From time to time the question of 'information' is raised related to the notion that evolution (grand scale. . . .the sort we don't see) requires that information be created. Some critics have attempted to undo this by seeing information non-semantically. That is they use 'Shannon' information.
I came across this quote in Nonaka and Takeuchi, "The Knowledge Creating Company" OUP 1995 p90, which may be interesting in this context.
"Shannon . . .commented: "I think perhaps the word "information" is causing more trouble . . . than it is worth, except that it is difficult to find another word that is anywhere near right. It should be kept solidly in mind that [information] is only a measure of the difficulty in transmitting the sequence produced by some information source" (quoted by Roszack, 1986, p12). Boulding (1983) notes that Shannon's assessment was analogous to a telephone bill, which is calculated on the basis of time and distance but gives no insight into the content of information, and called it Bell Telephone (BT) information. Dretske (1981) argues that a genuine theory of information would be a theory about the content of our messages, not a theory about the form in which this content is embodied.
Boulding, KE 1983 "System Theory, Mathematics, and Quantification", in "The Study of Information" ed. F. Machlup and U. Mansfield, pp 547-550. New York, John Wiley and Sons.
Dretske, F. 1981 "Knowledge and the Flow of Information". Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Roszack, T. 1986 "The Cult of Information". New York: Pantheon Books.
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To my mind Werner Gitt adequately exposes the failings of Shannon's theory. Gitt's book is "In the Beginning Was Information"
Information Science really poses a problem for atheists.
Sam Drucker
Sam the concept of totally new unique genetic information is a problem for those who believe in evolution even if many don't know it. The majority of those I have talked with, who believe in evolution, hold to it as fact without ever having thought it through. Many don't even know what they mean by evolution.
Isn't that an amazing success for the pushers of evolution that they have people so fooled, confident in the truth of evolution, without much idea of what it entails. What an advertizing campaign. They sold a dud to people who just lined up to buy it without any understanding of how useless & dangerous the product is.
There is no doubt that belief in evolution stops people from taking the Gospel seriously & hobbles Christians faith.
Yesterday I found a letter that was written to me by 'Jackie'after she had heard me speak twice. She says she was a T/E & says "I can remember the shame I felt when I realized that as far as Creation was concerned I had exchanged the truth for a lie, and that I had tried to interpret the Bible so that it fitted with man's teaching. I was crestfallen when I remembered how I had taught my children that evolution was true and that the Bible's account of creation was a way of explaining what scientists had discovered."
She repented of this and goes on to explain how this awakening created an increased desire to follow God more earnestly & to learn more about the Bible & evidence for Genesis creation. Truly born again, again.
Theistic Evolution is a lie, a rejection of the truth of God's Word & kills the Spirit. It was & is always a pleasure to be involved in freeing people from man-made doctrine. I feel the same when writing to Roman Catholics in the hope they will step away from their own denominations man-made doctrine, into the light of the truth of His word, Sola Scriptura.
Warwick, I agree. Theistic Evolutionists trust those who argue the evolution case without seriously assessing the merit of the argument.
It comes down to trusting men at the expense of trusting the Word of God.
These are serious times for the church and the 'frogs' don't even know how hot the water is getting.
Sam Drucker
Sam I had a chat to Werner Gitt tonight as he & I are doing a creation evangelism conference in Paris next month. It is always wonderful to mix with people whose first stop is the Word of God, not having stopped off elsewhere to fill up on mans doctrines. I am looking forward to seeing him & Marion again & doing the conference.
We will also be speaking at another church for most of the next day in one of the Parisian suburbs called Maisons Lafitte. All very challenging & interesting.
I also met up with Clarrie Briese on Tuesday night & told him about CraigS who was gleefully hoping that CMI would be burned in the battle with AiG USA. Clarrie is well aware of the truth of the matter, truth Craig is willing to ignore. Hey don't spoil a good story with facts!
Warwick, it is interesting that you actually know Werner Gitt personally and work with him. Please tell him there are people here in Australia who appreciate his work.
I hope you have a safe and ejoyable time in France. Will you still be checking in here or will you be 'off ther scene'?
Sam Drucker
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