Evolution and the Gospel

[Elphaba]

Building Block of Life Found on Comet

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The amino acid glycine, a fundamental building block of proteins, has been found in a comet for the first time, bolstering the theory that raw ingredients of life arrived on Earth from outer space, scientists said on Monday.

. . . .

Comets like Wild 2, named for astronomer Paul Wild (pronounced Vild), are believed to contain well-preserved grains of material dating from the dawn of the solar system billions of years ago, and thus clues to the formation of the sun and planets.

Perhaps we came from Kolob after all.

　

Elphaba

[Justice]

Why do people think there has to be a first?

What is eternal? Doesn't it mean forever?

I realize it's a difficult thing to grasp, but why regress to "there has to be a first?" Why not admit "I can't understand forever?"

[Bluejay]

Hi, Justice.

But, Alma 12 describes how Adam (and Eve) could have had immortal children. :)

No, it doesn't.

??

[Justice]

No, it doesn't, or...

No, you don't see it?

I see it.

Try verses 23 thru 27.

[Guest Believer_1829]

No, it doesn't, or...

No, you don't see it?

I see it.

Try verses 23 thru 27.

The Plan of God being void, Heavenly Father would NOT have sent additional spirits as children to Adam and Eve, it would be a pointless exercise at that point. They would've been the ones stuck for eternity, no on else.

[Bluejay]

Hi, Changed.

...evolving from apes is also coming to Earth as a mortal...

I think that takes away from the fall.

I agree with you: it certainly changed how I view the Fall.

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I think HGT is a much more solid both scientifically and with gospel principles.

Much more solid than what? Than the Theory of Evolution?

In terms of the Theory of Evolution, horizontal gene transfer is simply one of many mechanisms that are grouped under the catch-all phrase, "random mutations." It presents no contradiction to the Theory of Evolution.

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ie - something like HGT could be used to change Adam from an immortal perfect being to a mortal. This allows for the fall to happen. the atonement to be made, perfect life for a perfect life.

Well, sure it could: but the proper way to approach a problem isn't to find out which interpretation could result in the answer you want, but to find out which interpretation is more in harmony with the evidence.

That there are hundreds of fossil specimens whose skeletal appearance fits between humans and apes, and that these fossils can be dated radiometrically to match a logical progression from the more ape-like to the more human-like forms, combined with similar suites of evidence for dozens, even hundreds of other organisms on our planet... suggests that the evolutionary explanation is more likely to be accurate.

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death is the result of sin.

I think this refers to spiritual death.

[Bluejay]

Hi, Changed.

"for genuine improvements to evolve — new genetic programs must be supplied"

I like HGT too.

But, can you give me any reason why "new genetic programs" cannot emerge through other means? For example, why can't they occur by the normal processes of chemistry?

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This is not what traditional evolution has taught, and yet, this is what is happening.

This is very misleading.

"Traditional" evolution uses the phrase "random mutations" to describe the sources/causes of changes to the genome. They are called "random" because we don't know how to predict their incidence. Note that the term "spontaneous," which means "without a cause," is not used. Invariably, as scientists study mutations more, they will learn more about what actually causes them.

HGT is just one of many causes of mutations. Others are radiation, imperfections in the DNA replication mechanism in the cell, recombination and crossing over during meiosis, pH imbalances, dehydration, etc.