Changes

'''Evolutionists''', or believers in the [[theory of evolution]], have a trademark style of argument that includes:

'''Evolutionists''', or believers in the [[theory of evolution]], have a trademark style of argument that includes:

* insistence on [[censorship]] of any and all opposing evidence and viewpoints, and retaliation against anyone who dares to disagree

* Insistence on [[censorship]] of any and all opposing evidence and viewpoints, and retaliation against anyone who dares to disagree

* attempted [[proof by assertion]]. The classic case of such conduct was Sir [[Charles Lyell]]'s advocacy of [[uniformitarianism]], which establishes the required [[deep time]] scale and as such is the very linchpin of the evolutionary paradigm.

* Attempted [[proof by assertion]]. The classic case of such conduct was Sir [[Charles Lyell]]'s advocacy of [[uniformitarianism]], which establishes the required [[deep time]] scale and as such is the very linchpin of the evolutionary paradigm.

* [[argumentum ad hominem]], or excessive personal attacks that often include childish name-calling and personal put-downs, more so than other debaters

* [[Argumentum ad hominem]], or excessive personal attacks that often include childish name-calling and personal put-downs, more so than other debaters

* [[proof by authority]], or highlighting their own academic credentials or those of their allies in support of their theories. An academic credential can include anything from a publishing credit (especially in a "peer-reviewed" journal) to a degree to a particular academic appointment. However, [[Ben Stein]] (''[[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]]'') shows that evolutionists add this twist: they systematically deny to others, whenever they can, any opportunity to acquire similar credentials.

* [[Proof by authority]], or highlighting their own academic credentials or those of their allies in support of their theories. An academic credential can include anything from a publishing credit (especially in a "peer-reviewed" journal) to a degree to a particular academic appointment. However, [[Ben Stein]] (''[[Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed]]'') shows that evolutionists add this twist: they systematically deny to others, whenever they can, any opportunity to acquire similar credentials.

* use of bizarre jargon such as "[[quote mining]]," "[[moving the goalposts]]" and "[[Fundamentalism|fundies]]"; use of incoherent phrases like "unconvincingly hysterical"

* Use of bizarre jargon such as "[[quote mining]]," "[[moving the goalposts]]" and "[[Fundamentalism|fundies]]"; use of incoherent phrases like "unconvincingly hysterical"

* inordinate attempt to demonize the other side, as in overuse of the term [[creationist]] and [[fundamentalist]]. The latter example includes the attempt to show that [[Christian]] fundamentalists are morally equivalent to [[Muslim]] fundamentalists, whether in their extreme rejection of modernity or in their practice and advocacy of [[terrorism]].

* Inordinate attempt to demonize the other side, as in overuse of the term [[creationist]] and [[fundamentalist]]. The latter example includes the attempt to show that [[Christian]] fundamentalists are morally equivalent to [[Muslim]] fundamentalists, whether in their extreme rejection of modernity or in their practice and advocacy of [[terrorism]].

* an astounding lack of understanding -- or denial -- of how most great scientists  and mathematicians either rejected evolution or were silent about it

* An astounding lack of understanding -- or denial -- of how most great scientists  and mathematicians either rejected evolution or were silent about it

* an equal lack of understanding, or denial, that most of the greatest scientists in the Western world asserted the reality of [[creation]] and the [[Great Flood]] prior to the [[Enlightenment]], or else a denial that their scientific achievements (including those of [[Sir Isaac Newton]]!) matter today.

* An equal lack of understanding, or denial, that most of the greatest scientists in the Western world asserted the reality of [[creation]] and the [[Great Flood]] prior to the [[Enlightenment]], or else a denial that their scientific achievements (including those of [[Sir Isaac Newton]]!) matter today.

* frequent reliance on [[circular reasoning]], as in defining evolution as change and [[survival of the fittest]] as those who survive

* Frequent reliance on [[circular reasoning]], as in defining evolution as change and [[survival of the fittest]] as those who survive

* [[Liberal projection|projection]]—figuratively "throwing off" their own faults on the other side, in that they accuse the other side of doing the very things that they themselves do.

* [[Liberal projection|projection]]—figuratively "throwing off" their own faults on the other side, in that they accuse the other side of doing the very things that they themselves do.

* claiming to enjoy scientific debate yet often refusing to debate creationists.

* Claiming to enjoy scientific debate yet often refusing to debate creationists.

* refusing to allow the possibility that God exists.

* Refusing to allow the possibility that God exists.

* claiming that so-called "[[Theistic evolution]]" is possible, which would indicate that the events that took place in Genesis are false (meaning God lied about them) or allegoric.

* Claiming that so-called "[[Theistic evolution]]" is possible, which would indicate that the events that took place in Genesis are false (meaning God lied about them) or allegoric.

* ignoring the clear historical link between [[Darwinism]], [[Eugenics]], and the [[Holocaust]].

* Ignoring the clear historical link between [[Darwinism]], [[Eugenics]], and the [[Holocaust]].

* [[deliberate ignorance]] about phenomena that [[evolution]] cannot explain, such as remarkable [[migration]] and [[homing]], or the existence of the [[whale]]

* [[Deliberate ignorance]] about phenomena that [[evolution]] cannot explain, such as remarkable [[migration]] and [[homing]], or the existence of the [[whale]]

* claim that the theory of evolution can be used as an applied science, like the development of flu vaccines, but continuing to support the theory when the application fails. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/opinion/20sun3.html?ref=opinion</ref>

* Claim that the theory of evolution can be used as an applied science, like the development of flu vaccines, but continuing to support the theory when the application fails. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/opinion/20sun3.html?ref=opinion</ref>

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