PuckSR
Posts: 314
Joined: Nov. 2005
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You know...I originally started posting on UD to test something. In my rather short life experience, I have found that many people hold beliefs without any reason. I thought that this might be the case with a lot of the Intelligent Design crowd. When i first learned the "true" definition of ID I was appalled. I got the impression that most people who supported ID were either creationists who knew what they were doing, or completely ignorant.
Then I met DaveScot. I dont particularly enjoy DaveScot, but I think we can all agree that he isnt a complete fool. DaveScot is not a creationist. Im rather sure of this fact: either DaveScot honestly is not a Creationist, or he ignores the 10 commandments. He also is not ignorant, he actually understands ID, and still apparently supports ID.
This man has bothered me for quite some time. Every other person I have ever met holds ID beliefs because of either religion or ignorance....and I dont believe DaveScot honestly falls into either category. I suggest that people like DaveScot are the reason for ID succeeding at all.
The loch ness monster does not exist...despite the beliefs of many people. Many, many people ignorantly see the loch ness monster....they are either completely unfamiliar with water or marine life or both. Many people see the loch ness monster because of some confirmation bias, they believe there to be a monster so they see one. Most people probably fall under both categories. A very few people who are familiar with the loch and who have no previous belief in the monster see something they cannot explain and contribute it to the loch ness monster. If no one else had seen a monster...then these people might easily find a more rational explanation for what they had just seen. They really cannot be blamed, the are reliable witnesses, but thanks to the support of every other "Nessie" sighting they decide that they saw a "monster".
DaveScot might legitimately believe in ID in all of its glory without any religious context, but he only believes in it because of all of the other supporters who do have religious motives. They, however, can point to people like him. They can say "look, he is a smart guy who understands all of this and who has no religious motivation". It seems to be a cycle of support. Just like UFOs and the loch ness monster. Only a few people have any real reason to say anything, but their opinion is jaded because of the thousands of less scrupulous supporters. The less scrupulous supporters look to the "authentic" believers for their support.
At least....that's DaveScot in my lil nutshell. Maybe someday he will become more of a skeptic and seek more rational solutions for his problems, but right now the ID/creationist movement has a guy on their side who they can hold up as a posterboy....despite the fact that he represents only a very, very, very slim minority of ID believers
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