Not even a tiny response so far. *sigh*[b said:Quote[/b] (TheAlphaWolf @ Jan. 22 2005,2:22)]AAAAAAHHHHHH!!! why does everyone keep saying it requires faith? it does NOT require faith! Just like ... EP? said, today's species only make up about 99% of the species that have ever lived in this world.(has anyone answered his question first answer his question!) so it's illogical to think that all the species that ever lived have been here at one point in time.
Anyway, I suspect those insisting that it requires faith would question where that "99%" figure came from, and would say we're having "faith" that the figure is reasonably accurate, thus weakening our arguments somehow and freeing them from the pressure of recognizing the implications of what we're saying. Not saying everyone would respond that way of course, but I bet there's a few.
I'd say the difference between faith faith and scientific faith is that science has a rigorous verification process built into it. New ideas are scrutinized by hundreds if not thousands of people before the public even hears about them. Over the years they get tested, re-tested, and just generally picked apart in every way possible. Scientists have every reason to respect and follow these guidelines because they lose a great deal of credibility (or even their jobs) when they don't. In fact scientists are typically rewarded for uncovering solid reasons to alter existing theories. How many nobel prizes have been given out for this very reason? How many awards has the church given out to people who've discovered critical flaws in the bible's claims?
The minute it's in your best interest to find one result over another when testing a theory, you have an agenda, whether it's conscious or unconscious, well-intentioned or deceitful. Agendas pollute the pursuit of truth.
In science it often happens that scientists say, "You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken," and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. -- Carl Sagan
In a nutshell, I respect that rough 99% figure because I have an idea of just how much work has gone into validating it. If this is still considered faith, well, there must be many degrees of faith, because it seems some faiths have had a bit more effort put into them.
For example, we all seem to have faith that we aren't all part of someone's dream, and that we didn't pop into existence this morning with implanted memories of long, full lives. No one has taken issue so far with this faith. But the scenario is equally as plausible as some of the beliefs some people are utterly convinced of. What's the difference? Indoctrination? Popularity? What?
(That was rhetorical by the way... I give up on questions.)