Ann Coulter on Evolution - 08-24-11

[FirmaFan]

Quoted from a recent little anti-evolution blurb written from Coulter:

It is a mathematical impossibility, for example, that all 30 to 40 parts of the cell's flagellum -- forget the 200 parts of the cilium! -- could all arise at once by random mutation. According to most scientists, such an occurrence is considered even less likely than John Edwards marrying Rielle Hunter, the "ground zero" of the impossible.

http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2011-08-24.html

It is so incredibly frustrating to live in a country that rejects so staunchly scientific evidence and research in favor of religious beliefs, despite the overwhelming (and readily available) evidence to the contrary. And it is people like this that are in the races for President of the country. Just look at Rick Perry's opinion on evolution. Not that personal opinion affects whether evolution is true, but it does affect what is taught to our children. Evolution is the single greatest discovery in biology, and probably the majority of us are alive now because of some application of the theory in modern medicine and technology.

Take, for example, the quote from Coulter above, posted 4 DAYS on her website. Then take this video from youtube posted 4 YEARS ago, summarizing what was made very public by a high-profile court case heard before a federal judge 6 YEARS ago. This is not when the evolutionary evidence was discovered, however...Coulter's argument was shown false by a person named Darwin, published in a book OVER 150 YEARS ago:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hW7ddJOWko[/ame]

Now, before everyone begins telling me how ignorant Coulter is, etc, etc, etc, showing how I'm just wasting my breath on her because pretty much everything she says is the musings of an ignorant fool, know that her opinions of evolution reflect the thinking of the majority of the population of the United States, with most not even having the flawed and repeatedly debunked arguments Coulter is parroting in her little blog; no, most reject the idea of evolution without even having a true understanding about what evolution actually says.

 

[kallipolis]

Now, before everyone begins telling me how ignorant Coulter is, etc, etc, etc, showing how I'm just wasting my breath on her because pretty much everything she says is the musings of an ignorant fool, know that her opinions of evolution reflect the thinking of the majority of the population of the United States, with most not even having the flawed and repeatedly debunked arguments Coulter is parroting in her little blog; no, most reject the idea of evolution without even having a true understanding about what evolution actually says.

Please provide a credible source which supports your assertion.

 

[jdbadboy]

Please provide a credible source which supports your assertion.

Various polls and studies show that most people either completely reject or only partially accept biological evolution and modern geology and cosmology. Hence all the young earth creationists that keep trying to ruin our education system.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/114544/darwin-birthday-believe-evolution.aspx

 

[jdbadboy]

Ann Coulter's views on evolution aren't just contradicted by Darwin but also by the 150 years of research and discovery that followed.

 

[Spiff]

She hasn't evolved yet, so I cut her some slack.

 

[cityboy-stl]

Ann Coulter is proof of the existence of de-volution.

 

[kallipolis]

Various polls and studies show that most people either completely reject or only partially accept biological evolution and modern geology and cosmology. Hence all the young earth creationists that keep trying to ruin our education system.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/114544/darwin-birthday-believe-evolution.aspx

The poll that you have quoted clearly states that 25 pct do not believe in evolution.

Your interpretation of your quoted polls is rather far off the mark.

 

[FirmaFan]

The poll that you have quoted clearly states that 25 pct do not believe in evolution.

Your interpretation of your quoted polls is rather far off the mark.

How would you interpret it if the poll read like this:

39%: Believe babies come from sperm-and-egg

25%: believe babies come from storks

36%: No opinion either way

1%: No answer

Yes - the evidence for evolution vs creationism is as definitive as the evidence of sperm-and-egg vs the stork. "No opinion either way" doesn't sound so neutral on the subject anymore, does it? "No opinion either way" displays much the same ignorance on the subject as those who outright reject it.

 

[kallipolis]

How would you interpret it if the poll read like this:

39%: Believe babies come from sperm-and-egg

25%: believe babies come from storks

36%: No opinion either way

1%: No answer

Yes - the evidence for evolution vs creationism is as definitive as the evidence of sperm-and-egg vs the stork. "No opinion either way" doesn't sound so neutral on the subject anymore, does it? "No opinion either way" displays much the same ignorance on the subject as those who outright reject it.

I have requested you to support your assertion with a credible source.

The quoted Gallup poll does not confirm your assertion. Rather indicates that 25 pct do not support evolution which rather rejects your assertion.

Coulter's opinion is not my issue. Your unsupported assertion is my issue.

 

[FirmaFan]

I have requested you to support your assertion with a credible source.

The quoted Gallup poll does not confirm your assertion. Rather indicates that 25 pct do not support evolution which rather rejects your assertion.

Coulter's opinion is not my issue. Your unsupported assertion is my issue.

Those who can look at the subject of evolution and declare "no opinion" are as ignorant as Coulter is on the subject. Those who accept the theory as fact are in a minority in the United States. Those who do not accept the theory as fact (which includes those who are too ignorant of the subject to be able to know) are in the majority.

 

[kallipolis]

Those who can look at the subject of evolution and declare "no opinion" are as ignorant as Coulter is on the subject. Those who accept the theory as fact are in a minority in the United States. Those who do not accept the theory as fact (which includes those who are too ignorant of the subject to be able to know) are in the majority.

I understand that you are unable to evidence your assertion that:

know that her opinions of evolution reflect the thinking of the majority of the population of the United States,

Clearly the Gallup poll provided by jbbadboy rejects your assertion when stating that 25 pct do not believe in evolution.

Your opinion on the beliefs of the rest of the Gallop sampling is merely your personal thoughts.

That's all I needed to establish.

 

[T-Rexx]

It is so incredibly frustrating to live in a country that rejects so staunchly scientific evidence and research in favor of religious beliefs, despite the overwhelming (and readily available) evidence to the contrary.

What I find troubling is not just that Americans cling to a Medieval understanding of the universe, but that a major political party in America does not want Americans to be educated in science and how the world works. Indeed, Republicans advocate the opposite - that religion be taught instead of science.

If the truth seems to undermine the divine authority that Republicans claim to tell us all how to live, then the truth must be destroyed. Anything that seems to conflict with their fundamentalist Christian world view - however valuable to mankind - needs to be crushed.

That kind of disrespect for America is treasonous.

 

[T-Rexx]

I understand that you are unable to evidence your assertion that:

know that her opinions of evolution reflect the thinking of the majority of the population of the United States,

The stupidity of Americans with regard to our denial of the fact of evolution is well-documented, kalli. So much so that I am not clear on why you would demand proof of this.

We are taught in school here that "evolution is just a theory" and that the idea that a divine creator materialized mankind into existence by inexplicable powers is an equally valid scientific explanation of how humanity came to be. Some school districts across American are legally obligated to teach this way. And Republicans want to generalize this requirement to the entire nation. Is it any wonder that we are stupid here?

Only 40% of Americans accept evolution as probably factual.

 

[FirmaFan]

I understand that you are unable to evidence your assertion that:

know that her opinions of evolution reflect the thinking of the majority of the population of the United States,

Clearly the Gallup poll provided by jbbadboy rejects your assertion when stating that 25 pct do not believe in evolution.

Your opinion on the beliefs of the rest of the Gallop sampling is merely your personal thoughts.

That's all I needed to establish.

I don't have a very high tolerance for ignorance. When a person "has no opinion" about the most firmly established of all scientific theories, I don't grant them the same leniency, or give them the same degree of credit, that you are. Now, again, if the subject were sperm-and-egg vs stork, I doubt very much you would be attempting to segregate those who believe in the stork vs those who simply stated they have no opinion. They are both equally intellectually appalling, and neither fall into the category of accepting evolution as fact, thus making those who accept evolution a minority.

 

[kallipolis]

What I find troubling is not just that Americans cling to a Medieval understanding of the universe, but that a major political party in America does not want Americans to be educated in science and how the world works. Indeed, Republicans advocate the opposite - that religion be taught instead of science.

If the truth seems to undermine the divine authority that Republicans claim to tell us all how to live, then the truth must be destroyed. Anything that seems to conflict with their fundamentalist Christian world view - however valuable to mankind - needs to be crushed.

That kind of disrespect for America is treasonous.

That a tiny, but highly vocal minority of Republicans support Creationist theories, does not translate into the majority of Americans supporting such bizarre notions.

The quoted Gallup poll indicates that some 25 pct of Americans do not support evolution.

I am never swayed by highly generalised politically driven opinions that are not supported by facts.

Maybe, I have more faith in the rational thinking processes of the American people.

 

[kallipolis]

The stupidity of Americans with regard to our denial of the fact of evolution is well-documented, kalli. So much so that I am not clear on why you would demand proof of this.

We are taught in school here that "evolution is just a theory" and that the idea that a divine creator materialized mankind into existence by inexplicable powers is an equally valid scientific explanation of how humanity came to be. Some school districts across American are legally obligated to teach this way. And Republicans want to generalize this requirement to the entire nation. Is it any wonder that we are stupid here?

Only 40% of Americans accept evolution as probably factual.

I am well aware of the position of many school districts in the United States.

I am also very well aware of my need to establish fact when I am discussing the matter of Creationist theories, with those who support such theories.

So far on this thread nothing has been presented that will enable me to reinforce my own deeply held anti Creationist beliefs.

 

[construct]

I understand that you are unable to evidence your assertion that:

know that her opinions of evolution reflect the thinking of the majority of the population of the United States,

Clearly the Gallup poll provided by jbbadboy rejects your assertion when stating that 25 pct do not believe in evolution.

I agree that many people who lack belief in the theory of evolution are not so knowledgeable as to be able to discuss the bacterial flagellum. And presumably that means that the majority of the population do not hold to her views.

Perhaps there's the rub. Perhaps you will agree that more than half Americans lack belief in the theory of evolution, and that less than half have belief in the theory of evolution.

 

[kallipolis]

I don't have a very high tolerance for ignorance. When a person "has no opinion" about the most firmly established of all scientific theories, I don't grant them the same leniency, or give them the same degree of credit, that you are. Now, again, if the subject were sperm-and-egg vs stork, I doubt very much you would be attempting to segregate those who believe in the stork vs those who simply stated they have no opinion. They are both equally intellectually appalling, and neither fall into the category of accepting evolution as fact, thus making those who accept evolution a minority.

You have failed to support your assertion when requested by me whom you know very well has countless times posted his anti Creationist opinions on this forum and on the religion forum.

If you wish your opinions to be taken seriously then support your assertions with facts that can be evidenced by linking to a credible source.

 

[construct]

So far on this thread nothing has been presented that will enable me to reinforce my own deeply held anti Creationist beliefs.

Did you watch the YouTube video in the first post? I think its analysis of the bacterial flagellum ought to give you some reinforcement if you didn't already know about it.

 

[kallipolis]

I agree that many people who lack belief in the theory of evolution are not so knowledgeable as to be able to discuss the bacterial flagellum. And presumably that means that the majority of the population do not hold to her views.

Perhaps there's the rub. Perhaps you will agree that more than half Americans lack belief in the theory of evolution, and that less than half have belief in the theory of evolution.

All I have noted so far is personal speculation driven by a hatred of Coulter and her opinions on Creationist theories.

Deductive reasoning encourages me to believe that if the facts were placed before the American people, then Evolutionary Theory would easily trump Creationist theory.