the devolution of life

Been a lot of arguing in my local paper at the moment about creationism v atheistic evolution. Some bad arguments on both sides. I was thinking about it here are some thoughts:

Natural Selection works like this:
1) lots of genes
2) competitive environment
3) survival of the fittest
4) more suitable species developed, unhelpful/uncompetitive traits discarded, gene pool reduced

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that this results in a reduced diversity of genes as time goes on.

So as the theory goes another process is needed (on top of Darwin’s Natural Selection) to increase the gene pool – this is mutation (the hope in the random but improved new genes will be introduced into the system). Now I don’t want to get into the merits of whether or not this is a feasible scenario, I’ll leave that to others that understand mutation better than I.

We need a process to show how evolution is going to progress. But why? Why are we convinced life/nature is progressing? Why do we expect that species are being improved or progressing.

The species of the world are going extinct much sooner than we are seeing new species (ie genuine new evolved, not just western discovered) pop up. When we look back in the fossil record we see a vast array of creatures big and small, many complicated, that are not here today. When we look even at human populations we see that humans are becoming more homogenous not progressing to new diverse heights.

So here is what I think may be a more logical simple theory – there was a big diversity originally but now we are recessing/de-devolving from that point on though Natural Selection

“This smells like creation theory to me!!!” I hear you say. It’s not seriously, I am not convinced of creationism yet though I am pretty well convinced that Genesis 1 is poetic in genre. This not necessarily a Christian theory (though obviously it fits) any more than it could be a form of nihilistic view convinced things are heading towards a depressive destruction.

I think that we may have got the industrialisation of western society confused with the natural worId. Certainly humans seem to be able to function differently as they build on the learning of generations beforehand (whether this is for the better, or not, is the essay topic of leftie student’s dreams). I am wondering if we have been tricked into thinking that nature is following the same path (by whatever process – at first Lamarkism, now natural selection with beneficial mutation).

So I’ll leave it there, as for the local paper – it seems to me most of this sort of modernist arguing will probably be irrelevant soon anyway. Thanks to postmodernism, if I want to believe in de-evolution, that’s fine as long as it works for me.

sorry - will it lead to forgiveness?

Today is the day K-Rudd will apologise to the Stolen Generation of Aboriginals. I don't really have deep and meaningful thoughts to write about this except that I think it is brilliant.

Despite claims to the contrary, I don't think it is a very complicated issue. There are so many terrible things that were done to the original inhabitants of this land that were State sanctioned. The government should apologise for them.

I once did some thinking about forgiveness. Although I forget the wording exactly, the process has to look something like this: first the perpetrator needs to recognise and admit that they have done wrong and seek forgiveness, second the wronged person has to have the desire to forgive. Only then can the two affect real peace.

I guess what we seeing today is the first part - it has taken a long time. It may take a long time for the second part too, if at all. I don't know how the logistics of an aboriginal response would work. I guess from the statements of some groups already, different victims of the stolen generations will react differently.

My prayer is that many will take the unbelievable step of offering forgiveness back - not because they should or because it is fair (it's not) but to show they are of stronger character than those that enacted such horrible policy and to begin to heal a gaping wound of the nation.

Looking forward to the telecast at 9am!
Cheers