Why I Don't Believe in Intelligent Design

[confuseddave]

I was commenting on a Guardian thread which was locked down (not sure if it's a time thing or just that the debate was getting out of hand), which is a pity because there's an interesting comment I wanted to reply to from someone called Wice:

it's nice to meet someone, who, starting as an ID proponent, finally accepted evolution as a better

Comments

[wolodymyr]

This is great; thank you for it.

If I can haul out my little soapbox for a moment, I was really struck by the part where you said that no-one had tried to prove evolution to you - it was assumed. I think that happens a lot, and I think your reaction is an understandable reaction - "If we're just assuming things a priori, I've got something else to assume, thank you very much

[confuseddave]

Jesus, 14 separate jabs? I didn't know that. I don't remember how much we were given as kids... must have been four or five, including boosters.

Where are you from, incidentally?

(Apologies if I know you in person, I haven't twigged your username yet)

[wolodymyr]

The general increase in number of vaccinations: yeah, no-one mentions that when talking about the parents-vs-vaccination thing. At the same time, I don't think the debunking of the autism connection is getting anywhere near enough press, either.

I found you through neuroscience, and I'm from Los Angeles - where I was raised Catholic, and where I lapsed. I was a very sincere 2nd grader receiving Communion, though.

[confuseddave]

Yes, I figured this out after I asked by scanning your user info. ^_^ I'm surprised I attracted any readers from neuroscience, given I think I don't convey my opinions particularily well there. I'm kind of convinced everyone rolls their eyes whenever I post. This may be a general self esteem thing, every time I get a comment notification on this post I think it'll be someone saying "actually, you're a dick", too.

I only asked where you're from because I wondered if the vaccination regimen might be different between countries. I had a feeling that at least some of them were grouped together, but I'm not sure that's true...

And incidentally, as a regular reader of Ben Goldacre's Bad Science and Orac's Respectful Insolence, I come down pretty firmly pro-vaccine in principle, although I usually try to keep in mind that there are two sides to most stories.

[haggis]

Interesting. I think I flirted with the young earth creationism idea (I suspect from reading the same book) and then decided it seemed a bit unconvincing. However, I can't say for sure whether it was a logical argument against it or just that everyone else seemed convinced by evolution.

I drifted into 'day age creationism' and then into accepting evolution as a scientific theory, completely separate from the question of whether God exists. I think one of the key idea for me was that God shouldn't be a 'God of the gaps', needed to fill in the bits of science we don't understand and therefore constantly shrinking as science progresses. Evolution didn't negate my faith, any more than the idea that the earth orbits the sun.

Then I fell out with God and organised religion and getting away from church-think helped me see how much of it was circular arguments and motivated by group dynamics, not spiritual concerns. I am now basically agnostic - I can see how you can believe but don't feel it myself.

[confuseddave]

My relationship with God was a kind of subtext to this story that I haven't really gone into. Obviously creationism was a direct effect of a belief in the inerrancy of scripture (although I don't think I was ever a literalist, I considered Genesis to be a direct allegory for the history of the universe). Oddly, I don't think I ever particularily liked Christianity; I was simply convinced it was true. I remember being bewildered by pagan friends at university who chose their religion because it reflected their personality - I didn't believe in Christianity because I liked it, I believed it because I honestly thought it was true

[astatine210]

In related stuff: this.

[confuseddave]

I lol'd.

[ocean_depths]

A nice post. My views are mostly very similar to those listed above, but far more unsubstantiated (by the stories read at various one-off services I visited) Can't think why anyone should find your opinions/thoughts badly conveyed mr D! Or is it Dr D now? :/

PS I'm getting the feeling that my questions always get rolled eyes in medical forums now... OU masters sponsored by work, forum people are showing me how much different backgrounds influence how intelligent you appear in various different capacities. It can be quite scary how intelligent people seem in one area, but then when asked about another they completely flounder :/