Scientists’ Responses Solicited

I received the following e-mail from someone who is certain that I have “faith” in evolution, as opposed to being persuaded by the evidence, as well as by the evidence of the fact that those who study the evidence in depth are persuaded by the evidence. Rather than engage in a futile discussion, I invite biologists, biochemists, and other scientists to tackle this if they are so inclined. Here’s the text of the e-mail I received:

Dr. McGrath:

In visiting PZ’s blog I found your name and checked out your blog. As a
graduate of Wabash College with a major in Chemistry and reading your vitae
it occurs to me in reading your opinions that you have no basis to know if
any idea if evolution is true or not. Butler and Indiana is not well
served with what you are putting out about Expelled and evolution.
Methodists (progressive Christianity) supported eugenics and have
apologized for it —
http://calms.umc.org/2008/Text.aspx?mode=Petition&Number;=1175.

You spoke that people should not form opinions about Jesus without the
tools to do so.

You need to apply that same standard to your faith in evolution (where you
are totally clueless).

To wit … you have no idea why life is largely based in L amino acids when
nature forms amino acids in racemic mixtures (50% D and L … starlight
will not polarize enough to alter the mix to permit life). Or why sugars
are soley in the D form. You have no idea how Shannon Information
increases in species … mutuations being a loss of genetic information.

To paraphrase a line from Tom Cruise to Dustin Hoffman in the movie
“Rainman” — evolution is not your game.

Scientists, please give him a more detailed treatment than I have the time or interest to at the moment, if you are so inclined!