein differences. .”

    Darwin rules… right or wrong…especially when the word ,b>complex is used instead of it doesn’t fit evolutionary narrative…lol

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131017144632.htm

  2. Allan Miller: Rather makes all these conversations somewhat pointless (we knew that already, of course!).

    🙂

    “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible that you may be mistaken.”

  3. Mung,

    “I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible that you may be mistaken.”

    I’d love to think I was mistaken. But after several years of observing word-gaming, cherry-picking and distortion, I have gathered much empirical evidence for my thesis.

  4. J-Mac,

    From the article:

    Gilad believes this study suggests that protein expression levels evolve under greater evolutionary constraint than mRNA levels, via a yet-uncharacterized compensation or buffering mechanism.

    Well, what do you know? Even more lucky accidents that turn into mechanisms!

    The theory of evolution is not done evolving yet! I wish some of the regulars here would vote for which one they believe in.

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