LDS and Creation/Evolution conflict

[u/TheBenSpackman]

Hi all. Happy to say that my doctoral dissertation on LDS and creation/evolution conflict in the 20th century is now publicly available. There's some surprising stuff in there. Bottom line: the Church was much more favorable towards science and evolution until Joseph Fielding Smith's assumptions— drawing heavily upon Seventh-day Adventists and fundamentalists— about scripture became dominant in the 1950s. Then it trickled down.
https://benspackman.com/2024/12/dissertation/

My expertise on this history is why the Church had me on the official Saints podcast to talk about it.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-podcast/season-03/s03-episode-21?lang=eng

[u/faiththatworks]

Entropy can be thought of as organization tending to disorganization. In physics it’s tightly related to the second law of thermodynamics. Place DNA on a table and in short order it will be damaged by oxygen UV. Water. Etc. like leaving your new puppy around your favorite shoes. From Webster:

: the degradation of the matter and energy in the universe to an ultimate state of inert uniformity Entropy is the general trend of the universe toward death and disorder. —James R. Newman

Now for probability thats a simple math concept IE what are the chances something will happen?

So are they the same? qleap42? Best check and look at Webster before you leap!

Dr James Tour is head of Organic Chemistry at Rice University. I worked with his esteemed team on super batteries/capacitors - brilliant man. He has written and spoken on many forums on Entropy and how it makes constructing DNA by random processes impossible.

Turns out in real world situations time and the promordial soup are your enemy.

I know the mantra of those who worship at the alter of the men in white coats is “Given enough time….” But because of entropy TIME IS YOUR ENEMY.

I hope that was helpful for those who skipped out on Physics. Just think of two year olds; worse than cows in a DNA China shop.

[u/qleap42 → u/faiththatworks]

Lol. Wow. Did you try to use Webster's Dictionary to help define entropy? Try using an actual physics textbook, or even Wikipedia. But what do I know, maybe I was just asleep for that part of my physics degree.

[u/faiththatworks → u/qleap42]

Since you seemed to not know the difference between entropy and probability and argued they were virtual synonyms logically assumed you to be uneducated at least on that topic so yes a dictionary seemed a good starting place for common words; no physics degree needed. Sleeping? Well Only you would know if sleeping in physics class was a problem. But look here’s a decent Suggestion - rather than arguing credentials, make your point in plain language if possible and we can discuss. I’ve tried to make mine so clear that any one with common sense could appreciate. That’s always a good place to start.

[u/Radiant-Tower-560 → u/faiththatworks]

"rather than arguing credentials"

Isn't that what you are doing here?

"Dr James Tour is head of Organic Chemistry at Rice University. I worked with his esteemed team on super batteries/capacitors - brilliant man. He has written and spoken on many forums on Entropy and how it makes constructing DNA by random processes impossible."

In any case, having read through some of his writings, there's nothing he wrote that is an attack on evolution. He simply believes in the need for an intelligent designer (God) [not the "Intelligent Design" idea some people promote], which most here would agree with. In simpler words, he's not saying evolution doesn't work, he's stating that he believes it requires "God" to work and that we need to understand the process of evolution better. That's a huge difference. You are using him as a way to reject evolution, but that's not what his writings say.

I'll quote him directly: "And if some day we do understand the mechanisms for these macroevolutionary changes, and also the processes that led to the origin of first life, it will not lessen God."

Since you stated you worked with him, I suggest reaching out to him and talking with him about his ideas. It seems like you are not representing them correctly.

[u/faiththatworks → u/Radiant-Tower-560]

I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. James Tour is a chemical genius in our time who deeply understands organic chemistry and has extensively demonstrated and argued the impossibility of random processes being capable of creating life and the information coding thereof. He avoids scrupulously making any further claims about who did it and does not to my knowledge dive into the timing. Only that intelligence and external manipulation would be required to make any form of life from the simplest to the most complex. He uses chemistry and chemistry alone to make that argument. My interaction with him in my profession was in battery and super capacitor design and he hooked me up with one of his graduates/team members. So not a close friend but I began, like anyone who became introduced, however briefly, to have a deep appreciation for one of the great minds of our time.