Since it's inception, evolutionary theory has remained controversial for many. Although one might think only uneducated laypeople find the idea unpalatable, quite a sizeable minority of scientists too struggle to come to terms with Darwinism. In today's episode, Will Barlow explores a number of major scientific objections to evolution, including the Cambrian explosion, mutations as an insufficient mechanism, irreducible complexity, and the fossil record itself. Additionally, he briefly explores the issue of abiogenesis--the presumed starting point for any evolutionary development.

Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdx6kuhRqQY&feature=emb_imp_woyt

See below for notes.

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—— Notes ——

Scientific Objections to Evolution

• Evidence problems (open scientific questions)• Methodological problems• Evolution or design?

Evidence Problems

The theory of evolution has several major open problems that are yet to be solved:

• The Cambrian Explosion• Mutations

The Cambrian Explosion

Much of the fossil record could be viewed in a light to support evolution, but the Cambrian Explosion poses a big problem:

• The theory of evolution requires slow changes over a long time• Cambrian explosion was a big change in a short period of time

Simply put, what is the Cambrian explosion?

• Evolution would predict species would diverge and lead to new genera, families, orders, classes, and then phyla• Most animal phyla (and many major classes within them) appear fully formed in the Cambrian period

“According to modern paleontologists James Valentine, Stanley Awramik, Philip Signor, and Peter Sadler, the appearance of the major animal phyla near the beginning of the Cambrian is ‘the single most spectacular phenomenon evident in the fossil record.’”— Jonathan Wells, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design, page 1