Back in May, Hemant Mehta, also known as the “Friendly Atheist,” shared a blog post about a fossilized bird with teeth, and made the claim that “No evidence is ever good enough for Creationists.” Mr. Mehta presupposes that birds evolved from dinosaurs. To many humanists, dinosaur-to-bird evolution is a foregone conclusion, and creationists who deny this claim are supposedly deniers of science and reality. I decided to engage one particular humanist, JC, who commented on Mr. Mehta’s post. Three other humanists joined the thread as well. Three of the four humanists, including JC, were willing to engage in content-based discussion. There was only one humanist that had nothing to share except ad hominem attacks.
See the transcript below for Part 1 of 7 of what I dubbed the “Bird Evolution Debate.” Names are abbreviated for privacy and brevity.
The Friendly Atheist:
A year ago today:
No evidence is ever good enough for Creationists.
https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2018/05/04/creationists-quickly-dismiss-new-fossil-evidence-of-modern-bird-evolution/
JC:
Creationists just deny and reject reality. They remind me of a very young kid who doesn't like something will pick up his toys and go home. They constantly reject the facts, reality and science.
Kevin:
Actually, creation scientists reject the evolutionary interpretations of the facts; these interpretations are not based on observational science, but are based on evolutionary faith. Do you agree that science is observable, testable and repeatable? If so, one major requirement for supposed dinosaur-to-bird evolution is for the dinosaur to evolve a bird-like respiratory system. Dinosaurs had bellows-type lungs that draw air into tiny sacs called alveoli where red blood cells extract oxygen and allow carbon dioxide to be exhaled out of the same pathway (bidirectional flow). However, birds have a complex system of air sacs that enables air to constantly flow in just one direction (unidirectional flow) through special tubes called parabronchi, where blood moves in the opposite direction for efficient oxygen uptake. The avian lung system enables birds to conserve energy, which is a very helpful design for flight. With all of that being said, can you provide observable evidence of any organism (let alone a dinosaur) evolving from the bidirectional bellows-type lung system to the unidirectional avian-type lung system?
Also, there seems to be so much confusion and disagreement about supposed bird evolution, that even some evolutionary scientists believe in bird-to-dinosaur evolution rather than dinosaur-to-bird evolution. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100209183335.htm). Do those evolutionists “reject reality” as well?
JC:
Yeah, we don't have all the answers and everything fully understood and explained but I'll follow science before I fall for anymore BS that was shoved down my throat as a child. Creationists can keep their kindergarten rap to themselves!
Kevin:
I appreciate the confession that you and other evolutionists do not have all the answers and everything fully understood. Therefore, regarding supposed dinosaur-to-bird evolution, which implies supposed evolution of the respiratory system from bidirectional to unidirectional, is not your trust in that concept based on faith rather than “facts”?
You say that you follow “science,” which is observable, testable, and repeatable, but I assume your specific meaning is in regards to the evolutionary worldview. The evolutionary worldview claims that all life evolved from a common ancestor. This requires organisms to add brand new genetic information and functionality over time. For example, this would imply that at some point, or at multiple points in time, an originally-blind organism evolved eyesight, or an originally flightless organism evolved the ability to fly. By what observable evidence do you accept these claims? Or do you accept them by faith?
JC:
We keep our minds open to future discoveries. We don't close them with blind faith in something that has absolutely no real evidence. Big difference!
Kevin:
If you are unable to answer my questions, then how is your belief in evolution not a “blind faith in something that has absolutely no real evidence”?
Soon after this portion of the discussion, JC shared that his “…biggest brake from religion isn’t from evolution but the actual history of the Bible…” I will post that portion of the discussion in my next blog post where I share Part 2 of the Bird Evolution Debate.