What you almost certainly will not hear from your average Intelligent Design proponent or Creationist is what the evidence for Intelligent Design or Creationism is.
You'll hear that real peer reviewed science for ID is just around the corner. You'll hear that mainstream science is repressing and covering up the science behind ID. You'll hear assertions that only ID can explain certain things that evolution cannot. You'll hear lots of poorly argued examples of what evolution allegedly can't explain (most of which rely heavily on a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of evolution anyway), you'll have a whole host of quote mines thrown your way to make it look like some famous person or another disagreed with evolution or thought it wrong. Amongst other things.
So, here's a challenge for any ID proponent or Creationist who runs across this blog:
Cite the evidence for your theory. Arguments against evolution do not count as arguments for your theory. I want clearly explained evidence and conclusions. I want to know what your theory explains that cannot be explained by another alternative theory. I want to know what predictions your theory makes. I want to know how your theory can be falsified. I want to know what evidence would convince you that your theory was wrong. I want to know what your theory tells us about life. I want to know how your theory can be applied in medicine or biology. Where your theory contradicts known evidence or current theories I want to know why and how your theory trumps these things.
Here's a list of arguments or rhetorical techniques that you should avoid using or assuming, as well as some things you should avoid doing if you want to be taken seriously:
- Evolution does not equal Big Bang theory - don't conflate the two.
- EDITED 29th June 2010 to add: Abiogenesis and the Theory of Evolution are not the same thing, don't confuse them.
- Assertions are not evidence, don't pretend they are.
- If evolution does not explain X the only alternative is not automatically your theory - there could be many alternatives that we aren't even aware of yet.
- Evidence against one theory is not automatically evidence for another.
- Biblical citations are not evidence for a scientific theory.
- Quote mining is the same as lying - that's a sin, remember?
- Don't misrepresent evolutionary theory - you should understand what you are talking about.
- Avoid logical fallacies.
- Threatening me with damnation is not evidence for your theory.
- Well known hoaxes or fakes cited as evidence will get you laughed at and mocked - don't use them.
Put your money where your mouth is - if I shouldn't accept evolutionary theory why should I accept Intelligent Design or Creationism?
What's your evidence?