Author: Matt Brinkman (brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov) Title: A List of Important FAQ Files A si
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Author: Matt Brinkman (brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov)
Title: A List of Important FAQ Files
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A single FAQ for talk.origins is probably not possible due to the length
such a file would attain. This FAQ is designed to point anyone interested to
the original posters of material that would have been included in one global
FAQ file were it to exist.
The list of FAQ's provided below is a compilation of the files that I
believe are communally agreed upon standard responses to Frequently Asked/
Answered Questions. The short synopses that follow each of the files are my
personal opinions. These are designed merely to give interested readers a
quick idea as to the content/style of the listed files. These sections can
be viewed as my personal recommendations, but they should NOT replace an
individual reader's perusal of the material.
This file is divided into four sections:
1) Creation/Evolution FAQ's
2) Catastrophism (Flood) and Neo-catastrophism (Velikovsky) FAQ's
3) Age of the Earth FAQ's
4) Other FAQ's
Each listing includes the FAQ name, the name of the original poster,
an E-Mail address that I personally have found to work for that poster,
and a brief description of the FAQ.
Note:
There is currently no single source for these files. Although
many of the T.O. Irregulars (tm) may have copies, it is not
guaranteed that these copies are the most recent versions.
Your best bet is to contact the person listed. What's that I hear,
a call for either a mail-server or an an anonymous FTP site? I
agree such would be nice, does anyone have any suggestions?
Revisions to Current Version:
Jim Meritt's address corrected.
Chris Stassen's contributions reorganized and handed off.
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Creation/Evolution FAQ's
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FAQ: Creationist's questions answered
Poster: Jim Meritt jmeritt@mwunix.mitre.org
Notes: An index of the points covered in the multiple Meritt FAQ's (see
below). Extremely helpful in finding what one is looking for in
the voluminous Meritt FAQ files.
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FAQ: Astronomy and Creation
FAQ: Mathematics and Creation
FAQ: Fossils and Creation
FAQ: Physics and Creation
FAQ: Religion and Creation
FAQ: Species and Creation
FAQ: Geology and Creation
FAQ: Gaps in the Fossil Record
FAQ: Creationist Credentials
Poster: Jim Meritt jmeritt@mwunix.mitre.org
Notes: The Meritt FAQ's cover most of the topics seen in talk.origins.
In an effort to eliminate duplication, the division of topics
is at times fuzzy (is that Physics or Astronomy?). Voluminous.
Crap is called crap without any beating around the bush. At
times acerbic.
FAQ: Geology and Creation contains a nice discussion of Robert
Gentry's Po halo work.
FAQ: Religion and Creation is not for the faint of heart. It
is not a general FAQ, as it focusses solely on Christianity.
This file may offend religious sensibilities.
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1) FAQ: What is evolution?
2) FAQ: Evidence for evolution. <== (originally multiple files)*
Poster: Chris Colby colby@bu-bio.bu.edu
Notes: 1) A nice sophisticated layman's introduction to evolution. Includes
common definitions, explanations of the mechanisms of evolution,
and provides references to experimental evidence in favor of evolution.
2) A collection of summaries of recent papers from journals, which
provide evidence supporting evolution. The summaries are designed
to demonstrate that "evolutionary biology is a valid, productive
branch of science."
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1) FAQ: Transitional forms.
2) FAQ: Horse Evolution
Poster: Kathleen Hunt jespah@milton.u.washington.edu
Notes: 1) A short summary of examples of transitional fossils that have
been found, with emphasis on the vertebrates.
2) A detailed summary on what is known on the evolution of modern
horses (Equus caballas and kin). A disussion of the evolution of
paleontological work related to the horse is provided, which is a
nice demonstration of how scientific thought progresses as new
information becomes available.
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FAQ: Monotremes and reptile-mammal transition.
Poster: Peter Lamb prl@csis.dit.csiro.au
Notes: An introduction to monotremes (i.e., egg-laying mammals), and a
a discussion on how they fit into the evolution of mammals.
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Catastrophism and Neo-Catastrophism (e.g. Velikovsky) FAQ's
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FAQ: Worlds in Collision, Collusion, Confusion.
FAQ: The Saturn Myth
Poster: Jim Meritt jmeritt@mwunix.mitre.org
Notes: FAQ's covering neo-catastrophism as espoused by Velikovsky and
Talbott. Voluminous. At times acerbic.
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FAQ: Critique of Velikovsky's revision of Near Eastern chronology
Poster: Karl Kluge kck@cs.cmu.edu
Notes: Discusses problems with Velikovsky's rewriting of Near Eastern
chronology, contains references to books which provide further
critiques.
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FAQ: Evidence Against a Global Flood
Poster: Mark Isaak isaak@aurora.com
Notes: Despite its title, this file does not directly contain evidence
against a global flood. It is a collection of non-sparing
scientific questions relating to the possibility of a global
flood, with specific questions aimed at the story of the
Noachian deluge as expounded in Genesis.
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Age of the Earth
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The age-of-the-Earth debate. (three centuries of debate)
Poster: n/a (see below)
Notes: This is an article from _Scientific American_, v.261, p.90(6),
August, 1989. Although technically not an FAQ, Sci. Am. can be
found in almost any library. This article provides a historical
tour of various scientific estimates on the age of the Earth, and
how those estimates changed. Typical Sci. Am. history article.
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1) FAQ: Isochron Dating Theory
2) FAQ: Age of the Earth
3) FAQ: Stassen vs. Bales--Age of the Earth Debate
4) Radiometric Dating, Geologic Time, and the Age of the Earth
Poster: Wesley Elsberry elsberry@beta.tricity.wsu.edu
Notes: 1) A brief explanation of isochron dating techniques. Written in
response to some stupid question I asked, so it is easily accessible
to the layman.
2) A nice explanation of why we know the Earth is ~4.5 Gy old.
Includes a discussion of common creationist "dating methods", and
criticisms of mainstream dating methods. Ends with a useful
list of suggested further readings and references.
3) A point-by-point debate that took place in t.o. between Chris
Stassen (old earther) and Bob Bales (young earther) on the age of the
Earth. Excellent introduction to various young earth Creationist
canards and to scientific arguments for an old earth. Warning,
extremely long (~70 kB).
4) An introduction to the science used to establish the age of the
Earth, and a response to various young Earth canards. Written by
G. Brent Dalrymple under the aegis of the USGS, it is available as
USGS Open-File Report 86-110. This file is not available by e-mail.
If you cannot find it at a local library contact Wesley Elsberry and
snail-mail him a SASE.
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FAQ: The Speed of Light Controversy
Poster: Jon Livesey livesey@solntze.esd.sgi.com
Notes: Investigation into Norman/Setterfield claims that the speed of
light is not a constant, but has markedly declined in the past.
The investigation focuses on the data set that Norman/Setterfield
used to show that the speed of light is declining. Provides an
excellent case study on typical "Scientific Creationists" misuse
of scientific data.
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FAQ: Ice-Core Dating Techniques
Poster: Matt Brinkman brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov
Notes: A brief synopsis of dating techniques that can be applied to ice
cores taken from glaciers with data from an Antarctic ice-core.
Extremely brief discussion of ice-core dates and age of the earth
and neo-catastrophism.
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Other FAQ's
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1) FAQ: "Origins" Periodical List
2) FAQ: "Origins" Book Reviews
3) FAQ: Keyword Index to _NCSE Reports_ and _Creation/Evolution Journal_
Poster: Wesley Elsberry elsberry@beta.tricity.wsu.edu
Notes: 1) A list of all of the more popular "origins" periodicals with
short reviews and ordering addresses.
2) A list of short reviews of a handful of the most popular relevant
books (from both sides). This is of interest to anyone who wants to
join the fray on either side. Know your enemy and all that.
3) A hand-made "keyword index" to all issues of _NCSE Reports_ and
_Creation/Evolution Journal_. Due to size restrictions, this item
is not available through e-mail. If interested, get in touch with
Chris and find out where to send an SASE and floppy disks.
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FAQ: List of Available Talk.Origins FAQ's
Poster: Matt Brinkman brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov
Notes: This is the file you are currently reading.
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Any additions, corrections, deletions, etc. would be gladly received.
I would like to thank all the people who have provided FAQ lists to
talk.origins for helping me assemble this list. In particular, Peter
Lamb provided a lengthy e-mail with possible files to be included here,
and helped at least one file find its rightful owner.
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Matt Brinkman brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov
Disclaimer: The list is a list; the opinions are mine.
E-Mail Fredric L. Rice / The Skeptic Tank