Relativism and skepticism are logical suicide

[Beryllos]

Humans are not merely animals. We have a rational soul, which exists and has observable effects. How did mutations create it and when did it happen?

In the passage I’ve quoted above, you have departed from science. What are the observable effects of soul? Why would you think that evolution led to soul?

 

[Bill_B_NY]

I’m not really sure what you mean by origin of

Here’s how evolution works.
One day there were life. Bacteria, then the first cells.
Eventually, there was human beings.
Evolution explains the origin of all of that.
Origin means, what mutations occurred that turned an irrational animal into a human.
That’s what it is.

 

[Bill_B_NY]

What are the observable effects of soul?

Rationality, moral conscience, self-awareness, consciousness, logic, reason.
That’s what the soul is.
That’s what evolution claims it knows the origin of.
Those are immaterial elements, in Catholic thought (revealed by God).
for Darwinists, they are material aspects of human life.

 

[niceatheist]

What is the purpose of the brain?

 

[Dan123]

Rationality, moral conscience, self-awareness, consciousness, logic, reason.
That’s what the soul is.

You claim those are a result of the soul. How are you planning to demonstrate that?

 

[Bill_B_NY]

What is the purpose of the brain?

It is the loci for thought and functioning a human person, created to give God glory.

 

[Bill_B_NY]

How are you planning to demonstrate that?

You’re saying those are not immaterial components of human life? Rationality- logos is the product of random material effects?
First, find the Catholic definition of the soul. That will help. It is all of what I said.
Then, realize - moral conscience. It is immaterial. It does not come from mutations.
Darwinists (and you?) disagree, They say the conscience is not immaterial. It’s an evolutionary, physical development.

 

[Beryllos]

Origin means, what mutations occurred that turned an irrational animal into a human.

Rationality, moral conscience, self-awareness, consciousness, logic, reason.
That’s what the soul is.

Many animals behave rationally. I’m having a hard time coming up with any observable behavior that sets humans apart. Well, we have cars and newspapers, but animals also use tools and they communicate. What else?

I think the new thing that sets humans apart from animals is our ability to have a mutual relationship of love with God. The universe was created for that. Science will not have much to say about that.

 

[niceatheist]

But according to you it serves no purpose at all, being that the soul does it all.

 

[Dan123]

You’re saying those are not immaterial components of human life? Rationality- logos is the product of random material effects?
First, find the Catholic definition of the soul. That will help. It is all of what I said.
Then, realize - moral conscience. It is immaterial . It does not come from mutations.
Darwinists (and you?) disagree, They say the conscience is not immaterial. It’s an evolutionary, physical development.

None of this makes evolution irreoncilable. As mentioned above many follow the physical evidence for the creation of the human body and understand God’s hand would have guided the process towards his ends, and that the soul was created separately and does precisely what you describe.

The foundational principles of evolution have nothing to do with souls and consciousness, that isn’t the theory, it’s just how the theory would explain those other elements and their propagation through generations.

Do you see any issue believing the body was formed by natural though guided processes(remembering those processes in a theistic world came from you know who) with a soul provided to man as part of God’s plan? Because that’s the theistic evolution as many believe it.

 

[Bill_B_NY]

I’m having a hard time coming up with any observable behavior that sets humans apart. Well, we have cars and newspapers, but animals also use tools and they communicate. What else?

Self awareness and moral development. We better ourselves through virtue. One squirrel is not morally better than any squirrel that ever lived. It cannot be more perfect. It acts by instinct, not by self-awareness making moral choices for perfection. Humans can be better and better, or grow evil. We know this. We are aware.

Science will not have much to say about that.

Darwinian evolution certainly attempts to explain the origin of religion. As everything, it came from random mutations.

 

[niceatheist]

I’m going to ask again where you get your information on evolution and biology

 

[Bill_B_NY]

that the soul was created separately and does precisely what you describe.

you’re not responding to what I said.
The soul. What is it? What are the observable effects? Can you see what I wrote?
The soul (now that you reread it) - where does evolution say it comes from?
Like everything, it comes from physical matter.
Rationality - it is an immaterial power. not for Darwin,
Conscience - it is an immaterial power. Not for Darwin.
Self-aware free choice - it is immaterial. not for Darwin.

So you need to make a choice. Catholic Faith? Or materialism?

 

[Dan123]

Darwinian evolution certainly attempts to explain the origin of religion. As everything, it came from random mutations.

Yeah … no. Again all evolution cares about is whether a trait makes a species more able to survive and reproduce. It’s not dealing with why or how religion came about, only why it would persist. Evolution is a specific thing, it’s not every piece of popscience you find the word evolution in.

 

[Beryllos]

Self awareness

Many animals behave as if they are self-aware. It is thought to be essential for higher (i.e., vertebrate) social animals like dogs, horses, and whales, not to mention humans. Do you have any scientific support for your claim that animals are not self-aware?

 

[niceatheist]

I think we’ve abandoned a science discussion.

 

[Bill_B_NY]

It’s not dealing with why or how religion came about

You’re very far from the truth.

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,33&q=evolution+of+religion&btnG=

 

[Beryllos]

Well, this is the Philosophy category!

 

[Dan123]

So you need to make a choice. Catholic Faith? Or materialism?

You need to not make false dichotomies. You also need to realize science isn’t bound to the Catholic definition of the soul. Science is waiting for someone to demonstrate the soul is even a thing. And again, why could someone not believe in the actual evolutionary process, change of life over time through mutation, adaptation and selection, and that the soul was given by God.

 

[Bill_B_NY]

Do you have any scientific support for your claim that animals are not self-aware?

Catholic doctrine is not good enough for you? Animals do not have a rational soul. They do not have moral self-awareness and they do not engage in moral improvement.
God teaches us that.
Darwinists deny it.
The choice is yours.