From: brinkman@si151a.llnl.gov
Newsgroups: talk.origins
Subject: List of Available Talk.Origins FAQ's
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:22:27 GMT


   A single FAQ for talk.origins is probably not possible (although Jim
Meritt could make a good stab at it) due to the length such a file would
attain.  This FAQ is designed to point anyone interested to the original
posters of material that would have been included in one global FAQ file
were it to exist.

   The FAQ's are divided into four groups: 
	1) Creation/Evolution,
	2) Catastrophism (Flood) and Neo-catastrophism (Velikovsky)
	3) Age of the Earth
	4) Other.  

   Each listing includes the FAQ name, the name of the original poster,
an E-Mail address that I personally have found to work for that poster, 
and a brief description of the FAQ.

Note:  	There is currently no single source for these files.  Although
	many of the t.o. irregulars (tm) may have copies, it is not 
	guaranteed that these copies are the most recent versions.
	Your best bet is to contact the person listed Of course, if anyone 
	could supply an anonymous FTP site...
	 
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	Creation/Evolution FAQ's
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FAQ: Creationist's questions answered

Poster:	Jim Meritt	jwm@sun4.jhuapl.edu

Notes:	An index of the points covered in the multiple Meritt FAQ's (see 
	below).  Useful for helping one find exactly what one is looking for.

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FAQ: Astronomy and Creation
FAQ: Mathematics and Creation
FAQ: Fossils and Creation
FAQ: Physics and Creation
FAQ: Religion and Creation
FAQ: Species and Creation
FAQ: Geology and Creation
FAQ: Gaps in the Fossil Record
FAQ: Creationist Credentials

Poster:	Jim Meritt	jwm@sun4.jhuapl.edu

Notes:  The Meritt FAQ's cover most of the topics seen in talk.origins.
	In an effort to eliminate duplication, the division of topics
	is at times fuzzy (is that Physics or Astronomy?).  Voluminous.
	At times acerbic (crap is called crap without any beating around
	the bush).  FAQ: Geology and Creation contains a very nice 
	discussion of Gentry's Po halo work.

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1) FAQ: What is evolution?
2) FAQ: Evidence for evolution.  <== (originally multiple files)*

Poster:	Chris Colby	colby@bu-bio.bu.edu

Notes:	1) A nice sophisticated layman's introduction to evolution.  Includes
	common definitions, explanations of the mechanisms of evolution,
	and provides references to experimental evidence in favor of evolution.

	2) A collection of summaries of recent papers from journals, which
	provide evidence supporting evolution.  The summaries are designed
	to demonstrate that "evolutionary biology is a valid, productive
	branch of science."

*Note that "FAQ: What is evolution?" and "FAQ: Evidence for evolution."
 are distinct FAQ files.  The "(originally multiple files)" means that
 "FAQ: Evidence for evolution" used to be a number of separate files.
 Sorry for any confusion.

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1) FAQ: Transitional forms.
2) FAQ: Horse Evolution

Poster: Kathleen Hunt	jespah@milton.u.washington.edu

Notes:	1) A short summary of examples of transitional fossils that have
	been found, with emphasis on the vertebrates.  

	2) A detailed summary on what is known on the evolution of modern
	horses (Equus caballas and kin).  A disussion of the evolution of
	paleontological work related to the horse is provided, which is a
	nice demonstration of how scientific thought progresses as new 
	information becomes available.

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FAQ: Monotremes and reptile-mammal transition.

Poster: Peter Lamb	prl@csis.dit.csiro.au

Notes: 	An introduction to monotremes (i.e., egg-laying mammals), and a
	a discussion on how they fit into the evolution of mammals.

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	Catastrophism and Neo-Catastrophism (e.g. Velikovsky) FAQ's
************************************************************************
FAQ: Worlds in Collision, Collusion, Confusion.
FAQ: The Saturn Myth

Poster:	Jim Meritt	jwm@sun4.jhuapl.edu

Notes:	FAQ's covering neo-catastrophism as espoused by Velikovsky and
	Talbott.  Voluminous.  At times acerbic.

************************************************************************
FAQ: Critique of Velikovsky's revision of Near Eastern chronology

Poster: Karl Kluge      kck@cs.cmu.edu

Notes: 	Discusses problems with Velikovsky's rewriting of Near Eastern
	chronology, contains references to books which provide further
	critiques.

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FAQ: Evidence Against a Global Flood

Poster: Mark Isaak	isaak@aurora.com

Notes: <To be Entered>

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	Age of the Earth
************************************************************************
The age-of-the-Earth debate. (three centuries of debate)

Poster:	n/a (see below)

Notes:	This is an article from _Scientific American_, v.261, p.90(6),
	August, 1989.  Although technically not an FAQ, Sci. Am. can be
	found in almost any library.  This article provides a historical
	tour of various scientific estimates on the age of the Earth, and
	how those estimates changed.  Typical Sci. Am. history article.

************************************************************************
1) FAQ: Isochron Dating Techniques
2) FAQ: Age of the Earth
3) FAQ: Stassen vs. Bales--Age of the Earth Debate
4) Radiometric Dating, Geologic Time, and the Age of the Earth

Poster: Chris Stassen	stassen@alc.com

Notes:	1) A brief explanation of isochron dating techniques.  Written in
	response to some stupid question I asked, so it is easily accessible
	to the layman.

	2) A nice explanation of why we know the Earth is ~4.5 Gy old.
	Includes a discussion of common creationist "dating methods", and
	criticisms of mainstream dating methods.  Ends with a useful
	list of suggested further readings and references.

	3) A point-by-point debate that took place in t.o. between Chris 
	Stassen (old earther) and Bob Bales (young earther) on the age of the 
	Earth.  Excellent introduction to various young earth Creationist 
	canards and to scientific arguments for an old earth.  Warning, 
	extremely long (~70 kB).

	4) An introduction to the science used to establish the age of the
	Earth, and a response to various young Earth canards.  Written by
	G. Brent Dalrymple under the aegis of the USGS, it is available as
	USGS Open-File Report 86-110.  This file is not available by e-mail.
	If you cannot find it at a local library contact Chris Stassen and 
	snail-mail him a SASE.

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FAQ: The Speed of Light Controversy

Poster:	Jon Livesey	livesey@solntze.esd.sgi.com

Notes:	Investigation into Norman/Setterfield claims that the speed of
	light is not a constant, but has markedly declined in the past.
	The investigation focuses on the data set that Norman/Setterfield
	used to show that the speed of light is declining.  Provides an
	excellent case study on typical "Scientific Creationists" misuse
	of scientific data.

************************************************************************
FAQ: Ice-Core Dating Techniques

Poster: Matt Brinkman	brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov

Notes:	A brief synopsis of dating techniques that can be applied to ice
	cores taken from glaciers with data from an Antarctic ice-core.
	Extremely brief discussion of ice-core dates and age of the earth
	and neo-catastrophism.

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	Other FAQ's
************************************************************************
1) FAQ: "Origins" Periodical List
2) FAQ: "Origins" Book Reviews
3) FAQ: Keyword Index to _NCSE Reports_ and _Creation/Evolution Journal_

Poster:	Chris Stassen	stassen@alc.com

Notes:	1) A list of all of the more popular "origins" periodicals with 
	short reviews and ordering addresses.

	2) A list of short reviews of a handful of the most popular relevant 
	books (from both sides).  This is of interest to anyone who wants to 
	join the fray on either side.  Know your enemy and all that.

	3) A hand-made "keyword index" to all issues of _NCSE Reports_ and
   	_Creation/Evolution Journal_.  Due to size restrictions, this item
	is not available through e-mail.  If interested, get in touch with 
	Chris and find out where to send an SASE and floppy disks.

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FAQ: List of Available Talk.Origins FAQ's

Poster: Matt Brinkman	brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov

Notes:	This is the file you are currently reading.

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   Any additions, corrections, deletions, etc. would be gladly received.

   I would like to thank all the people who have provided FAQ lists to
talk.origins for helping me assemble this list.  In particular, Peter
Lamb provided a lengthy e-mail with possible files to be included here,
and helped at least one file find its rightful owner.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Brinkman		brinkman@edseq1.llnl.gov

Disclaimer: The list is a list; the opinions are mine.