Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Alternate theories to both Evolution and Creationism?

19:03 / 26.04.03

Does anyone know of any? The reason I ask is that I'm writing a response to a letter to the editor in my local paper. The guy that wrote it is a staunch Creationist, and he argues against the Evolutionist David Suzuki. I remain agnostic about the whole issue, but I'd like to begin by refuting his statement: "there are two schools of thought regarding the origin of man. One is Creationism and the other is Evolution. There are no others."

So, are there any others? No matter how ridiculous sounding? (or maybe the crazier sounding the better

) I'll be googling for them too, but any links anyone has would be welcome.

Less searchable M0rd4nt

22:03 / 26.04.03

Are there other schools of thought regarding the origin of man? Well, not really, no. It's evolution, creation, or nowt, really. Unless you count the whole Alien Clone bit, which is arguably a genetically-altered take on Creationism with ET's filling in for God. Don't have any relevant bookmarks, but I'm sure that someone else here will step into the breach.

Jack Fear

00:39 / 27.04.03

That would be the ever-popular Raelians, who made a bit of a splash recently because of their association with Clonaid, a group that's allegedly produced a human clone.

ciarconn

02:11 / 27.04.03

The original "alien-directed evolution" was Von Daniken, in the 70's.
There's also Teilhard de Chardin, a jesuit archaeologist who proposed a "god-driven" evolution.
But I can't think of something totally different.

Nietzsch E. Coyote

06:24 / 27.04.03

Well there is certainly more than one school, that is for sure. There is a lot of in between. You need to look at vitalism. Lamarkianism, if I remember it is guided evolution. Or look up Rupert Sheldrake.

Lurid Archive

09:14 / 28.04.03

It is probably worth noting that creationism and evolution need not be at odds. Evolution is about the origin of species, rather than life, and is not in opposition to the idea of a non-interventionist creator.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

11:58 / 28.04.03

Unless your religion of choice is one of those 'literal truth' ones, like the JW.

18:21 / 28.04.03

Thanks everyone for the input. Although I ended up cutting specific references to the theories which fall slightly outside or in between the two accepted ones, in favour of developing my point to where it has a chance of being understood in only three hundred words. My point being that the motive for the debate isn't in the interest of deciding which theory is most plausible, but is driven by the conflict between the two opposing worldviews which underlie it. So we have many people choosing the scientific evidence they will support only after knowing where they stand on the issue. But I suppose that's obvious to most, even if it remains largely unsaid within the debate itself.

Add Your Reply