Posted by rpcman on July 02, 1998 at 14:12:21:
I noticed on the RfM board that someone said: The truly stupid are those persons who subscribe to abiogenesis. That asinine conjecture (championed by many of our lesser brethren in the scientific community) is a far greater fantasy than any that might exist in the theist community.
I haven't really studied the subject much, but let's compare the theories to see which is the 'greater fantasy'.
Biblical Theism: Man is created out of thin air (or dust if you like the Chapter 2 version). Woman is also created out of thin air (or the first man's rib if you like the Chapter 2 version better). Since man is made in God's image--God too must have been created out of nothing at all.
Behe Theism: Man (and everything else more complicated than say RNA) is created by evolution. An intelligent designer created these "irreducibly complex" items out of thin air or by some other supernatural means. This supernatural being's origin is still not explained. It is probably safe to say that this incredibly powerful and complex deity came into being from nothing at all.
Deism: A supernatural being creates the universe. It is probably safe to say that this incredibly powerful and complex deity came into being from nothing at all.
"The truly stupid" in the scientific community: Organic self-replicators came into being from a primordial soup.
Which of the above is most plausible and why? Which of the above 'conjectures' is most 'asinine' and why? Are there any other possibilities which are more believable?