The news for creationists of late has been terrible. To their chagrin, several fossils discovered recently fill gaps in evolutionary theory they claim represented blatant discredits to what is now accepted as the guiding understanding of the origin of life on Earth.
First, Tiktaalik roseae is a missing link between sea- and land-dwelling creatures. It represents a significant find clearly identifying a transitional species in the evolutionary chain.
Second, Australopithecus anamensis is one of the missing links in human development showing yet another transitional species between modern Homo sapiens and our predecessors.
Third and most recent, Najash rionegrina is a new discovery of a “Cretaceous snake with legs and a pelvis” that again is a missing link in the evolutionary chain. In this case, the fossil discovered shows that, as the oldest snake ever found, instead of evolving in the water snakes actually developed from land-based ancestors.
The significance of these finds can not be denied: they represent intermediate species that answer questions in evolutionary theory, and they help explain the origin of life on our planet. To say these findings have been good for science is an understatement.
From a religious perspective, however, they essentially demolish many of the arbitrary and adamant claims by creationists that evolution could not have taken place since no solid evidence exists to show one species led to another. The discovery of these various fossils provides significant evidence of transitional speciation. That, in turn, demolishes the ignorance of believers who decry such irrefutable evidence.
Ah, but we’re not done.
Intelligent design (ID) makes no claim that evolution did not occur. Instead, its supporters claim that certain aspects of the theory have no chance of explaining the irreducible complexity (IC) of existing biological components. One of these includes protein-binding sites for small molecules. This happens to be a major component of the IDiots’ claim that someone directed evolution. I hate to point out yet another fallacy of religious nonsense, but this claim has now been disproved. Hormone-receptor complexity by molecular exploitation has not only been explained, it has been demonstrated. Ouch!
How do zealots respond to this? Simple: begin deleting evidence of the claim and, when caught, move the targets of the challenge. Ultimately, this represents conclusive evidence of a significant failure in the ID theory: produce repeatable, predictable, scientifically-provable results that challenge evolution. Failing that requirement, lie, deceive, and substantially modify the challenge.
The disheartening aspect is that creationists must now move the goalposts to continue any credible challenge to evolution, yet it remains believable only for those who ignore the facts. With missing links found, transitional speciation confirmed, and IC’s falsehood verified, ID can no longer stand as a prominent and trustworthy challenge to science — real science.
That said, if you blindly demonstrate faith in a now empty argument, no one can challenge your ignorance. Either you accept the evidence that so blatantly tosses aside stupidity or you publicly accept your ignorance as intentional and conscious.