I
Iaculus
You do realise that the theory of evolution is not exclusively based on Darwin's research, right?
- Status
J
Jonzac
Really? Nice retoric...does Pleosi email you this drivel directly or do you pull it off NPR?
---------- Post added at 01:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:37 PM ----------
You do realise that the theory of evolution is not exclusively based on Darwin's research, right?[/QUOTE]
That is its base, and while there have been other additive theories, Darwin's research still remains the basic of the theory. I personally will not refute the fact that natural selection exists, but I also have trouble agreeing to the fact that somehow I'm a direct decendent of a small furry mammal 60,000,000 years ago.
I should hope so. That's a platform not a law.
I
Iaculus
I can agree with that, although Debate normally starts at the high-school level. My point is, evolution is a THEORY. Others have another THEORY, neither can be proven or disproven at this point. People generally like one and hate the other. All I'm saying is that right now...evolution is taught as a proven, ironclad TRUTH not theory and there is a HUGE difference.
AS forFUCKING science...what proof that the DNA of a single cell or even less an amino acid generated in a methane rich enviroment and large static electricity somehow mutates into the large complex organisms that roam the earth today? Or perhaps since we are evolutionary down the chain from chimps and gorilla and we've found the "missing links" of Lucy and the new fossils of Lucy's 400,000 year older fossils that the other primates haven't completely died out...which is a central tenet of evolution.
So while I won't claim to have all the DAMN answers, your rant about religous and science...your vehement denial of creationism for evolution just shows you treat it with the same scared blinders that "bat-crazy" creationist use against evolution.[/QUOTE]
- Scientific theory does not equal layman's theory. Common mistake. A scientific theory is defined as being supported by sufficient evidence that it can be presumed to present a reasonable picture of how the world works. It is only scientific theories which are supposed to be taught in science classes, which is why the burden of proof currently rests on intelligent design, rather than the burden of disproof resting on everyone else.
- Evolution consists of uncounted billions of different, tiny adaptations according to what was most suitable for the environment at the time. That is where organic complexity and diversity develops from. Large, complex organisms did not spring into being from a single roll of the dice, and so your argument only points out that it is chance that we turned out how we did, not that we did at all. Even then, the dice for each roll were weighted by survival of the fittest (which, I should reiterate, means 'survival of those most fit for their environment', not 'survival of the best').
- We are not descended from chimpanzees and the like. Rather, evolution postulates that we had a common ancestor, and evolved differently according to our environments.
I can agree with that, although Debate normally starts at the high-school level. My point is, evolution is a THEORY. Others have another THEORY, neither can be proven or disproven at this point. People generally like one and hate the other. All I'm saying is that right now...evolution is taught as a proven, ironclad TRUTH not theory and there is a HUGE difference.
AS forFUCKING science...what proof that the DNA of a single cell or even less an amino acid generated in a methane rich enviroment and large static electricity somehow mutates into the large complex organisms that roam the earth today? Or perhaps since we are evolutionary down the chain from chimps and gorilla and we've found the "missing links" of Lucy and the new fossils of Lucy's 400,000 year older fossils that the other primates haven't completely died out...which is a central tenet of evolution.
So while I won't claim to have all the DAMN answers, your rant about religous and science...your vehement denial of creationism for evolution just shows you treat it with the same scared blinders that "bat-crazy" creationist use against evolution.[/QUOTE]
Shit son, it doesn't get better than "a theory." I guess we could restrict science material to only be about laws, but then we'd run really out of simple enough curriculum really fast.
And now, to lighten up the conversation, coooomiiiiics
J
Jonzac
[/COLOR]
I can agree with that, although Debate normally starts at the high-school level. My point is, evolution is a THEORY. Others have another THEORY, neither can be proven or
disproven
at this point. People generally like one and hate the other. All I'm saying is that right now...evolution is taught as a proven, ironclad TRUTH not theory and there is a HUGE difference. AS forFUCKING science...what proof that the DNA of a single cell or even less an amino acid generated in a methane rich
enviroment
and large static electricity somehow mutates into the large complex organisms that roam the earth today? Or perhaps since we are evolutionary down the chain from chimps and gorilla and we've found the "missing links" of Lucy and the new fossils of Lucy's 400,000 year older fossils that the other primates haven't completely died out...which is a central tenet of evolution.So while I won't claim to have all the DAMN answers, your rant about religous and science...your vehement denial of creationism for evolution just shows you treat it with the same scared blinders that "bat-crazy" creationist use against evolution.[/QUOTE]
- Scientific theory does not equal layman's theory. Common mistake. A scientific theory is defined as being supported by sufficient evidence that it can be presumed to present a reasonable picture of how the world works.
- Evolution consists of uncounted billions of different, tiny adaptations according to what was most suitable for the environment at the time. That is where organic complexity and diversity develops from. Large, complex organisms did not spring into being from a single roll of the dice, and so your argument only points out that it is chance that we turned out how we did, not that we did at all. Even then, the dice for each roll were weighted by survival of the fittest (which, I should reiterate, means 'survival of those most fit for their environment', not 'survival of the best').
- We are not descended from chimpanzees and the like. Rather, evolution postulates that we had a common ancestor, and evolved differently according to our environments.[/QUOTE]
So somehow, the mere chance of all the necessary 1:1,000,000 situations that needed to happen over and over again is somehow more palatable that labeling the process as "God" because you can't understand it? Its somehow easier to believe the vanishing small series of chances over ANYTHING else...heck, why not imagine the chance that aliens crashlanded.
I'm not here saying I can prove or even believe in either way to describe the history of life, which is currently undescribable...however, I'm NOT willing to disregard either one...like many of you are.
I can agree with that, although Debate normally starts at the high-school level. My point is, evolution is a THEORY. Others have another THEORY, neither can be proven or disproven at this point. People generally like one and hate the other. All I'm saying is that right now...evolution is taught as a proven, ironclad TRUTH not theory and there is a HUGE difference.
AS forFUCKING science...what proof that the DNA of a single cell or even less an amino acid generated in a methane rich enviroment and large static electricity somehow mutates into the large complex organisms that roam the earth today? Or perhaps since we are evolutionary down the chain from chimps and gorilla and we've found the "missing links" of Lucy and the new fossils of Lucy's 400,000 year older fossils that the other primates haven't completely died out...which is a central tenet of evolution.
So while I won't claim to have all the DAMN answers, your rant about religous and science...your vehement denial of creationism for evolution just shows you treat it with the same scared blinders that "bat-crazy" creationist use against evolution.[/QUOTE]
There is no proof, largely because it would be impossible to survey organisms over the course of millions of years. We can see traces of evolution from micro-organisms like bacteria, though I'll refrain from saying more, Chaz has the degree here, and I don't discount that I could talking outta my ass.
I
Iaculus
Again, you are assuming that it was only this one outcome, out of all the countless billions, that would prove evolution. This is incorrect. Evolution would still work even if we were six-eyed blob-monsters living on the bottom of the ocean, provided there was sufficient evidence that we had adapted into that form (or one similar to it) due to natural selection triggered by environmental pressures.
Evolution is not destiny, merely a slight weighting of many, many options.
rofl.And now, to lighten up the conversation, coooomiiiiics
This conversation is why I love being a Catholic. Evolution? Fine by us.
I found it on his HF profile: EvoEdu – Evolution Education
I should hope so. That's a platform not a law.[/QUOTE]
But isnt a platform the first step to trying to pass it as laws someday in the future?
Please correct me if im wrong,since im not that well versed with American Laws/Politics.
I should hope so. That's a platform not a law.[/QUOTE]
But isnt a platform the first step to trying to pass it as laws someday in the future?
Please correct me if im wrong,since im not that well versed with American Laws/Politics.[/QUOTE]
A parties political platform, is the party saying these are the ideas and stances on issues that we have and feel are important to us. The parties political views. If you were to go and write out your position and stance on everything in politics that would be your platform.
But isnt their view and stance on things the main factor on what laws they are gonna pass/try to pass? From what I know (and that aint much) the GOP has people in Senate/Congress.
Here in Germany we have quite a lot of Political Parties:
Christian Democrats (your Conservatives)
Socialsists (SPD)
Liberals (FDP)
Eco-friendly (Grünen)
Leftists (Linke)
Rightwing (Braunen)
Depending on how many votes they get,they will have a corresponding number of seats in the Bundestag (Senate).Each party brings their platforms with them once they enter Government and try to shape the laws accordingly.Can you tell me what the difference is with the American system is?If you dont mind.
Two parties, they never dare to debate any issues whatsoever, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars instead making the other side look evil. The only thing they can agree on is that voting for any third party is throwing your vote away and destroying the country. Once one gets in power, it proceeds to do nothing and blame the party that isn't in power.
Winner takes all, LordRendar.
Two parties, they never dare to debate any issues whatsoever, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars instead making the other side look evil. The only thing they can agree on is that voting for any third party is throwing your vote away and destroying the country. Once one gets in power, it proceeds to do nothing and blame the party that isn't in power.[/QUOTE]
For a country priding itself to be the most progressive that seems very unproductive to me.
I mean,the current Partys in power in my country (Conservative/Liberals,we can have alliances between parties to get the majority of seats in the bundestag and so controll most of the government) isnt the best,and Lord knows,they screwed us over hard at times, but they do try to do what is right in their eyes/opinon,which thanks to democracy is the opinion of the majority of people in the country. The other parties bicker,complain and oppose,but not to try to hinder the others,but to try to work it so that the minorities dont get shaftet.And at the end of the day,its the German people that matter.Not the respective egos of the Party leaders.
Is the United States the most progressive country? really? Last I checked, it's us and the third-world rallying behind the Death Penalty still. Isn't our "radical left wing" hilariously conservative in all of Europe?
Two parties, they never dare to debate any issues whatsoever, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars instead making the other side look evil. The only thing they can agree on is that voting for any third party is throwing your vote away and destroying the country. Once one gets in power, it proceeds to do nothing and blame the party that isn't in power.[/QUOTE]
You've just won the thread.
I didnt say it was.But they sure as hell like to think so.We'll your Fox News demographic at least.
It's that bad that even we people on the other side of the the ocean use Fox Watchers as a joke.
Two parties, they never dare to debate any issues whatsoever, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars instead making the other side look evil. The only thing they can agree on is that voting for any third party is throwing your vote away and destroying the country. Once one gets in power, it proceeds to do nothing and blame the party that isn't in power.[/QUOTE]
For a country priding itself to be the most progressive that seems very unproductive to me.
I mean,the current Partys in power in my country (Conservative/Liberals,we can have alliances between parties to get the majority of seats in the bundestag and so controll most of the government) isnt the best,and Lord knows,they screwed us over hard at times, but they do try to do what is right in their eyes/opinon,which thanks to democracy is the opinion of the majority of people in the country. The other parties bicker,complain and oppose,but not to try to hinder the others,but to try to work it so that the minorities dont get shaftet.And at the end of the day,its the German people that matter.Not the respective egos of the Party leaders.[/QUOTE]
We know it's horrible, and we agree it is, but the problem is that the two parties in power seem to agree on the fact that there shouldn't be any successful third parties ever since Roosevelt won under the Elk Party. They are willing to go to any lengths to prevent 3rd parties from succeeding. What's more, each of the two bigger parties has literally hundreds of billions of dollars at it's disposal, meaning it is impossible to compete with them in advertising/propaganda. Campaign reforms get shot down every time they are proposed in Congress, because why would they want anybody else to have a shot?
The US system is fatally and irredeemably flawed, but short of a revolution, it's never going to be changed. Our only REAL hope is that the Conservative Party (The Republicans) keeps screwing up to the point that Conservatives go over to ether the Tea Party or Libertarian party, but that's not exactly a better solution. It's just the same people going to new party, like the Southern Democrat Shift during the Civil Rights Movement.
Yes, but what usually happens is that people from the party that is splitting usually go to more than one party. Right now, they are all hemorrhaging to the Tea Party because it's actually getting press.
Two parties, they never dare to debate any issues whatsoever, and spend hundreds of millions of dollars instead making the other side look evil. The only thing they can agree on is that voting for any third party is throwing your vote away and destroying the country. Once one gets in power, it proceeds to do nothing and blame the party that isn't in power.[/QUOTE]
I'm really confused, because I never made that post. :/ That was LordRendar.
Z
zero
Oh please, that's a fallacy and you know it... What you just said is the equivalent of looking at last week's lottery result and then claim it must be God's doing, since the odds of that exact result are infinitesimal.
---------- Post added at 04:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:37 PM ----------
More than fine. Don't forget it was a Catholic priest who laid down the foundations of modern genetic science.
The problem is that while evolutionary theory is based on a century and a half's worth of scientific observation and discovery, creationism is based on some immediately contradictory accounts in an ancient book that we can't really peg an author down for. Besides, which brand of creation are we talking about:
1) "Secular" Intelligent Design Hypothesis: That some form of intelligent originator crafted and designed, possibly via guided selection.
2) "Liberal" Creationism: The Judeo Christian God created everything, through means unknown that may resemble unguided means.
3) "Young Earth" or "Biblicaly Literal" Creationism: The Christian God created everything exactly in the form it is today six to ten thousand years ago, flooded the world a while back, and all living beings are descended from those on the Ark.
The problem with the first two is that they don't pass scientific muster because they rely on a SUPERnatural explanation that can not be observed in any way, shape, or form. The problem with the third is that it relies on the same explanation while at the same time claiming that almost every last thing we know about all branches of science (astronomy, physics, geology, et al) would have to be so nackered as to be useless.
Is it a valid belief system, something one feels in their heart to be true regardless of evidence? Of course. Is it science? Not by a long shot.
The first world to exist was Muspell, a place of light and heat whose flames are so hot that those who are not native to that land cannot endure it.
Surt sits at Muspell's border, guarding the land with a flaming sword. At the end of the world he will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole world with fire.
Beyond Muspell lay the great and yawning void named Ginnungagap, and beyond Ginnungagap lay the dark, cold realm of Niflheim.
Ice, frost, wind, rain and heavy cold emanated from Niflheim, meeting in Ginnungagap the soft air, heat, light, and soft air from Muspell.
Where heat and cold met appeared thawing drops, and this running fluid grew into a giant frost ogre named Ymir.
Ymir slept, falling into a sweat. Under his left arm there grew a man and a woman. And one of his legs begot a son with the other. This was the beginning of the frost ogres.
Thawing frost then became a cow called Audhumla. Four rivers of milk ran from her teats, and she fed Ymir.
The cow licked salty ice blocks. After one day of licking, she freed a man's hair from the ice. After two days, his head appeared. On the third day the whole man was there. His name was Buri, and he was tall, strong, and handsome.
Buri begot a son named Bor, and Bor married Bestla, the daughter of a giant.
Bor and Bestla had three sons: Odin was the first, Vili the second, and Vé the third.
It is believed that Odin, in association with his brothers, is the ruler of heaven and earth. He is the greatest and most famous of all men.
Odin, Vili, and Vé killed the giant Ymir.
When Ymir fell, there issued from his wounds such a flood of blood, that all the frost ogres were drowned, except for the giant Bergelmir who escaped with his wife by climbing onto a lur [a hollowed-out tree trunk that could serve either as a boat or a coffin]. From them spring the families of frost ogres.
The sons of Bor then carried Ymir to the middle of Ginnungagap and made the world from him. From his blood they made the sea and the lakes; from his flesh the earth; from his hair the trees; and from his bones the mountains. They made rocks and pebbles from his teeth and jaws and those bones that were broken.
Maggots appeared in Ymir's flesh and came to life. By the decree of the gods they acquired human understanding and the appearance of men, although they lived in the earth and in rocks.
From Ymir's skull the sons of Bor made the sky and set it over the earth with its four sides. Under each corner they put a dwarf, whose names are East, West, North, and South.
The sons of Bor flung Ymir's brains into the air, and they became the clouds.
Then they took the sparks and burning embers that were flying about after they had been blown out of Muspell, and placed them in the midst of Ginnungagap to give light to heaven above and earth beneath. To the stars they gave appointed places and paths.
The earth was surrounded by a deep sea. The sons of Bor gave lands near the sea to the families of giants for their settlements.
To protect themselves from the hostile giants, the sons of Bor built for themselves an inland stonghold, using Ymir's eyebrows. This stonghold they named Midgard.
While walking along the sea shore the sons of Bor found two trees, and from them they created a man and a woman.
Odin gave the man and the woman spirit and life. Vili gave them understanding and the power of movement. Vé gave them clothing and names. The man was named Ask [Ash] and the woman Embla [Elm?]. From Ask and Embla have sprung the races of men who lived in Midgard.
In the middle of the world the sons of Bor built for themselves a stronghold named Asgard, called Troy by later generations. The gods and their kindred lived in Asgard, and many memorable events have happened there.
In Asgard was a great hall named Hlidskjálf. Odin sat there on a high seat. From there he could look out over the whole world and see what everyone was doing. He understood everything that he saw.
Odin married Frigg, the daughter of Fjörgvin. From this family has come all the kindred that inhabited ancient Asgard and those kingdoms that belonged to it. Members of this family are called the Æsir, and they are all divinities. This must be the reason why Odin is called All-Father. He is the father of all the gods and men and of everything that he and his power created.
The earth was Odin's daughter and his wife as well. By her he had his first son, Thor. Might and strength were Thor's characteristics. By these he dominates every living creature.
As all informed people know, the gods built a bridge from earth to heaven called Bifröst. Some call it the rainbow. It has three colors and is very strong, made with more skill and cunning than other structures. But strong as it is, it will break when the sons of Muspell ride out over it. The gods are not to blame that this structure will then break. Bifröst is a good bridge, but there is nothing in this world that can be relied on when the sons of Muspell are on the warpath.
The chief sanctuary of the gods is by the ash tree Yggdrasil. There they hold their daily court. Yggdrasil is the best and greatest of all trees. Its branches spread out over the whole world and reach up over heaven.
Surt sits at Muspell's border, guarding the land with a flaming sword. At the end of the world he will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole world with fire.
Beyond Muspell lay the great and yawning void named Ginnungagap, and beyond Ginnungagap lay the dark, cold realm of Niflheim.
Ice, frost, wind, rain and heavy cold emanated from Niflheim, meeting in Ginnungagap the soft air, heat, light, and soft air from Muspell.
Where heat and cold met appeared thawing drops, and this running fluid grew into a giant frost ogre named Ymir.
Ymir slept, falling into a sweat. Under his left arm there grew a man and a woman. And one of his legs begot a son with the other. This was the beginning of the frost ogres.
Thawing frost then became a cow called Audhumla. Four rivers of milk ran from her teats, and she fed Ymir.
The cow licked salty ice blocks. After one day of licking, she freed a man's hair from the ice. After two days, his head appeared. On the third day the whole man was there. His name was Buri, and he was tall, strong, and handsome.
Buri begot a son named Bor, and Bor married Bestla, the daughter of a giant.
Bor and Bestla had three sons: Odin was the first, Vili the second, and Vé the third.
It is believed that Odin, in association with his brothers, is the ruler of heaven and earth. He is the greatest and most famous of all men.
Odin, Vili, and Vé killed the giant Ymir.
When Ymir fell, there issued from his wounds such a flood of blood, that all the frost ogres were drowned, except for the giant Bergelmir who escaped with his wife by climbing onto a lur [a hollowed-out tree trunk that could serve either as a boat or a coffin]. From them spring the families of frost ogres.
The sons of Bor then carried Ymir to the middle of Ginnungagap and made the world from him. From his blood they made the sea and the lakes; from his flesh the earth; from his hair the trees; and from his bones the mountains. They made rocks and pebbles from his teeth and jaws and those bones that were broken.
Maggots appeared in Ymir's flesh and came to life. By the decree of the gods they acquired human understanding and the appearance of men, although they lived in the earth and in rocks.
From Ymir's skull the sons of Bor made the sky and set it over the earth with its four sides. Under each corner they put a dwarf, whose names are East, West, North, and South.
The sons of Bor flung Ymir's brains into the air, and they became the clouds.
Then they took the sparks and burning embers that were flying about after they had been blown out of Muspell, and placed them in the midst of Ginnungagap to give light to heaven above and earth beneath. To the stars they gave appointed places and paths.
The earth was surrounded by a deep sea. The sons of Bor gave lands near the sea to the families of giants for their settlements.
To protect themselves from the hostile giants, the sons of Bor built for themselves an inland stonghold, using Ymir's eyebrows. This stonghold they named Midgard.
While walking along the sea shore the sons of Bor found two trees, and from them they created a man and a woman.
Odin gave the man and the woman spirit and life. Vili gave them understanding and the power of movement. Vé gave them clothing and names. The man was named Ask [Ash] and the woman Embla [Elm?]. From Ask and Embla have sprung the races of men who lived in Midgard.
In the middle of the world the sons of Bor built for themselves a stronghold named Asgard, called Troy by later generations. The gods and their kindred lived in Asgard, and many memorable events have happened there.
In Asgard was a great hall named Hlidskjálf. Odin sat there on a high seat. From there he could look out over the whole world and see what everyone was doing. He understood everything that he saw.
Odin married Frigg, the daughter of Fjörgvin. From this family has come all the kindred that inhabited ancient Asgard and those kingdoms that belonged to it. Members of this family are called the Æsir, and they are all divinities. This must be the reason why Odin is called All-Father. He is the father of all the gods and men and of everything that he and his power created.
The earth was Odin's daughter and his wife as well. By her he had his first son, Thor. Might and strength were Thor's characteristics. By these he dominates every living creature.
As all informed people know, the gods built a bridge from earth to heaven called Bifröst. Some call it the rainbow. It has three colors and is very strong, made with more skill and cunning than other structures. But strong as it is, it will break when the sons of Muspell ride out over it. The gods are not to blame that this structure will then break. Bifröst is a good bridge, but there is nothing in this world that can be relied on when the sons of Muspell are on the warpath.
The chief sanctuary of the gods is by the ash tree Yggdrasil. There they hold their daily court. Yggdrasil is the best and greatest of all trees. Its branches spread out over the whole world and reach up over heaven.
It's kind of hard to beat the Japanese creation myth in the Kojiki, which is actually NSFW.
Before the heavens and the earth came into existence, all was a chaos, unimaginably limitless and without definite shape or form. Eon followed eon: then, lo! out of this boundless, shapeless mass something light and transparent rose up and formed the heaven. This was the Plain of High Heaven, in which materialized a deity called Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi-no-Mikoto (the Deity-of-the-August-Center-of-Heaven). Next the heavens gave birth to a deity named Takami-Musubi-no-Mikoto (the High-August-Producing-Wondrous-Deity), followed by a third called Kammi-Musubi-no-Mikoto (the Divine-Producing-Wondrous-Deity). These three divine beings are called the Three Creating Deities.
In the meantime what was heavy and opaque in the void gradually precipitated and became the earth, but it had taken an immeasurably long time before it condensed sufficiently to form solid ground. In its earliest stages, for millions and millions of years, the earth may be said to have resembled oil floating, medusa-like, upon the face of the waters. Suddenly like the sprouting up of a reed, a pair of immortals were born from its bosom. These were the Deity Umashi-Ashi-Kahibi-Hikoji-no-Mikoto (the Pleasant-Reed-Shoot-Prince-Elder-Deity) and the Deity Ame-no-Tokotachi-no-Mikoto (The Heavenly-Eternally-Standing-Deity). . . .
Many gods were thus born in succession, and so they increased in number, but as long as the world remained in a chaotic state, there was nothing for them to do. Whereupon, all the Heavenly deities summoned the two divine beings, Izanagi and Izanami, and bade them descend to the nebulous place, and by helping each other, to consolidate it into terra firma. "We bestow on you," they said, "this precious treasure, with which to rule the land, the creation of which we command you to perform." So saying they handed them a spear called Ama-no-Nuboko, embellished with costly gems. The divine couple received respectfully and ceremoniously the sacred weapon and then withdrew from the presence of the Deities, ready to perform their august commission. Proceeding forthwith to the Floating Bridge of Heaven, which lay between the heaven and the earth, they stood awhile to gaze on that which lay below. What they beheld was a world not yet condensed, but looking like a sea of filmy fog floating to and fro in the air, exhaling the while an inexpressibly fragrant odor. They were, at first, perplexed just how and where to start, but at length Izanagi suggested to his companion that they should try the effect of stirring up the brine with their spear. So saying he pushed down the jeweled shaft and found that it touched something. Then drawing it up, he examined it and observed that the great drops which fell from it almost immediately coagulated into an island, which is, to this day, the Island of Onokoro. Delighted at the result, the two deities descended forthwith from the Floating Bridge to reach the miraculously created island. In this island they thenceforth dwelt and made it the basis of their subsequent task of creating a country. Then wishing to become espoused, they erected in the center oPound the island a pillar, the Heavenly August Pillar, and built around it a great palace called the Hall of Eight Fathoms. Thereupon the male Deity turning to the left and the female Deity to the right, each went round the pillar in opposite directions. When they again met each other on the further side of the pillar, Izanami, the female Deity, speaking first, exclaimed: "How delightful it is to meet so handsome a youth!" To which Izanagi, the male Deity, replied: "How delightful I am to have fallen in with such a lovely maiden!" After having spoken thus, the male Deity said that it was not in order that woman should anticipate man in a greeting. Nevertheless, they fell into connubial relationship, having been instructed by two wagtails which flew to the spot. Presently the Goddess bore her divine consort a son, but the baby was weak and boneless as a leech. Disgusted with it, they abandoned it on the waters, putting it in a boat made of reeds. Their second offspring was as disappointing as the first. The two Deities, now sorely disappointed at their failure and full of misgivings, ascended to Heaven to inquire of the Heavenly Deities the causes of their misfortunes. The latter performed the ceremony of divining and said to them: "It is the woman's fault. In turning round the Pillar, it was not right and proper that the female Deity should in speaking have taken precedence of the male. That is the reason." The two Deities saw the truth of this divine suggestion, and made up their minds to rectify the error. So, returning to the earth again, they went once more around the Heavenly Pillar. This time Izanagi spoke first saying: "How delightful to meet so beautiful a maiden!" "How happy I am," responded Izanami, "that I should meet such a handsom youth!" This process was more appropriate and in accordance with the law of nature. After this, all the children born to them left nothing to be desired. First, the island of Awaji was born, next, Shikoku, then, the island of Oki, followed by Kyushu; after that, the island Tsushima came into being, and lastly, Honshu, the main island of Japan. The name of Oyashi- ma-kuni (the Country of the Eight Great Islands) was given to these eight islands. After this, the two Deities became the parents of numerous smaller islands destined to surround the larger ones.
In the meantime what was heavy and opaque in the void gradually precipitated and became the earth, but it had taken an immeasurably long time before it condensed sufficiently to form solid ground. In its earliest stages, for millions and millions of years, the earth may be said to have resembled oil floating, medusa-like, upon the face of the waters. Suddenly like the sprouting up of a reed, a pair of immortals were born from its bosom. These were the Deity Umashi-Ashi-Kahibi-Hikoji-no-Mikoto (the Pleasant-Reed-Shoot-Prince-Elder-Deity) and the Deity Ame-no-Tokotachi-no-Mikoto (The Heavenly-Eternally-Standing-Deity). . . .
Many gods were thus born in succession, and so they increased in number, but as long as the world remained in a chaotic state, there was nothing for them to do. Whereupon, all the Heavenly deities summoned the two divine beings, Izanagi and Izanami, and bade them descend to the nebulous place, and by helping each other, to consolidate it into terra firma. "We bestow on you," they said, "this precious treasure, with which to rule the land, the creation of which we command you to perform." So saying they handed them a spear called Ama-no-Nuboko, embellished with costly gems. The divine couple received respectfully and ceremoniously the sacred weapon and then withdrew from the presence of the Deities, ready to perform their august commission. Proceeding forthwith to the Floating Bridge of Heaven, which lay between the heaven and the earth, they stood awhile to gaze on that which lay below. What they beheld was a world not yet condensed, but looking like a sea of filmy fog floating to and fro in the air, exhaling the while an inexpressibly fragrant odor. They were, at first, perplexed just how and where to start, but at length Izanagi suggested to his companion that they should try the effect of stirring up the brine with their spear. So saying he pushed down the jeweled shaft and found that it touched something. Then drawing it up, he examined it and observed that the great drops which fell from it almost immediately coagulated into an island, which is, to this day, the Island of Onokoro. Delighted at the result, the two deities descended forthwith from the Floating Bridge to reach the miraculously created island. In this island they thenceforth dwelt and made it the basis of their subsequent task of creating a country. Then wishing to become espoused, they erected in the center oPound the island a pillar, the Heavenly August Pillar, and built around it a great palace called the Hall of Eight Fathoms. Thereupon the male Deity turning to the left and the female Deity to the right, each went round the pillar in opposite directions. When they again met each other on the further side of the pillar, Izanami, the female Deity, speaking first, exclaimed: "How delightful it is to meet so handsome a youth!" To which Izanagi, the male Deity, replied: "How delightful I am to have fallen in with such a lovely maiden!" After having spoken thus, the male Deity said that it was not in order that woman should anticipate man in a greeting. Nevertheless, they fell into connubial relationship, having been instructed by two wagtails which flew to the spot. Presently the Goddess bore her divine consort a son, but the baby was weak and boneless as a leech. Disgusted with it, they abandoned it on the waters, putting it in a boat made of reeds. Their second offspring was as disappointing as the first. The two Deities, now sorely disappointed at their failure and full of misgivings, ascended to Heaven to inquire of the Heavenly Deities the causes of their misfortunes. The latter performed the ceremony of divining and said to them: "It is the woman's fault. In turning round the Pillar, it was not right and proper that the female Deity should in speaking have taken precedence of the male. That is the reason." The two Deities saw the truth of this divine suggestion, and made up their minds to rectify the error. So, returning to the earth again, they went once more around the Heavenly Pillar. This time Izanagi spoke first saying: "How delightful to meet so beautiful a maiden!" "How happy I am," responded Izanami, "that I should meet such a handsom youth!" This process was more appropriate and in accordance with the law of nature. After this, all the children born to them left nothing to be desired. First, the island of Awaji was born, next, Shikoku, then, the island of Oki, followed by Kyushu; after that, the island Tsushima came into being, and lastly, Honshu, the main island of Japan. The name of Oyashi- ma-kuni (the Country of the Eight Great Islands) was given to these eight islands. After this, the two Deities became the parents of numerous smaller islands destined to surround the larger ones.
Necronic
Staff member
The whole evolution thing can be answered quite easily by saying that it can be an answer to the question of how and not the question of why. I <3 South Park.
Anywho....
To those that think that Texas is a backwards state because of this, you have to understand that Texas maintains dichotomies that almost no other state in the south can. Our Capital City is arguable the most liberal city in the Southwestern United States. Houston, our big bad oil town, has had a Democrat for a mayor for the last couple of terms and just elected the first openly gay mayor to a town of over 1 mil.
We are also world leaders in medicine and tech. Which is why this provision:
Our economy is profoundly strong. We haven't broken 10% unemployment rate since the beginning of the recession. We have no state income tax, and our
People think we are big polluters, and that may be true to a point, but we are also one of the only states to have emissions tests required in almost every major city (there is no smog in Houston!)
Our education system is not good, however we (houston) have the highest teacher salary relative to standard of living in almost anywhere in the US.
None of this is to say that Texas is perfect, we definitely have problems, but most people profoundly misunderstand the real nature of Texas.
That said, I am embarrassed by multiple parts of the GOP platform, and I will most definitely be voting for Bill White for governor. He is a moderate democrat that is perfectly suited to become the next governer of Texas, and based off of what he has done for Houston I can't for a second doubt he will push Texas even farther forward without making any of the boneheaded economic policies that democrats seem to push forwards everywhere else.
Anywho....
To those that think that Texas is a backwards state because of this, you have to understand that Texas maintains dichotomies that almost no other state in the south can. Our Capital City is arguable the most liberal city in the Southwestern United States. Houston, our big bad oil town, has had a Democrat for a mayor for the last couple of terms and just elected the first openly gay mayor to a town of over 1 mil.
We are also world leaders in medicine and tech. Which is why this provision:
is embarrassing, since modern cancer research is coming to the realization that this is the only way to fight cancer.
Our economy is profoundly strong. We haven't broken 10% unemployment rate since the beginning of the recession. We have no state income tax, and our
People think we are big polluters, and that may be true to a point, but we are also one of the only states to have emissions tests required in almost every major city (there is no smog in Houston!)
Our education system is not good, however we (houston) have the highest teacher salary relative to standard of living in almost anywhere in the US.
None of this is to say that Texas is perfect, we definitely have problems, but most people profoundly misunderstand the real nature of Texas.
That said, I am embarrassed by multiple parts of the GOP platform, and I will most definitely be voting for Bill White for governor. He is a moderate democrat that is perfectly suited to become the next governer of Texas, and based off of what he has done for Houston I can't for a second doubt he will push Texas even farther forward without making any of the boneheaded economic policies that democrats seem to push forwards everywhere else.
Really makes you wish that 3rd parties were more viable, and not seemingly dominated by more extreme versions of the Big Two.
Really makes you wish that 3rd parties were more viable, and not seemingly dominated by more extreme versions of the Big Two.[/QUOTE]
Or crazy in their own right.
We need a party of 'Meh'
Where do you stand on abortion? Meh
Gay rights? Meh
The environment? Meh
Wait, is there anything you feel strongly about? Yeah, lunch.
- Status