Why do so many people instinctively search for or believe in a God?

There are lots of psychological reasons. Why are we here? What happens after we die? Why do bad things happen to good people? To me it makes perfect sense that people want to believe in god. But that doesn't mean god exists. Whether we want god to exist or not, doesn't affect the reality of the situation. Yes, maybe it's comforting to believe there's a god. Yes, there are many unanswered questions about how we got here, and why we're here. But that doesn't make god exist.

Evolution does not rule out intelligent design. Intelligent design does not rule out evolution. If you cannot grasp that neither theory necessarily violates the other, you will continue to be a master herdthinker.

There is a plethora of scientific evidence to support Evolution. Where is the evidence to support ID? If it exists, someone please tell me where to find it.

Also: which scripture is the most accurate at describing god, and what he/she/it wants from us? Because the ID proponents seem to think the intelligent designer is the Christian god, but I don't see why that god is any more plausible than all of the others. Why the Gospels, and not the Koran?

Intelligent design works great in a philosophical setting. In fact, it should be brought up in philosophical academia. But it does not pass scientific scrutiny. And thus should not be taught in a science course.

Right, this is a problem, the ID proponents are pretending that ID is science, which it clearly isn't. And the strawman (one at least) of the Expelled movie, is that there is a movement in academia to muzzle discussion of ID, or of religion. But I don't think anyone is saying that religion shouldn't be taught; just that ID shouldn't be in the science classroom. No one is trying to banish religion, or the right of ID proponents to express their views. We're just saying, let's not pretend that ID is science, because it isn't. Keep religion in the religion classes.

Somewhere within your post, newberry, is the point that needs to be made about ID: it is not a scientific argument, but rather a theological one.

RR wrote:Evolution does not rule out intelligent design. Intelligent design does not rule out evolution. If you cannot grasp that neither theory necessarily violates the other, you will continue to be a master herdthinker.

newberry wrote:There is a plethora of scientific evidence to support Evolution. Where is the evidence to support ID? If it exists, someone please tell me where to find it.

Although I disagree with pretty much everything Rick has said here, I'm not sure he's disputing the science of evolution. He's saying that evolution's existence alone doesn't disprove ID and vice-versa. In fact, it is probably to the creationists's advantage to bow to the known science and chalk it all up to ID, regardless.

Dr. Geek wrote:Somewhere within your post, newberry, is the point that needs to be made about ID: it is not a scientific argument, but rather a theological one.

Yes, it's religion posing as science. Science doesn't "forbid" talk of god and religion, it's just that those things require a leap of faith, and with science that doesn't fly--you need evidence.

He's saying that evolution's existence alone doesn't disprove ID and vice-versa.

Yes, but so what? Evolution stands up because their is a ton of evidence for it. Forget about disproving--where is the evidence for ID? This logic of proving a negative is absurd; of course no one can "disprove" that god exists. You can't prove a negative, so show me the proof that ID is plausible.

Can anyone post sources that show evidence for ID? The kind of evidence we have for Evolution?

Dr. Venkman wrote:

RR wrote:Evolution does not rule out intelligent design. Intelligent design does not rule out evolution. If you cannot grasp that neither theory necessarily violates the other, you will continue to be a master herdthinker.

newberry wrote:There is a plethora of scientific evidence to support Evolution. Where is the evidence to support ID? If it exists, someone please tell me where to find it.

Although I disagree with pretty much everything Rick has said here, I'm not sure he's disputing the science of evolution. He's saying that evolution's existence alone doesn't disprove ID and vice-versa. In fact, it is probably to the creationists's advantage to bow to the known science and chalk it all up to ID, regardless.

Only someone without an understanding of evolution would claim that it makes an attempt at disproving the existence of a god.

Evolution does no such thing.

Why do so many people instinctively search for or believe in a God?

Vanity.

areopagite wrote:

Why do so many people instinctively search for or believe in a God?

Vanity.

Naw.

We want answers. Our curiosity about the world has led us to create explanations for that which we do not know. Hence why ancient civilizations had gods for things that they could not explain (fire, water, etc.).

Now that our curiosity has led us to answer those simple things, we are still left with the questions of why we are here? how did we get here? where are we going? and what happens after we die?

Science cannot offer an answer or an explanation for that, nor does it attempt to do such a thing.

But belief in a god does.

The question of why we search for god might be a good topic for another thread, but it's not that relevant to the question of whether ID is plausible or not. God either exists or not, regardless of our desire for a deity.

newberry wrote:Can anyone post sources that show evidence for ID? The kind of evidence we have for Evolution?

That's a straw man. Every rational and reasonably educated person understands that evolution happens in our physical environment. Christians believe this. But stating that evolution is the sole force behind our existence is a much different thing and one that goes against some basic scientific principles--just like a belief in God does.

areopagite wrote:

newberry wrote:Can anyone post sources that show evidence for ID? The kind of evidence we have for Evolution?

That's a straw man. Every rational and reasonably educated person understands that evolution happens in our physical environment. Christians believe this. But stating that evolution is the sole force behind our existence is a much different thing and one that goes against some basic scientific principles--just like a belief in God does.

What exactly is the straw man? My main point is that there is overwhelming evidence for evolution, but no good evidence, that I know of, for ID. Also, how exactly does "stating that evolution is the sole force behind our existence ... go against some basic scientific principles?" Which principles?

Does anyone here argue that ID is good science?