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Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Since time began millions/billions of species have come and gone. Allegedly. How do people today KNOW what occurred billions of years ago?

Since time began millions/billions of species have come and gone. Allegedly. How do people today KNOW what occurred billions of years ago?

Are the carcasses of every one and every thing that ever existed still available to find on archaeological digs? Hard to believe. So from whence cometh all this knowledge of what was before we were?

Posted - November 11, 2019

Responses


  • 32538
    Fossil evidence. 
      November 11, 2019 6:12 AM MST
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  • 44178
    As m2c said, fossil records. But it is a bit more complex than that. We have a fairly accurate tool called radiometric dating, using the half-lives of various radioactive elements as a clock of sorts. We have evidence of cyanobacteria that is 3.3 billion years old. We can only speculate the number of species that have come and gone over the eons, as most creatures were soft-bodied and their fossil remains are quite rare. Research continues. Also, keep in mind that we don't even know how many species exist today, and many new ones are regularly being found...as many are also becoming extinct. This post was edited by Element 99 at November 12, 2019 5:01 PM MST
      November 12, 2019 8:21 AM MST
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  • 113301
    Thank you for your reply E. In other words "it's complicated". :)
      November 12, 2019 11:24 AM MST
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  • Nature is full of marvels, wonders and miracles. Man is a part of the natural environment(albeit wondrously designed and built by Almighty God, the master builder). Man, though a marvel of engineering, is fallible and has proved it over and over. With that said, we can speculate and theorize the origins of all we see. The problem is, it doesn't make it correct or accurate either by timeline or interpretation. If we can be wrong about the numerous technological advances of the last century, and we have, (Consider the naysayers about the possibility of flight or placing a man on the moon) we can be wrong about much more. I have long believed that true science confirms scripture and scripture confirms true science.  
      November 12, 2019 11:44 AM MST
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  • 3680
    Science and scripture neither prove nor disprove each other because they do very different things.

    Irrespective of the existence or otherwise of any creative deity, any faith's scripture simply details its founders' religious ideas. How closely you follow those ideas is a matter of personal preference.

    You can believe in a god driving it all, but that simply asks "Who Makes It Happen"? - and obviously assumes a supernatural entity does, so considers the nature of that entity and how you might worship it. 

    Science asks instead "How Does It Happen, And When?" - ignoring whether by any such entity.  

    For obvious practical and social reasons, science does not and cannot try to "prove" any given faith's scriptures. Nor can or should religion try to prove science, because that is not its purpose and whilst you can still believe in a creative deity while understanding the science, any attempt to make them fit each other is likely only to result in an unholy mess that serves neither! 

    Firstly, many different religions have come and gone, or still survive, world-wide; and each faith and its writings are true only to its own followers. Further, science is not a hermetic sect of one faith alone; but an international endeavour belonging to everyone, so has to transcend religious beliefs and differences.

    You might find personally some mutual support between science and religion, but that is your own view of your own religion.

    '

    As for God designing and building we humans... When you look around the world today you have to wonder if an entity capable of making the whole Universe, could have done better with the mere genus Hominid here on Earth! :-)

      November 12, 2019 4:03 PM MST
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  • 113301
    :):):) I asked a question about a program I saw yesterday on the Science Channel Durdle. About the BIG BANG etcetera. Always mind-boggling but the fact is physicists have as many questions as lay people do. It is a very complicated thing. Trying to make sense out of our existence. Some are comforted by believing in a higher power. Others aren't. It doesn't matter what you think what is is and what isn't isn't and homo saps will always be searching/seeking/questioning. SIGH. :) This post was edited by RosieG at November 13, 2019 3:33 AM MST
      November 13, 2019 3:33 AM MST
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  • 113301
    Thank you for your thoughtful reply HG. Of course those who don't believe in any higher power will of necessity disagree with thee. We believe that which is convenient and comfy. Why wouldn't we? Happy Wednesday! :)
      November 13, 2019 3:30 AM MST
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