Two kind of opposing points on this: 1. If you think …

Comment on Board requests progress reports from LSU administration by Bravus.

Two kind of opposing points on this:

1. If you think about it, the 15,000 mile distance is about the ‘shortest longest’ distance any species would need to cover. The earth is almost spherical, with a mean radius of 3,959 miles. If all species on earth started from a single point (Mt Ararat) then some species have to make it all the way to the antipodes of that point. Assuming there were no oceans in the way and they could travel in a straight line, that distance is going to be pi times the radius, or 12,437 miles. Of course, given that the surface of the earth is currently about 70% water, most paths would be *much* longer than that… even if we include land bridges that have since been submerged and so on. But 15,000 is a decent sort of estimate to work with.

2. Apparently cane toads are spreading *much* faster than the 3-4 miles per year required in the scenario Geanna laid out above: in Australia, since their introduction in 1935, they have spread across the country at a rate of 27-50 km per year (17-31 miles per year). Cane toads are particularly virulent and have no natural predators in Australia, so not all species are going to reach those rates, but taking them as a model at least there is no major problem getting them around the world n time…

Bravus Also Commented

Board requests progress reports from LSU administration
Wow, you really do continue to struggle with my ‘I don’t know’, don’t you? I claim nothing of the sort.


Board requests progress reports from LSU administration
(popping back in because I can’t resist ;-))

We’ve discussed this ‘speeded-up decay’ argument here on this site before. A speeded-up decay rate (by the required amount) would lead to massive amounts of heat and radiation, sufficient to kill all life on earth. Of course, it’s then possible to say ‘well, God shielded living things from the effects’. But that’s just piling ad hockery on ad hockery. God intentionally speeded up the rate of decay, but intentionally shielded the whole world from the effects of that speeded-up decay, except the atoms inside zircons… or radioisotopes generally. Why? What’s the purpose? To deceive us?

God has the power to do absolutely anything. That’s not the question. But (1) he is not capricious – he doesn’t do things, especially major things like this, for no reason and (2) the claim made here repeatedly is that he told us everything he did in the Bible… and there is no mention there of any event like this, or even a hint.

If they can establish a nuclear mechanism for changed decay rates, then they ought to publish it – they’d be well on the way to the Nobel Prize. As it is, they have no mechanism, they simply claim ‘God did it’, but with zero Biblical evidence.


Board requests progress reports from LSU administration
Thanks for your prayers, but I do what I do for my own reasons, and care not a whit for the reactions of ‘legalists’. I share what I enjoy because I enjoy it and think others might too. You’re in the same old game of condemning without understanding, which was dull (and occasionally amusing) back in the 80s but which I was completely over by the 90s and haven’t even really thought about in 20 years.

And now, that restful hiatus.Have fun, all, in fighting among yourselves again…


Recent Comments by Bravus

Ted Wilson: “We will not flinch. We will not be deterred.”
Interesting that he says he is very proud of the GRI when they clearly said during the discussion that there is ‘no model’ of scientifically credible recent creationism that can be taught in our universities.


“Don’t go backwards to interpret Genesis as allegorical or symbolic”
My guess on the two-thirds thing is that what is actually being said is ‘more than two-thirds’. 99% is more than two-thirds… that specific number was chosen, not as the actual vote-count, but as a break-point: some motions need a simple majority, some need a two-thirds majority… and the vote well and truly delivered that, and more.

Just my interpretation.


GC Votes to Revise SDA Fundamental #6 on Creation
Excellent, excellent post above. J. Knight.


“Don’t go backwards to interpret Genesis as allegorical or symbolic”
(that should be ‘place in the church’)


“Don’t go backwards to interpret Genesis as allegorical or symbolic”
Bobbie Vedvick, the quote you asked about was a parody, penned by me.

Faith (and many others in this thread), the comments about those who will be driven out of SDAism by this push tend to assume that they are in disagreement with what has always been SDA belief. This is not the case: the very strong literalist recent creationist position is a relatively recent view. Note that what has happened at this GC is a vote for a *change* to Fundamental Belief 6. SDA beliefs are being *changed*, and those who won’t go along for the ride told they have no ce in the church.