CNN - Ancient Boy's Skeleton Sparks Evolution Debate

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
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CNN Link

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Deep in the dusty, unlit corridors of Kenya's national museum, locked away in a plain-looking cabinet, is one of mankind's oldest relics: Turkana Boy, as he is known, the most complete skeleton of a prehistoric human ever found.

But his first public display later this year is at the heart of a growing storm -- one pitting scientists against Kenya's powerful and popular evangelical Christian movement. The debate over evolution vs. creationism -- once largely confined to the United States -- has arrived in a country known as the cradle of mankind.

"Whether the bishop likes it or not, Turkana Boy is a distant relation of his," Leakey, who founded the museum's prehistory department, told The Associated Press. "The bishop is descended from the apes and these fossils tell how he evolved."

You just gotta hate it when factual evidence contradicts someone's shallow beliefs.
 

Arcex

Senior member
Mar 23, 2005
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Obviously God put that skeleton there to test our faith in the face of blindingly obvious facts, what else could it be?


Oh yeah, reality, that's what it's called.
 

DAPUNISHER

Super Moderator CPU Forum Mod and Elite Member
Super Moderator
Aug 22, 2001
29,559
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Last night on Ancient Discoveries, they were showing all the sophisticated inventions Heron of Alexandria devised for the priests of various cults/religions, including the Christians. Technology designed to make the followers believe the gods were present and showing their powers. He even developed the first vending machine, put in a coin, get some holy water. Ironical that science&technology once helped perpetuate religion, and now is seen as the enemy.


P.T. Barnum said- ?More persons, on the whole, are humbugged by believing in nothing, than by believing too much?
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
76
Originally posted by: Arcex
Obviously God put that skeleton there to test our faith in the face of blindingly obvious facts, what else could it be?


Oh yeah, reality, that's what it's called.

It's probably a repost, but worth it :)

I don't really see why some people seem to feel evolution challenges their faith so much. They're just as bad as people like Dawkins. There is no contradiction, so get over it.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
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As a Christian myself I personally dont see this discovery disagreeing with my faith. It neither proves nor disproves anything really.

*shrug* Just MHO
 

CityShrimp

Member
Dec 14, 2006
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Originally posted by: blackangst1
As a Christian myself I personally dont see this discovery disagreeing with my faith. It neither proves nor disproves anything really.

*shrug* Just MHO

Agree. I think some Christians are offended by evolution because evolution indicates that humans are the same as all the other animals, except smarter. But this contradicts with the Bible, which states that men are created in the image of God. Oh, and Christians don't appreciate how evolution implies that it was through random chances that we are who we are today.
 

Arcex

Senior member
Mar 23, 2005
722
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0
Originally posted by: Strk
Originally posted by: Arcex
Obviously God put that skeleton there to test our faith in the face of blindingly obvious facts, what else could it be?


Oh yeah, reality, that's what it's called.

It's probably a repost, but worth it :)

I don't really see why some people seem to feel evolution challenges their faith so much. They're just as bad as people like Dawkins. There is no contradiction, so get over it.

I know, I just like going for the easy laugh.

I understand that at a fundamental level Creationism and Evolution do not contradict each other, it just gets my goat when people argue certain facts. I mean, even the Vatican gives a nod to evolution every once and a while, and I've talked to people who will call me a liar for saying that. I was admittedly responding to an attack that hasn't happened yet.

But it is only a matter of time...
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
73,286
6,350
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The good news is that that segment of Christianity that denies evolution will eventually fall and disappear just as the segment of Christianity did which could not accommodate a heliocentric solar system.
 

GoPackGo

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 2003
6,459
527
126
Evolution with Divine influence.

God occassionally smites a species he doesn't like.
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
76
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
The good news is that that segment of Christianity that denies evolution will eventually fall and disappear just as the segment of Christianity did which could not accommodate a heliocentric solar system.

One can only hope.

It would be nice if evolution really didn't exist, as disease would be something quite easy, relatively speaking, to deal with, among other things.
 

Arcex

Senior member
Mar 23, 2005
722
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0
Originally posted by: GoPackGo
Evolution with Divine influence.

God occassionally smites a species he doesn't like.

I'm guessing he kept the platypus around for laughs, and to drive biologists nuts.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
34,003
8,036
136
Africa has some serious religious indoctrination problems. I guess the big issue stems from defending their religion, because some man-made book has a story telling us the planet is X years old.

I was never taught creationism and I find nothing scared from that which man has written for himself. True religion comes from ones self respect and goodwill. No one needs instructions, a cult following, or multi-million dollar buildings to have that. To defend petty details, I feel, is to miss the greater importance behind religion.

It is sad, that so many will fight over the details of a disproved man-made fantasy when they have something much more critical and important to work on.
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
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Originally posted by: Jaskalas
Africa has some serious religious indoctrination problems. I guess the big issue stems from defending their religion, because some man-made book has a story telling us the planet is X years old.

If you're refering to the Bible, no where does it contain any such thing as " the planet is X years old."

Fern
 

slsmnaz

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2005
4,016
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0
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: BDawg
You just gotta hate it when factual evidence contradicts someone's shallow beliefs.

:laugh:

I see you laugh but you do the exact same thing with ALL your posts.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
Originally posted by: BDawg
CNN Link

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Deep in the dusty, unlit corridors of Kenya's national museum, locked away in a plain-looking cabinet, is one of mankind's oldest relics: Turkana Boy, as he is known, the most complete skeleton of a prehistoric human ever found.

But his first public display later this year is at the heart of a growing storm -- one pitting scientists against Kenya's powerful and popular evangelical Christian movement. The debate over evolution vs. creationism -- once largely confined to the United States -- has arrived in a country known as the cradle of mankind.

"Whether the bishop likes it or not, Turkana Boy is a distant relation of his," Leakey, who founded the museum's prehistory department, told The Associated Press. "The bishop is descended from the apes and these fossils tell how he evolved."

You just gotta hate it when factual evidence contradicts someone's shallow beliefs.


umm what factual evidence? there is none, zip, nada shred of evidence that Homo Erectus is related to Homo sapiens.
 

shadow9d9

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
8,132
2
0
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: BDawg
CNN Link

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Deep in the dusty, unlit corridors of Kenya's national museum, locked away in a plain-looking cabinet, is one of mankind's oldest relics: Turkana Boy, as he is known, the most complete skeleton of a prehistoric human ever found.

But his first public display later this year is at the heart of a growing storm -- one pitting scientists against Kenya's powerful and popular evangelical Christian movement. The debate over evolution vs. creationism -- once largely confined to the United States -- has arrived in a country known as the cradle of mankind.

"Whether the bishop likes it or not, Turkana Boy is a distant relation of his," Leakey, who founded the museum's prehistory department, told The Associated Press. "The bishop is descended from the apes and these fossils tell how he evolved."

You just gotta hate it when factual evidence contradicts someone's shallow beliefs.


umm what factual evidence? there is none, zip, nada shred of evidence that Homo Erectus is related to Homo sapiens.

Muahaha.. it is all one big conspiracy!
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
The good news is that that segment of Christianity that denies evolution will eventually fall and disappear just as the segment of Christianity did which could not accommodate a heliocentric solar system.

And the converse is true also ;) The die hard evolutionists will fade away as well.
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
76
Originally posted by: blackangst1
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
The good news is that that segment of Christianity that denies evolution will eventually fall and disappear just as the segment of Christianity did which could not accommodate a heliocentric solar system.

And the converse is true also ;) The die hard evolutionists will fade away as well.

I don't exactly get the whole "die hard evolutionists" BS. Yes, you have some people like Dawkins who just hate religion, but seriously, wtf is up with the rest of the claim?
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
Originally posted by: shadow9d9
Originally posted by: Citrix
Originally posted by: BDawg
CNN Link

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Deep in the dusty, unlit corridors of Kenya's national museum, locked away in a plain-looking cabinet, is one of mankind's oldest relics: Turkana Boy, as he is known, the most complete skeleton of a prehistoric human ever found.

But his first public display later this year is at the heart of a growing storm -- one pitting scientists against Kenya's powerful and popular evangelical Christian movement. The debate over evolution vs. creationism -- once largely confined to the United States -- has arrived in a country known as the cradle of mankind.

"Whether the bishop likes it or not, Turkana Boy is a distant relation of his," Leakey, who founded the museum's prehistory department, told The Associated Press. "The bishop is descended from the apes and these fossils tell how he evolved."

You just gotta hate it when factual evidence contradicts someone's shallow beliefs.


umm what factual evidence? there is none, zip, nada shred of evidence that Homo Erectus is related to Homo sapiens.

Muahaha.. it is all one big conspiracy!

You can muahaha and bwahahaha all you want...the fact is he's right.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
I still don't know why anyone would have a problem with saying that we descended from ape-like ancestors. That was millions of years ago!!! Doesn't that say something to our species' credit, and to the credit of our ancestors? We were survivors, we were good enough to live through all that nature could throw at us, in order to get to where we are today. Why would that not cast humanity in a positive light?