Bogus numbers in the Evolution book

B_Deserter

Does anyone know how they come up with statements like how the chances of the Genesis account being right on the progression of life (which it wasn't, actually) was 1 in 3,000,000+ or something? It seems like the ol' blue book was written by someone who failed statistics in college.

Shawn10538

They probably just made it up. There was a post awhile back describing an encounter someone had with Harry Paloyan who supposedly wrote the Creation book. Apparently they took a lot of things totally out of context from the people they quoted.

AlmostAtheist

http://creationwiki.org/Genesis_1_got_the_order_of_events_right

They weren't the first to say that sort of thing. I was amazed when I was in pioneer school and happened to see a tv show about evolution-vs-creation. All the arguments they put forth were the same ones the Creation book used. I thought at the time, "Wow, they must've gotten ahold of a Creation book!". Idiot... :-)

Dave

stillajwexelder

***

cechap.3pp.36-37par.34WhatDoesGenesisSay?***

The science of mathematical probability offers striking proof that the Genesis creation account must have come from a source with knowledge of the events. The account lists 10 major stages in this order: (1) a beginning; (2) a primitive earth in darkness and enshrouded in heavy gases and water; (3) light; (4) an expanse or atmosphere; (5) large areas of dry land; (6) land plants; (7) sun, moon and stars discernible in the expanse, and seasons beginning; (8) sea monsters and flying creatures; (9) wild and tame beasts, mammals; (10) man. Science agrees that these stages occurred in this general order. What are the chances that the writer of Genesis just guessed this order? The same as if you picked at random the numbers 1 to 10 from a box, and drew them in consecutive order. The chances of doing this onyourfirsttry are 1 in 3,628,800! So, to say the writer just happened to list the foregoing events in the right order without getting the facts from somewhere is not realistic.

The MATH is correct - the odds are 1 in 3,628,800 (factorial 10)

Leolaia

There was a post awhile back describing an encounter someone had with Harry Paloyan who supposedly wrote the Creation book. Apparently they took a lot of things totally out of context from the people they quoted.

Here is a funny quote from the Society:

"But it must be borne in mind that in quoting a person's statement or presentation of facts, one does not have to agree with the interpretation put on those facts. For example, Jehovah's witnesses have published the book, Did Man Get Here by Evolution or by Creation?, in which a number of quotations are made from publications written by those who endorse the evolution theory. These authors looked to as authorities may have taken facts and put a certain interpretation on them in order to back up their evolutionary ideas. We, in quoting the facts, do not oblige ourselves to agree with the conclusions or interpretations presented by the authorities we quoted" (Letter from the Watchtower BIble and Tract Society to Caris, 27 June 1974, p. 1).

AlmostAtheist

>>We, in quoting the facts, do not oblige ourselves to agree with the conclusions or interpretations presented by the authorities we quoted"

"There is no God" -- Psalms 14:1

Dave

Awakened07

I think it's "funny" how they some times will use science to show how they are right ("Science agrees that these stages occurred in this generalorder. What are the chances that the writer of Genesis just guessed this order?", implying that science is correct when it comes to the order), but at the same time won't accept that you should apply scientific method to other things. As soon as something in the Bible contradicts science, then suddenly it "doesn't matter", because "Everything is possible for God". But if everything is possible for God, why quote science at all to support your view?

Here's a nice quote from Insight Vol. 1, page 610:

"Various explanations have been offered as to how the waters [water canopy] was held aloft until the Flood and as to the processes that resulted in it's falling. But these are only speculative. The Bible says simply that God made the expanse with waters above it and that he brought the Deluge. His almighty power could easily accomplish it."

In other words; "We know that this water canopy story can't be explained scientifically, so let's just say God can do anything he wants."

Then why sometimes quote scientists at all? What's the point? Anything can be explained away by supernatural powers. 'God could easily hold up the waters and let them go in such a way that it wouldn't harm life and wouldn't cause temperature and pressure changes'. Well - if so, there is no point in trying to explain why science is wrong in it's dating methods, or try to make the creation story fit the general order of events that science professes. God could have created everything two days ago if he wanted, with everything we know and remember intact. He can do anything.

funkyderek

stillajwexelder:

The MATH is correct - the odds are 1 in 3,628,800 (factorial 10)

Absolutely, but that's the only part that is. For the number they come up with to be significant, several assumptions have to be made: firstly, that the events of creation can be correctly divided only into exactly ten events, and secondly that these events are independent of each other. Obviously, both these assumptions are glaringly incorrect. Genesis after all divides events into six days, not ten. And clearly the "beginning" can't be anywhere except at the beginning, reducing the odds by a factor of ten. The earth being dark is not an event and can clearly not follow the creation of light which itself must occur before the existence of plants and animals.

Add to this the fact that scientists absolutely do not agree with this order, and you have the final blow in the embarrassing farce that is the Watchtower's best attempt at logic.

stillajwexelder

Funky Dereck - I swear to you I am not defending the Watchtower. One trip to the Grand Canyon museum dispelled the myth of Creation a long time ago. The WTS are notoriosu for picking random pieces of information and splicing them together to suit their purpsoes

M.J.

The chances for things to happen every day, in just the way they happened, are a trillion [or insert any ridiculously high number you like] to one.

Bogus numbers in the Evolution book

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