The octopus, intelligence, and God

[Paul G. Humber]

See this octopus use a coconut shell as a sled to scoot along the ocean floor and to hide in – maybe for protection. "We were blown away," biologist Mark Norman said. Here it is: Octopuses using coconut shells as tools

Did octopuses evolve intelligence, or was intelligence placed there by God? I do not know who Mark Norman is. According to the report, he is a biologist. His “We were blown away” may reflect surprise that trial-and-error evolution could produce such spectacular intelligence in octopuses. Many here seem to have faith in what I would call the idol of Evolution. Some may even scorn my view that Creator deserves credit. Alas, there is a clash in worldviews. If the evolutionary worldview is correct, then we all end up dead—into nothingness. If the Lord Jesus Christ is who He says He is, however, then the outcome is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. See Matthew 25:31ff and John 5:28f.

[Seanibus]

See this octopus use a coconut shell as a sled to scoot along the ocean floor and to hide in – maybe for protection. "We were blown away," biologist Mark Norman said. Here it is: Octopuses using coconut shells as tools

Did octopuses evolve intelligence, or was intelligence placed there by God? I do not know who Mark Norman is. According to the report, he is a biologist. His “We were blown away” may reflect surprise that trial-and-error evolution could produce such spectacular intelligence in octopuses. Many here seem to have faith in what I would call the idol of Evolution. Some may even scorn my view that Creator deserves credit. Alas, there is a clash in worldviews. If the evolutionary worldview is correct, then we all end up dead—into nothingness. If the Lord Jesus Christ is who He says He is, however, then the outcome is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. See Matthew 25:31ff and John 5:28f.

Or more likely, it reflects ongoing surprise at how wrong we were in assuming that we were the only tool-using species on the planet, a pre-scientific assumption that has been remarkably resistant to scientific evidence to the contrary.

[niloroth]

See this octopus use a coconut shell as a sled to scoot along the ocean floor and to hide in – maybe for protection. "We were blown away," biologist Mark Norman said. Here it is: Octopuses using coconut shells as tools

Did octopuses evolve intelligence, or was intelligence placed there by God? I do not know who Mark Norman is. According to the report, he is a biologist. His “We were blown away” may reflect surprise that trial-and-error evolution could produce such spectacular intelligence in octopuses. Many here seem to have faith in what I would call the idol of Evolution. Some may even scorn my view that Creator deserves credit. Alas, there is a clash in worldviews. If the evolutionary worldview is correct, then we all end up dead—into nothingness. If the Lord Jesus Christ is who He says He is, however, then the outcome is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. See Matthew 25:31ff and John 5:28f.

oh look, you are once again attempting to use the findings of real scientists to discredit your warped view of evolution.

I really am starting to see these types of science headlines pop up in my RSS feed, and thinking, "yep, he is going to try to use this".

I am more often than not correct, and it is always so very sad when you do.

[R8CHEL]

Or more likely, it reflects ongoing surprise at how wrong we were in assuming that we were the only tool-using species on the planet, a pre-scientific assumption that has been remarkably resistant to scientific evidence to the contrary.

I immediately thought the same thing when I read their quote, "We were blown away". They may have always been doing that.

[OldCityTans]

oh look, you are once again attempting to use the findings of real scientists to discredit your warped view of evolution.

I really am starting to see these types of science headlines pop up in my RSS feed, and thinking, "yep, he is going to try to use this".

Ya I saw this one yesterday too and thought to myself, see how smart the animals get over time?

I did not think "God did it!"

[Dayman]

This has become a parody.

[Seanibus]

This has become a parody.

We're just gettin' warmed up, babe.

[Mr Morley]

Man, Humber just opened a door he shouldn't have opened!

Of course octopi are smart; they're directly related to the Ancient Ones who will return and eat our souls.

[Dayman]

^That was an appropriate Lovecraft reference.

[Paul G. Humber]

Or more likely, it reflects ongoing surprise at how wrong we were in assuming that we were the only tool-using species on the planet, a pre-scientific assumption that has been remarkably resistant to scientific evidence to the contrary.

I rephrase your wording --it reflects ongoing surprise at how wrong evolutionists were in assuming that simple-life ooze could reflect such intelligence—a pseudo-scientific assumption that has been remarkably resistant to true scientific evidence to the contrary. Such creatures could not have evolved from ooze; they are marvelously designed. It would be idiotic to enter an art museum and declare that all the works on the walls showed no intelligence—how much more a walk through a forest or garden of living art!

[Seanibus]

I rephrase your wording --it reflects ongoing surprise at how wrong evolutionists were in assuming that simple-life ooze could reflect such intelligence—a pseudo-scientific assumption that has been remarkably resistant to true scientific evidence to the contrary. Such creatures could not have evolved from ooze; they are marvelously designed. It would be idiotic to enter an art museum and declare that all the works on the walls showed no intelligence—how much more a walk through a forest or garden of living art!

Well, that's not actually what I meant. In fact, if anything the intelligence exhibited by other animals suggests that we share a great commonality with them - the difference between humans and other animals is a matter of degree not of kind, which to me suggests a clear common ancestry. It suggests there is nothing radically different, let alone divine, about man's intellectual abilities and that it is perfectly possible that other creatures in other circumstances could develop similar levels of intelligence.

[thunda]

Random Cthulu reference gets Morley +100 points.

I'd fine Humber 50 points for stupidity and/or dis-ingenuousness, but his account is already negative.

[OldCityTans]

Lots of animals use tools. Chimps are probably the most inventive but many animals will use all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. For example...

Petter Bøckman of the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo commented (in respect of a 2006 exhibition on homosexuality in the animal kingdom) that:

Masturbation is common in the animal kingdom ... We have a Darwinist mentality that all animals only have sex to procreate. But there are plenty of animals who will masturbate when they have nothing better to do. Masturbation has been observed among primates, deer, killer whales and penguins, and we're talking about both males and females. They rub themselves against stones and roots. Orangutans are especially inventive. They make dildos of wood and bark.

link

[Seanibus]

Lots of animals use tools. Chimps are probably the most inventive but many animals will use all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons. For example...



link

Yes, but could they invent the Fleshlight? I think not.

Clear proof of God.

[OldCityTans]

I dunno, a dildo is pretty smart, maybe that's the evidence the creationists have been looking for all along?? Only Jesus the Creator Christ could have made a mere animal with the intelligence & drive to jack off with a stick!!

[Bob_Head]

I dunno, a dildo is pretty smart, maybe that's the evidence the creationists have been looking for all along?? Only Jesus the Creator Christ could have made a mere animal with the intelligence & drive to jack off with a stick!!

How about one of these?

[OldCityTans]

The devil made that. ~tsk tsk

[jedi mind fart]

I hear they left that out of the scripture , that Jesus was a real ass kisser that is.

[niloroth]

Man, Humber just opened a door he shouldn't have opened!

Of course octopi are smart; they're directly related to the Ancient Ones who will return and eat our souls.

you know, i had been searching for something for my avatar.

[Malloy]