Extinction ?

[derekpara]

Is the human race at significant risk of extinction from this Covid pandemic ?

[TrevorThePug]

Is it not more the case that Covid is fighting extinction by mutation, with every new strain emerging as a product of natural selection - finding new ways to counteract our natural homeostasis, and of course medical intervention.

[pixie374]

Yes. That's their job.

[ToraToraTora]

...yes and part of that is not killing the host that spreads it for them.

[Khandro]

TTT //.yes and part of that is not killing the host that spreads it for them.//

Precisely, & does that not signify some form of 'intelligence' or consciousness somewhere involved?

[pixie374]

No khandro, you totally missed my previous suggestion that many viruses do not survive. Some people will succumb to them.... particularly in a dense over-population. Again, that's nature.
If God has created an "intelligent design" to control overpopulation ....why is it only partially successful every 100 years or so. Is he incompetent?

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - // Precisely, & does that not signify some form of 'intelligence' or consciousness somewhere involved? //

That depends on your position -

I think that there is no 'intelligence' involved, a virus does what all viruses do, they mutate and succeed, or they wipe out their hosts and die.

You think that God created everything, so as I pointed out, and you have so far swerved (as usual) - your God must be responsible for visiting a virus on 'his' people, and making it clever enough to avoid elimination while it wends its merry way wiping out large chunks of the earth's population.

It can't be both - so which do you think it is?

[pixie374]

Andy, //wiping out large chunks of the earth's population.//

To be accurate, like all successful viruses, most of the hosts survive. But also, are infectious long before any symptoms to the host, so they get passed on effectively. Any longterm successful virus you can think of, from covid, cold, flu, chicken pox, mumps measles..... etc etc. All are infectious before the person realises and none kill the majority of their hosts. That's how they continue.

[paddywak]

As I've said many times before on posts like this that no matter what the cause everyday is extinction day for millions,so just sit back and enjoy yourself as much as you can, while you can.Youre time will come along when it's ready, so why worry before you have to.

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // Andy, //wiping out large chunks of the earth's population.//

To be accurate, like all successful viruses, most of the hosts survive. But also, are infectious long before any symptoms to the host, so they get passed on effectively. Any longterm successful virus you can think of, from covid, cold, flu, chicken pox, mumps measles..... etc etc. All are infectious before the person realises and none kill the majority of their hosts. That's how they continue. //

You are quite right in your correction.

I allowed my temper to override my sense of proportion - caused entirely by Khandro's wilful refusal to either stand up for his God, or admit the simple truth - viruses are a fact of nature, not part of God's 'plan' for 'his people'.

[pixie374]

Because sometimes, it can be avoided.

[pixie374]

Thanks Andy, although I don't think even khandro is taking his posts seriously...

[ToraToraTora]

khandro: "Precisely, & does that not signify some form of 'intelligence' or consciousness somewhere involved?" - no none whatsoever, it's natural selection, "faulty" organisms die out.

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // Thanks Andy, although I don't think even khandro is taking his posts seriously... //

That would suggest that any fervent Christian who posts on here has even an iota of something approaching a sense of humour - you and I, and plenty of other regulars, know better than that!!!

[pixie374]

Maybe Andy:-). But //(stands back & waits for onslaught!)// shows he knew he was posting rubbish....

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // Maybe Andy:-). But //(stands back & waits for onslaught!)// shows he knew he was posting rubbish.... //

Once again, in addition to advising sense of humour this also suggests a sense of humility, and again that is a facet of character singularly lacking from the fervents on here!

[pixie374]

Ah well, I am sure he will address all responses on the next post. If he believes his own....

[andy-hughes]

pixie - // Ah well, I am sure he will address all responses on the next post. //

I think he will behave as all fervents do when challenged, he will teflon away and re-appear on another day and start stating views again as though this exchange never happened.

[pixie374]

Well. Yes.

[Khandro]

Some try so hard to fit nature into their myopic ideology instead of looking at the facts squarely in the face, nature is not blind. Do you believe sentience exists only in the animal realm? Do you know that fungi is now considered to be closer to animal, rather than botanical life?

[andy-hughes]

Khandro - // Some try so hard to fit nature into their myopic ideology instead of looking at the facts squarely in the face, nature is not blind. Do you believe sentience exists only in the animal realm? Do you know that fungi is now considered to be closer to animal, rather than botanical life? //

I stand corrected - you have not returned another day and carried on as if nothing has happened, you are doing so today.

Any chance of addressing my points to you about the responsibility - or not, of your God for this 'intelligent' virus?