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Topic: Which came first, The Chicken or The Egg?

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11

harrington100

animals came first from gods creation because with ought the chicken their would be no eggs

12

borntoteach

This question caught my eye, but more importantly so did the replies. I think that a lot of you may be taking this too literally. When people ask, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" they aren't actually referring to a chicken or an egg. It's more theoretical. The question warrants an answer of any creature on Earth. Did the organism just appear (creationism) or is the organism a descendent of some creature that lived millions of years ago. Most of you have the right idea, but are missing the concept. As far post #10, discrediting or discouraging theological posts, I disagree. While I am not a believer in creationism, I give credit where credit is due. If it weren't for religious groups making decrees as to where we came from, then on what basis could science prove itself? I mean, most people know that Darwin's theory of evolution was laughed at and completely disagreed with when he first published his writings. It wasn't until after his death, did the scientific community start to accept and improve on his theory. Where would we be today without some theological discussion? Darwin's finches weren't passengers on the Ark...because we proved it wrong!

13

@12 the original question was a popular paradox, used in basic philosophy, and most people know it as such. It's a fun head-spinner... To make an egg you need a bird but to make a bird you need an egg. How did the first egg or bird ever come into being given such an interdependency? It seems impossible. But it can't be impossible because we have eggs and birds all around us. A pleasing thought experiment for distracting bored children.

So I find it amusing and interesting that the reality (and the answer) is very unexpected, viz the first egg had absolutely nothing to do with the first bird and, thus, the paradox is rationalised and easily solved. Eggs, as we all knew but failed to apply, are not exclusive to birds, that was our error. This solution is an elegant demonstration of how knowledge and science can easily solve what to the unskilled appears impossible.

14

ms-charleston-yawp

I am going to echo post #13 and mention this enigma as a very popular unanswerable question.  I remember even Sesame Street spouting a song with that familiar title in the 1970's, . . . I suppose to get kids thinking critically a bit.  Anyway, the question creates a nice circle:  if you say the chicken came first, then the chicken must have hatched from an egg, but if you say the egg came first, then the egg must have been laid by the chicken.   I REALLY enjoyed reading all of the possible "answers," but I'll stick with the Sesame Street song.

15

jkirkwoo

In reply to #5:  If you can look at the subjects of molecular theory, DNA, plate tectonics, cellular biology, engineering, oceanography, climatology, archaeology, history, bio-chemistry, geology, electron microscopy, mathematics, computing, satellite technology, geo-physics, astro-physics, etc, etc as you mentioned and not see God in all of these infinite subjects than you would have to be a caveman.

It takes one man's whole lifetime to become an expert in just one of these subjects.  How did these subjects come about with all their own individual knowledge and rules etc except through a mind-blowing awesome Creator.

You can not separate science and God because God created the science in all those subjects you have aforementioned.

16

...so molecular theory, DNA, plate tectonics, cellular biology, engineering, oceanography, climatology, archaeology, history, bio-chemistry, geology, electron microscopy, mathematics, computing, satellite technology, geo-physics, astro-physics, etc, etc had to wait until our time before we could appreciate those workings of the Almighty?

If God created science, like he created all things, why didn't he deign to show it all to all mankind back in Adam's day?  Because of the mysterious ways of the Lord?

There is structure and beauty to the Universe, undeniably so.  As we evolve, we move from mysticsm to analysis.  As we can explain all creation's workings in terms of Physics and not Theology, the more intricate and amazing it appears.  The more we know ourselves, the less we attribute to God.  The concept of God simplifies explanations.  However, as we grow, we realize that explanations, to be complete, are never simple.  "They shall become like gods, knowing good and evil....."  "All knowing" may be a property of the Divine; striving to know is the property of Humankind.  Since finite minds must grapple with an infinite amount to know, there are some who will always label "that-which-we-do-not-know-yet" as the province of God.

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