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Download Word Count: 1046 Questions on the origin of life and of the universe
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Word Count: 1046 Questions on the origin of life and of the universe must have challenged human curiosity and imagination as soon as early man had time for activities other than survival. In 1859, Charles Darwin published the Origin of Species, and since then, people have debated between the creationism and evolutionism theories. The theory of evolution has been supported only through various religious writings, particularly the Bible. Creationists believe in a divine creator, God. Creationism has a broad range of beliefs involving a reliance on God’s miraculous work to explain the origin of the universe, of life, and of the different kinds of plants and animals on Earth. According to the creationist view, God willed everything into existence, and this is how humans came onto the Earth. Creationists say that the evolution theory is biased and incomplete. They believe that the fossil records fail to provide a link between diverse groups. To find out how old fossils are, scientists use a method called radioisotope dating, which measures the amount of uranium or lead lost over the years. Creationists deny evidence from this testing because they assume no uranium or lead has been lost over the years. The process of evolution, which all living things developed from unicellular organisms, over billions of years Exactly how evolution occurs is still debated but it is a scientific fact that it does occur. Most biologists believe that the modern theory of evolution arose from a history of mutations either physically or chemically and it is still occurring. All organisms can be traced back to a common ancestor from inanimate matter. The science of paleontology or the study of life provides the most direct proof of evolution in the past through fossil remains or impressions, usually in rock. Other evidence comes from comparative studies of living animals and plants, including their structure and geographical locations. “Mollusks and vascular plants account for more than 80 percent” (Futuyma 87) of the world’s species, with about “1.4 to 1.8 million species” (Futuyma 87) in all. Changes occur in living organisms to help increase their adaptability, or potential for survival and reproduction, in the face of changing environments. Evolution apparently has no built-in direction or purpose. A given kind of organism may evolve only when it occurs in a variety of forms differing in hereditary characteristics, or traits, that are passed from parent to offspring. By chance, some varieties prove to be poorly adapted to their current environment and thus disappear, whereas others prove to be adaptive, and their numbers increase. The elimination of the unfit, or the "survival of the fittest," is known as natural selection because it is nature that discards or favors a particular variant. Basically, evolution takes place only when natural selection operates on a population of organisms containing diverse inheritable forms. Creationists have gone back to the basic laws of nature to see if evolution is physically possible given enough time and opportunity. The one major problem that they see is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. It states, "All natural systems degenerate when left to themselves". This is why everything falls apart and decays over time. Creationists point to death as being the ultimate manifestation of this law. This physics principle does not allow for something as complex as the human eye to originate from something simple. The eye must follow the tendency for complete degeneration. Creationists see a downward spiral for every living and non-living creation. Everything breaks down into simpler substances; they do not become more complex. Creationists say that, in the real world the long-term flow is downhill, not uphill. An experimental and physical observation appears to confirm that the law is indeed universal, affecting all natural processes in the long run. The evolutionists do not see the Second Law of Thermodynamics as a contradiction to evolutionary processes, because as it “specifically states that the entropy of a closed system cannot decrease. The law pertains to closed systems. The earth, and therefore evolution, is not a closed system” (Creation Science FAQ) As we know, there are no closed system on earth, “so in no way can any living system on Earth directly violate the second law” (Creation Science FAQ) Therefore, this argument is invalid. The age of the universe, perhaps billions of years old, shows that life has had lots of time to evolve from single celled organisms to what we are today. Through fossils, and other evidences, it shows that humans came from primates, which is not surprising, since we are almost physically identical to a chimpanzee. In the beginning, very simple life forms began gradually appearing. These simple life forms gradually changed to complex ones, and there have been transitional ‘links’ between the different kinds, such as fishes and primates. They both have the same types of bones, for example, forearms, wrists, elbows, upper arms, and shoulders. They seem to be related to a common ancestor. The Bible says that an omnipotent being, created the earth and everything on it in 6 days. He also created everything out of nothing. This is literally impossible, it challenges all physics laws, so it cannot be done. The only proof that Creationists have of the origin of life is the Bible. Evolutionists have much more proofs or evidence of how humans appeared on the earth. The Bible, whether intended literally or figuratively, is definitely an important piece of literature. To believe that the age of the earth is only 10,000 years old does not support the validity of the creationists. To many scholars, the Bible is a figurative book of parables, not to be taken literally. The use of the Bible may be hindering, instead of supporting, the validity of the creationist’s arguments. It is clear that evolution is much clearer to understand and accept than the creationism theory. There will always be people who will still be curious as to how we appeared on the earth, and some people will oppose the evolution theory, therefore, the evolutionism/creationism debate will forever continue. Works Cited Creation Science FAQ http://www.clubs.psu.edu/origins/faqsci.htm Drew Thinks About Evolutionism vs Creationism. http://petra.austinc.edu/arayburn/evolve.html Futuyma, Douglas J. Evolutionary Biology. 3rd ed. Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates inc., 1997. General QH 366.2.F87 Montagu, Ashley, ed. Science and Creationism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1984. General QH 371.S343 Strahler, Arthur N. Science and Earth History. The Evolution/Creation Controversy. New York: Prometheus Books, 1987. BS 652.S7 Keywords: word count questions origin life universe must have challenged human curiosity imagination soon early time activities other than survival charles darwin published origin species since then people have debated between creationism evolutionism theories theory evolution been supported only through various religious writings particularly bible creationists believe divine creator creationism broad range beliefs involving reliance miraculous work explain origin universe life different kinds plants animals earth according creationist view willed everything into existence this humans came onto earth creationists that evolution theory biased incomplete they believe that fossil records fail provide link between diverse groups find fossils scientists method called radioisotope dating which measures amount uranium lead lost over years creationists deny evidence from this testing because they assume uranium lead been lost over years process evolution which living things developed from unicellular organisms over billions years exactly occurs still debated scientific fact that does occur most biologists believe modern theory arose from history mutations either physically chemically still occurring organisms traced back common ancestor inanimate matter science paleontology study life provides most direct proof past through fossil remains impressions usually rock other evidence comes comparative studies living animals plants including their structure geographical locations mollusks vascular plants account more than percent futuyma world species with about million species futuyma changes occur living organisms help increase their adaptability potential survival reproduction face changing environments apparently built direction purpose given kind organism evolve only when occurs variety forms differing hereditary characteristics traits passed parent offspring chance some varieties prove poorly adapted their current environment thus disappear whereas others prove adaptive numbers increase elimination unfit quot survival fittest quot known natural selection because nature discards favors particular variant basically takes place only when natural selection operates population containing diverse inheritable forms have gone back basic laws nature physically possible given enough time opportunity major problem they thermodynamics states quot natural systems degenerate when left themselves this everything falls apart decays time point death being ultimate manifestation physics principle does allow something complex human originate something simple must follow tendency complete degeneration downward spiral every creation everything breaks down into simpler substances become more complex real world long term flow downhill uphill experimental physical observation appears confirm indeed universal affecting processes long evolutionists second thermodynamics contradiction evolutionary processes because specifically states entropy closed system cannot decrease pertains closed systems earth therefore closed system creation science know there system directly violate second creation science therefore argument invalid universe perhaps billions shows lots evolve single celled what today through fossils other evidences shows humans came primates which surprising since almost physically identical chimpanzee beginning very simple forms began gradually appearing these simple gradually changed complex ones there been transitional links between different kinds such fishes primates both same types bones example forearms wrists elbows upper arms shoulders seem related common ancestor bible says omnipotent being created days also created nothing literally impossible challenges physics laws cannot done proof bible evolutionists much more proofs evidence humans appeared whether intended literally figuratively definitely important piece literature does support validity many scholars figurative book parables taken literally hindering instead supporting validity creationist arguments clear much clearer understand accept than creationism there will always people will still curious appeared some people will oppose therefore evolutionism debate forever continue works cited http clubs origins faqsci drew thinks about evolutionism http petra austinc arayburn evolve html futuyma douglas evolutionary biology massachusetts sinauer associates general montagu ashley york oxford university press general strahler arthur history controversy york prometheus books Keywords General: Essay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, book reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research, book research, study help, download essay, download term papers