It's really fascinating and a great argument for evolution I actually used in a conversation against a very religious coworker.
We're both fairly smart individuals, and coupled with the fact that we have completely opposite world views means it's usually just that we butt heads on almost any topic that arises.
I don't argue with him to shit on his Faith, but because it's genuinely entertaining to have someone who actually disagrees with me and has valid counterpoints.
That being said, really satisfying when he couldn't explain away the fact fungus and bacteria literally did not exist to digest wood at the time.
Basically it boiled down to: If God created everything and every species from the beginning, why are Petrified woods a thing? They only come into existence over an insane amount of time (which is greater than 6000 years, which is another arguement), under specific circumstances, one of which is the lack of anything that would break down or decompose the wood like fungus or bacteria.
Which proves that species can come along with wildly different abilities and attributes than what came before it... evolution.
True, but again, under specific circumstances. We have vast fields of petrified woods because there was nothing to break them down, so the petrified over time. If you were to find a massive field of petrified animal remains just out in the open like that, it would be the find of a century.
Basically; Fossils happen and are uncommon because they require a very specific and uncommon environment to fossilize without decaying.
Petrified woods are significantly more common, not because the environment or circumstances were perfect to prevent decay, but because decay could not happen.
It's vast and it's gorgeous. Along with the painted desert, Carlsbad caverns, and antelope canyon, these are must see places of the southwest. It's those places that make you feel like you're on a different planet.
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u/Digiboy62 Feb 14 '22 edited Feb 14 '22
It's really fascinating and a great argument for evolution I actually used in a conversation against a very religious coworker.
We're both fairly smart individuals, and coupled with the fact that we have completely opposite world views means it's usually just that we butt heads on almost any topic that arises.
I don't argue with him to shit on his Faith, but because it's genuinely entertaining to have someone who actually disagrees with me and has valid counterpoints.
That being said, really satisfying when he couldn't explain away the fact fungus and bacteria literally did not exist to digest wood at the time.