Evolution of the Human Eye

1) A simple light-sensitive spot on the skin of some ancestral creature gave it some tiny survival advantage, perhaps allowing it to evade a predator.

2) Random changes then created a depression in the light-sensitive patch, a deepening pit that made "vision" a little sharper.

3) At the same time, the pit's opening gradually narrowed, so light entered through a small aperture, like a pinhole camera.

Every change had to confer a survival advantage, no matter how slight.

4) Eventually, the light-sensitive spot evolved into a retina, the layer of cells and pigment at the back of the human eye.

5) Over time a lens formed at the front of the eye. It could have arisen as a double-layered transparent tissue containing increasing amounts of liquid that gave it the convex curvature of the human eye.


In fact, eyes corresponding to every stage in this sequence have been found in existing living species. The existence of this range of less complex light-sensitive structures supports scientists' hypotheses about how complex eyes like ours could evolve. The first animals with anything resembling an eye lived about 550 million years ago. And, according to one scientist's calculations, only 364,000 years would have been needed for a camera-like eye to evolve from a light-sensitive patch.


From Evolution of the Eye.

Questions Questions

Chris asks: "What do you believe and what is the foundation for your belief?"

I believe in the sum of human understanding. All of it. I don't want to leave a single stone unturned. Yes, I have to make considered judgements about what I will believe, today. Tomorrow, who knows? The adventure of discovery continues.

We don't know what might be round the corner. Some clever folks, who tend to be from the field of science, have predicted what is waiting for us, up ahead. Some not so clever ones, who tend to be from the field of religion, have tried too, but have so far returned an embarassing failure rate of 100%. See, they talk about a "God of the gaps", but I don't think it's the gaps in science, I think it's the big empty spaces in people's minds where gods find space to live.

But I don't just reject religion. In fact, I don't trust anyone who waves a book at me and says, "This has all the answers you'll ever need! It's all here in the Complete and Comprehensive Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything".

The Nazis indoctrinated the Hitler Youth with Mein Kampf. The Communists had their unimaginatively titled Communist Manifesto. The Muslims have their Qur'an. And the Christians have their Bible. Chairman Mao understood the need to have an unimaginatively titled book of "truths" when he had distributed his Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong.

Anyone who ties their thinking to one book or doctrine is limiting his world view and creating in him/herself an easily controllable asset for those who might one day wish to exploit it.

Because leaders whose power relies on the followers of their doctrine will always fear and seek to destroy a rival doctrine.

The Nazis hated the Communists and disposed of them like cattle, at any opportunity. The Soviet Communists hunted out those who practised religion and treated them to holiday in a Siberian concetration camp. The American Christians feared Communists and had their own little fun witch-hunt. And since Communism has all but crumbled, we have the American Christians vs the Islamic Crazies.

"Ah", you'll say, "but my book is different to all the others. I know you've heard bad things about it, but that's because you don't really understand it. You need to read it, cover to cover, with someone to "help" you. Then everything will become clear. Until you do, you just won't know. So, just step this way and you'll be on the road to enlightenment..."

No. I don't think I'll be reading your book from cover to cover. I may dip into it, once in a while, if I feel in particular need of amusement. You can limit yourself, if you feel the need, but I'm just about as enlightened as I'm ever going to get, thanks all the same.

Do Retards Get Into Heaven?

Avoiding the obvious gag ("No, but they believe they will."), debates such as this and this have wandered down the Path With No End: Mankind's Inherent Sin.

Danny says he sins because he's a sinner (which is like saying I write because I'm a writer). Anyhow, apparently we're all born sinners, because Adam and Eve (real people, who lived and walked on this Earth, when it was created 6000-odd years ago) chose sin.

Yes, sin is genetic - it's in our DNA.

But it's OK, God had this plan - he'd send this God-man miracle-doer down to Earth and tell everyone (well, at least a dozen or so) that if we repented and praised the Lord, we would be Saved from burning in Hell's Fire.

Well, that's all fine for you and me. We can read blogs and everything (I know some of your struggle, but keep practicing...). But what about those whose mental capacity has been severly reduced, for one reason or another?

A friend of mine works with autistic children. Some struggle with the concept of feeding themselves, let alone original sin. So, what hope have they got? They're going to Hell, right? Or is there a get out clause? Is there something in the small print?

I'd like to think the mentally restricted get an automatic pass into Heaven. But it does beg the question, what happens when they get there? Are their Earthly limitations released? Do they write poetry and play grandmaster-level chess with God? Will David Beckham be discussing quantum mechanics with Erwin Schrödinger? Will George Bush be lighting farts with J. Robert Oppenheimer? Will the Archbishop of Canterbury be girating in a sweaty Mambo with Pope Benedict XVI?

And these are just some of the many things I spend my waking life contemplating.

War

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

Hermann Göring (speaking about war and extreme nationalism during the Nuremberg trials to his judges).

Don't Try To Pretend...

...there isn't a World Cup about to start. It's a real world competition - y'know, where other nations actually take part. Your first match is against the Czech Republic, which is a tough one, because they are a decent team.

I hope you'll all be cheering your boys on...

Thank God You're Not Norwegian

I happened upon an article at Rationalist International which reveals:

"In 1537, Norway adopted the Lutheran Christian religion as state religion by a royal decree... The system remains stable, as it is safely embedded in the constitution. Every citizen is born as a church member - and remains one as long as he or she is not determined to face all disadvantages and leave the church... Another safeguard for the system is the constitutional rule that at least half of the ministers of any government have to be church members. A party that has - by chance or principle – no church members or just not enough of them is excluded from full power."

Bloomin' 'eck.

Did Your God Know?

Is this what he intended:

"Many scientists believe this is the sixth great wave - the sixth mass extinction to affect life on Earth.

We were not here for any of the previous mass extinctions, but this time our sheer preponderance is driving the slide to oblivion.

We have more than doubled our numbers in half a century, and that is the most obvious reason why there is less room for any other species.

We are taking their living room to grow our food, their food to feed ourselves. We are exploiting them, trading in them, squeezing them to the margins of existence - and beyond."

If your god created all these species, why doesn't he seem to care about them? Where in your religious text does he ask you not to wipe out his creations? Why is he so concerned about you coveting your neighbour's ass, while not being in the slightest bit bothered if you destroy thousands of the creatures he so lovingly designed?

All answers should be emailed to foranomnipotentbeinggodisincrediblyshortsighted@fukotherspecies.com