Religious Argument No.7

If evolution is true why are there still monkeys?

I’m sure we’ve all heard this one a million times over yet it always seems to come around again. I often think this argument is just thrown in to wind up the debating atheist…or maybe the religious fundamentalist is really just that stupid!

The most straight forward and simple explanation is that we didn’t evolve from the modern day apes but we did have a common ancestor (ltr 12 in the below image) with them which is why we share so much genetic information with them.

Image Source: http://www.talkorigins.org

Genetic analyses of modern day primates, along with extensive fossil records quite clearly demonstrate that we do share a common ancestor with modern day “monkeys.” For a more in depth view of this evidence see: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/section4.html

Religious Argument No.8

Charles Darwin recanted on his death bed

*facepalm*

Well what can I really say about this one that hasn’t already been said a million times before? I suppose I should cover the background of this fallacy to start; originally this lunacy was published by a Baptist newspaper, the author a Lady Hope. After this publication; spreading doubts over Darwin’s faith and veracity in his own works, Darwin’s family denied its validity stating that Lady Hope’s accounts were untrue. There have also been further evidences suggesting that Lady Hope’s statements were either entirely false or heavily embellished.

Even if Lady Hope’s claims were true however it would in no way lessen the veracity of evolutionary theory, do these religious apologists genuinely believe that the theory has not advanced or gained any further evidence over the last 100 years?

I believe the religious idea that throwing Darwin into doubt throws the entire theory into doubt is seated in their own beliefs, however scientific theory and religion are not the same; if Darwin were to be discredited it would not alter the veracity of evolution, the same cannot be said for Jesus.

Religious Argument No.9

Why do we never see any transitional fossils?

This is an especially aggravating argument as it is completely false as can be quite clearly seen in the below image:

Images copyright 2000 Smithsonian Institution

Anyone actually willing to look can find examples of transitional fossils within moments, why do I get the feeling that religious apologists just don’t want to see the evidence?

Religious Argument No.10

Evolution is just a theory – a guess with no evidence

The problem with this argument is unfortunately so simple it often gives me a headache when arguing it; a theory in biology is not the same as a theory in every day life, it has a different definition:

Scientific theory falls under this definition:

1. A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Whereas most religious apologists seem to equate it to these definitions:

4. Abstract reasoning; speculation: a decision based on experience rather than theory
6. An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

Definitions Source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com

There are literally libraries and museums full of evidence for evolution which (obviously I can’t put it all on here). A lot of clear concise evidence is provided in the following link: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/comdesc/section4.html