Why I am convinced of common descent (and why I think you should be, too)

December 2nd, 2009 | 2 Comments

These well-made videos from the Cassiopeia Project are excellent and accessible primers about evolutionary theory. I appreciate that, despite their emphasis on why the evidence is clearly and uniformly in favor of evolutionary theory, they’re not polemical about specific claims or objections from evolution critics. There’s no slapping anyone around; the overwhelming evidence for common descent is just presented on its own terms.

There will no doubt be lingering questions about specific creationist claims and objections. But on the whole, I can’t imagine that evolution skeptics will be able to watch all of these and still automatically impute the worst motives for why Christians like me, who might have been otherwise content to hang onto the typical Protestant interpretation of Genesis, have become convinced of common descent. The scientific data is so compelling.

Facts of Evolution

This is the longest segment, but a must-watch all the way through as it gives the widest range of evidence for evolution and common descent.

Hard link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rajouw6zFDY

Mechanisms of Evolution

After showing why scientists are sure that evolution happened in the last video, this one discusses how it happened, focusing on natural selection and genetic drift.

Hard link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK13zICu9CI

The Highway of Life

This is a compelling presentation showing the history of the world as a trip down the road from the first pre-biological molecules all the way to humans.

Hard link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkoScN9L7hY

Higher quality versions of these videos are available through iTunes U.

Related posts:

  1. A new, definitive introduction to the Adam/evolution problem in Christian theology If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: devout evangelicals will never be able to come to terms with evolution as long...
  2. Modern dinosaurs and misleading science jargon The Created Evolutionist linked me over to an article in December’s Smithsonian Magazine about the important transitional links found between dinosaurs and modern birds. First I’ll...

December 2nd, 2009

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