Mormonism and Evolution

[_Buffalo]

So, are we to believe that God has a hand in every instance of every type of emergent property?

Yes as per the scripture (D&C 59:21). But not necessarily a direct hand imho.

Either he's involved or he isn't.

[_Franktalk]

So, are we to believe that God has a hand in every instance of every type of emergent property?

It depends on how you look at things. If you accept that God set the rules and boundaries for all things in the creation then yes He does have a hand in it but from the start. If however you examine the world and stop at some level of causation and just say it does what it does then one can say the creation sets it own boundaries and rules.

The self organization of atoms and molecules comes from their shape and charges. It is like shaking a box of parts they will eventually fall in line with some efficient pattern. One can believe that the creation was designed for life and the atoms and molecules were also designed or one can say all things happened by accident and all parts self organized.

[_Franktalk]

Does not follow.

Oh how easily deceived you are. The chemicals in your brain make you think that your life has purpose. That is so you don't kill yourself with depression. The strings on you were made millions of years ago. Don't you feel them? You need to eat now Buffalo, you need to be strong to get a mate. You need to find shelter now Buffalo we don't want you getting sick before you have offspring. And many more strings telling you what to do. Feel those strings Buffalo they come with your belief.

[_Buffalo]

Does not follow.

Oh how easily deceived you are. The chemicals in your brain make you think that your life has purpose. That is so you don't kill yourself with depression. The strings on you were made millions of years ago. Don't you feel them? You need to eat now Buffalo, you need to be strong to get a mate. You need to find shelter now Buffalo we don't want you getting sick before you have offspring. And many more strings telling you what to do. Feel those strings Buffalo they come with your belief.

It's fallacious to assume that one must be assigned a purpose from some third party (god) in order to have one. We each must determine our own purpose ourselves.

[_Franktalk]

It's fallacious to assume that one must be assigned a purpose from some third party (god) in order to have one. We each must determine our own purpose ourselves.

It took a while but leading you by the nose takes time. Your beliefs are so predictable just like mine are. Although you science types will never admit it.

If we have purpose and meaning it had to come from somewhere. And if we are the product of evolution then it had to come from the evolutionary process. Now please describe to me how evolution developed a purpose to life and a meaning to life? Please take your time and give me all of the details.

[_Buffalo]

It's fallacious to assume that one must be assigned a purpose from some third party (god) in order to have one. We each must determine our own purpose ourselves.

It took a while but leading you by the nose takes time. Your beliefs are so predictable just like mine are. Although you science types will never admit it.

If we have purpose and meaning it had to come from somewhere. And if we are the product of evolution then it had to come from the evolutionary process. Now please describe to me how evolution developed a purpose to life and a meaning to life? Please take your time and give me all of the details.

"Purpose" is entirely subjective, and the domain of sentient creatures. Decide your own purpose for yourself. Evolution is a purposeless process. Pretending your purpose was assigned to you by god is no more meaningful than choosing one for yourself - in fact, it's a lot less meaningful. But if you feel you're not up to it, and you need a third party to plan your life for you, I'm happy to help. From now on your purpose is to serve as a warning to others.

[_Franktalk]

"Purpose" is entirely subjective, and the domain of sentient creatures. Decide your own purpose for yourself. Evolution is a purposeless process. Pretending your purpose was assigned to you by god is no more meaningful than choosing one for yourself - in fact, it's a lot less meaningful. But if you feel you're not up to it, and you need a third party to plan your life for you, I'm happy to help. From now on your purpose is to serve as a warning to others.

Blah blah blah. Are you going to describe to me how evolution made a purpose to life and meaning to life or are you just going to avoid the question. If evolution is a purposeless process then how did we get one? If you embrace that evolution can't make a purpose to life then what we feel must be false. A big lie made by chemicals to trick us into certain actions that are needed by our god "natural selection".

So which is it? Do we have a purpose from somewhere we don't know where? Or are we tricked into thinking we have a purpose when in fact we do not? And the third option is that evolution gave us a purpose, just tell me how?

[_Quasimodo]

Blah blah blah. Are you going to describe to me how evolution made a purpose to life and meaning to life or are you just going to avoid the question. If evolution is a purposeless process then how did we get one? If you embrace that evolution can't make a purpose to life then what we feel must be false. A big lie made by chemicals to trick us into certain actions that are needed by our god "natural selection".

So which is it? Do we have a purpose from somewhere we don't know where? Or are we tricked into thinking we have a purpose when in fact we do not? And the third option is that evolution gave us a purpose, just tell me how?

Evolution doesn't care if your life has meaning or not. Evolution is not an entity, just a process.

If you have found some meaning, it's of your own invention. The process continues regardless of whether you believe in it or not.

If you have been tricked into believing in some purpose or other, you have tricked yourself.

Philosophers have been pondering the meaning of life for thousands of years. They are still wondering about it.

[_Darth J]

"Purpose" is entirely subjective, and the domain of sentient creatures. Decide your own purpose for yourself. Evolution is a purposeless process. Pretending your purpose was assigned to you by god is no more meaningful than choosing one for yourself - in fact, it's a lot less meaningful. But if you feel you're not up to it, and you need a third party to plan your life for you, I'm happy to help. From now on your purpose is to serve as a warning to others.

Blah blah blah. Are you going to describe to me how evolution made a purpose to life and meaning to life or are you just going to avoid the question. If evolution is a purposeless process then how did we get one? If you embrace that evolution can't make a purpose to life then what we feel must be false. A big lie made by chemicals to trick us into certain actions that are needed by our god "natural selection".

So which is it? Do we have a purpose from somewhere we don't know where? Or are we tricked into thinking we have a purpose when in fact we do not? And the third option is that evolution gave us a purpose, just tell me how?

If airplanes are so great, then how come they can't make burritos? Huh? Answer me that, if you can!

[_bcspace]

Yes as per the scripture (D&C 59:21). But not necessarily a direct hand imho.

Either he's involved or he isn't.

Sure. But how He's involved is another matter entirely.