Comments on: Talkin’ Origins http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Templeton and Skeptics | Cosmic Variance http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-120691 Templeton and Skeptics | Cosmic Variance Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:39:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-120691 [...] mixed up with Templeton at all, and it’s been discussed a bit in our beloved blogosphere: see Bad Astronomy, Pharyngula, and Richard [...] [...] mixed up with Templeton at all, and it’s been discussed a bit in our beloved blogosphere: see Bad Astronomy, Pharyngula, and Richard [...]

]]> By: David Plumb http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-116160 David Plumb Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:49:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-116160 Any college students going? Two of my friends and I are flying from Ohio to go because we're nerdy enough to consider this a vacation (plus we're looking at CalTech for grad. school, so we're not completely insane). Anyway, I was just wondering. Any college students going? Two of my friends and I are flying from Ohio to go because we’re nerdy enough to consider this a vacation (plus we’re looking at CalTech for grad. school, so we’re not completely insane). Anyway, I was just wondering.

]]> By: MattFunke http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115763 MattFunke Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:07:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115763 I don't agree with Hugh Ross -- he seems to artfully ignore the volumes of evidence in support of common descent, for example, to support his notions of special creation. But at least he acknowledges (a) that the Bible doesn't seem the least bit interested in telling us how old the Earth is, and (b) that science is an excellent tool for getting answers to things like this. That's a heck of a lot more than a lot of Christians here in the States will give you. I don’t agree with Hugh Ross — he seems to artfully ignore the volumes of evidence in support of common descent, for example, to support his notions of special creation. But at least he acknowledges (a) that the Bible doesn’t seem the least bit interested in telling us how old the Earth is, and (b) that science is an excellent tool for getting answers to things like this. That’s a heck of a lot more than a lot of Christians here in the States will give you.

]]> By: IVAN3MAN http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115535 IVAN3MAN Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:28:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115535 If anyone is interested, you can download the Flyer (PDF) of the above mentioned conference from here: http://media.richarddawkins.net/documents/2008/SkepticConference08-lo.pdf If anyone is interested, you can download the Flyer (PDF) of the above mentioned conference from here:

http://media.richarddawkins.net/documents/2008/SkepticConference08-lo.pdf

]]> By: Macron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115518 Macron Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:30:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115518 I tried reading a Hugh Ross book once. He has some ridiculous views for an "apologist", like where he talks about sea mammals. He basically says "Whales couldn't have evolved; the transitional forms of whales were independently created at different times." I tried reading a Hugh Ross book once. He has some ridiculous views for an “apologist”, like where he talks about sea mammals. He basically says “Whales couldn’t have evolved; the transitional forms of whales were independently created at different times.”

]]> By: shane http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115512 shane Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:50:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115512 quasidog, I thought it was illegal to have more than one wife? quasidog, I thought it was illegal to have more than one wife?

]]> By: quasidog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115511 quasidog Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:30:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115511 god some of you guys are so bigoted god some of you guys are so bigoted

]]> By: Chew http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115412 Chew Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:37:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115412 What is thy bidding, my master? What is thy bidding, my master?

]]> By: Darth Robo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115392 Darth Robo Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:53:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115392 >>>" I’m a Hugh Ross fan. I’ve heard him speak a few times. He’s a good guy, and really believes what he’s talking about. I wish you could hear him speak sometime. I know he’s not going to change minds, but he may lend some credibility to the creationist position. Regarding the comment about Dr. Ross twisting the Bible into support for old earth creationism, young earth creationists are as good with theology as they are with science. Many solid theologians have no problem with millions of years." Heheheheheheeeheeeehehehe! Have fun, people! :) >>>” I’m a Hugh Ross fan. I’ve heard him speak a few times. He’s a good guy, and really believes what he’s talking about. I wish you could hear him speak sometime. I know he’s not going to change minds, but he may lend some credibility to the creationist position.

Regarding the comment about Dr. Ross twisting the Bible into support for old earth creationism, young earth creationists are as good with theology as they are with science. Many solid theologians have no problem with millions of years.”

Heheheheheheeeheeeehehehe! Have fun, people!
:)

]]> By: Mike R. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115354 Mike R. Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:05:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115354 I'm a Hugh Ross fan. I've heard him speak a few times. He's a good guy, and really believes what he's talking about. I wish you could hear him speak sometime. I know he's not going to change minds, but he may lend some credibility to the creationist position. Regarding the comment about Dr. Ross twisting the Bible into support for old earth creationism, young earth creationists are as good with theology as they are with science. Many solid theologians have no problem with millions of years. I’m a Hugh Ross fan. I’ve heard him speak a few times. He’s a good guy, and really believes what he’s talking about. I wish you could hear him speak sometime. I know he’s not going to change minds, but he may lend some credibility to the creationist position.

Regarding the comment about Dr. Ross twisting the Bible into support for old earth creationism, young earth creationists are as good with theology as they are with science. Many solid theologians have no problem with millions of years.

]]> By: Cheyenne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115351 Cheyenne Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:49:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115351 BA- not that it's really important but I figured out the issue with the alingment. I run Firefox 3, when I hit the "Minimize/Mazimize" button, and the browser sizes from full size to something less than that it pushes the text to align all the way to the left. Minor issue, solved, just thought you might want to know. BA- not that it’s really important but I figured out the issue with the alingment. I run Firefox 3, when I hit the “Minimize/Mazimize” button, and the browser sizes from full size to something less than that it pushes the text to align all the way to the left.

Minor issue, solved, just thought you might want to know.

]]> By: Torbjörn Larsson, OM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115349 Torbjörn Larsson, OM Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:47:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115349 <blockquote> Today, there is arguably no hotter topic in culture than science & religion. </blockquote> Yawn. <blockquote> cosponsored by the Templeton Foundation </blockquote> That explains it. Btw, wonder what rationalization got Sean Carroll to overcome his opinions about the TF? (IIRC he rejected to apply for one of their "religions is compatible with science" grants.) But yes, he is good. <blockquote> Panspermia </blockquote> Panspermia hasn't anything to do with origins of any kind, we can't explain origins of life with it. Panspermia, i it happens, would be part of evolution, explaining how already existing populations distribute and change into new ones. And it was decades or centuries since we described speciation as "origin of species". Btw, on that topic, I suspect the idea and term "origin of life" will soon be part of history as well. Seems we will be technically able to detect biospheres of exoplanets and research the environments where abiogenesis occur. As soon as abiogenesis is seen as a regularly occurring process, likely a few decades from now, it will be discussed as such analogous to evolution of species. Hmm, come to think of it, if inflationary cosmologies stands firm and implies that universes budding off is a regular process as well, maybe all of the former "origin" terms will pass to history.

Today, there is arguably no hotter topic in culture than science & religion.

Yawn.

cosponsored by the Templeton Foundation

That explains it.

Btw, wonder what rationalization got Sean Carroll to overcome his opinions about the TF? (IIRC he rejected to apply for one of their “religions is compatible with science” grants.) But yes, he is good.

Panspermia

Panspermia hasn’t anything to do with origins of any kind, we can’t explain origins of life with it. Panspermia, i it happens, would be part of evolution, explaining how already existing populations distribute and change into new ones. And it was decades or centuries since we described speciation as “origin of species”.

Btw, on that topic, I suspect the idea and term “origin of life” will soon be part of history as well. Seems we will be technically able to detect biospheres of exoplanets and research the environments where abiogenesis occur. As soon as abiogenesis is seen as a regularly occurring process, likely a few decades from now, it will be discussed as such analogous to evolution of species.

Hmm, come to think of it, if inflationary cosmologies stands firm and implies that universes budding off is a regular process as well, maybe all of the former “origin” terms will pass to history.

]]> By: Petrucio http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115287 Petrucio Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:27:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115287 Very cool stuff, but please, BRING FULL RSS FEED BACK! Very cool stuff, but please, BRING FULL RSS FEED BACK!

]]> By: Danny http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115286 Danny Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:26:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115286 Please bring back the full article in the rss feed! Truncation of is so [...] Please bring back the full article in the rss feed! Truncation of is so [...]

]]> By: Mike http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115279 Mike Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:20:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115279 Phil, I'm curious to know where you stand on the issue of Panspermia? Do you consider it a viable hypothesis? . Phil, I’m curious to know where you stand on the issue of Panspermia?

Do you consider it a viable hypothesis?

.

]]> By: Jen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115267 Jen Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:56:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115267 I have a special place in my heart for Hugh Ross. I was raised in the Church of Christ. (Church of Christ = Young Earth Creationism) I didn't know what evolution meant until I was about 18 years old. When I heard the "E" word, I would tune out because evolution, of course, was evil. Case closed. Well, I started asking questions as I got older, and no one in my church had the answers. I discovered Hugh Ross and Josh McDowell, another old-earth creationist, and thought it was safe to read their books because, after all, they were Christian. Long story short, I kept learning more and more about evolution and decided that my beloved church was wrong. Ten years later, I consider myself atheist and the world makes a lot more sense. Thanks, Hugh Ross! :D I have a special place in my heart for Hugh Ross. I was raised in the Church of Christ. (Church of Christ = Young Earth Creationism) I didn’t know what evolution meant until I was about 18 years old. When I heard the “E” word, I would tune out because evolution, of course, was evil. Case closed. Well, I started asking questions as I got older, and no one in my church had the answers. I discovered Hugh Ross and Josh McDowell, another old-earth creationist, and thought it was safe to read their books because, after all, they were Christian. Long story short, I kept learning more and more about evolution and decided that my beloved church was wrong. Ten years later, I consider myself atheist and the world makes a lot more sense. Thanks, Hugh Ross! :D

]]> By: Cheyenne http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115245 Cheyenne Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:38:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115245 BA- I'm using Firefox 3 but I think it was something on my end. I hit refresh and it worked fine. I like this new layout you have! In terms of how good or not good looking she is - She's a 7. Maybe a 6 1/2. But that's not really the thing- anybody heard her speak? A bit, um, shrill. Kind of high pitched. That really shouldn't matter, but it's a little annoying to hear. BA- I’m using Firefox 3 but I think it was something on my end. I hit refresh and it worked fine. I like this new layout you have!

In terms of how good or not good looking she is – She’s a 7. Maybe a 6 1/2. But that’s not really the thing- anybody heard her speak? A bit, um, shrill. Kind of high pitched. That really shouldn’t matter, but it’s a little annoying to hear.

]]> By: Jeremy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115238 Jeremy Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:31:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115238 I too am having issues reading your full posts using the feed in Google Reader. Has something changed with the BA feed that it only sends snippets instead of full content? I too am having issues reading your full posts using the feed in Google Reader. Has something changed with the BA feed that it only sends snippets instead of full content?

]]> By: MattGS http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115231 MattGS Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:23:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115231 It seems I'm the only male person who actually thinks she's not really that attractive. I can't really judge Jindal but at least he seems to be able to hide his crazy on most photographs I've seen of him. Can't say that about Palin, there's just something in her eyes and her smile that gives me the creeps. It seems I’m the only male person who actually thinks she’s not really that attractive. I can’t really judge Jindal but at least he seems to be able to hide his crazy on most photographs I’ve seen of him. Can’t say that about Palin, there’s just something in her eyes and her smile that gives me the creeps.

]]> By: Quiet Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115224 Quiet Desperation Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:05:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115224 <i>Regarding religion and science she doesn’t seem to be a much better choice than the dreaded Bobby Jindal. Apart from the excorcism maybe.</i> Um... she's better looking? Uh oh... Regarding religion and science she doesn’t seem to be a much better choice than the dreaded Bobby Jindal. Apart from the excorcism maybe.

Um… she’s better looking? Uh oh…

]]> By: Quiet Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115223 Quiet Desperation Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:04:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115223 <i>Yep. Minions. Picture Phil as Saruman and all of us as his Uruk-Hai. Wait…they lost, didn’t they. Umm…scratch that analogy.</i> Actually, I always sort of sided with Mordor. Theirs was a struggle against a decrepit old monarchy. :-) Yep. Minions. Picture Phil as Saruman and all of us as his Uruk-Hai. Wait…they lost, didn’t they. Umm…scratch that analogy.

Actually, I always sort of sided with Mordor. Theirs was a struggle against a decrepit old monarchy. :-)

]]> By: MattGS http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115222 MattGS Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:02:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115222 You've got to give the man credit. An old earth creationist speaking in front of a bunch of skeptics. That takes a certain amount of balls, I guess. Or delusion. Well, regarding he's a creationist, I suppose it's straight delusion. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to how this plays out. Btw. Phil, any comment on McCain's choice of VP? Regarding religion and science she doesn't seem to be a much better choice than the dreaded Bobby Jindal. Apart from the excorcism maybe. You’ve got to give the man credit. An old earth creationist speaking in front of a bunch of skeptics. That takes a certain amount of balls, I guess. Or delusion. Well, regarding he’s a creationist, I suppose it’s straight delusion. Anyway, I’m really looking forward to how this plays out.

Btw. Phil, any comment on McCain’s choice of VP? Regarding religion and science she doesn’t seem to be a much better choice than the dreaded Bobby Jindal. Apart from the excorcism maybe.

]]> By: Brando http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115216 Brando Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:33:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115216 I'm so there! I’m so there!

]]> By: Philippec http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115215 Philippec Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:31:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115215 @Phil: As previously said before: In Google Reader, I have to click and open the discover magazine blog to read you, which is very VERY (emphasis mine) annoying... Can it be fixed? @Phil:
As previously said before: In Google Reader, I have to click and open the discover magazine blog to read you, which is very VERY (emphasis mine) annoying… Can it be fixed?

]]> By: Jamie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/comment-page-1/#comment-115214 Jamie Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:25:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/03/talkin-origins/#comment-115214 Speaking of talks and such, will you be attending the Alberta Festival of Science again? I would love to get some notice this time so I can plan to attend. :) Speaking of talks and such, will you be attending the Alberta Festival of Science again? I would love to get some notice this time so I can plan to attend. :)

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