I have a question for you all.

There is a possible member (Timotheous) who is applying for membership.  From his homepage I am going to assume that he is a biblical literalist.  I also assume that proselytizing is probably more important than science to this individual.  Many potentially interesting discussions concerning science or natural history have just devolved into bible-thumping tirades--which is something that I had hoped to avoid in this group.

Still, there hasn't been much discussion at all in the group really (partly because my hours at work have picked up) so it might not be such a terrible thing.

What do you all think?

It is an interesting posting, and makes me wonder why he is telling us all this...there are things I consider to be red flags and yet - if it is an open and respectful discourse - why not?  And if it becomes disrespectful to members and philosophies, an individual can always be ever so graciously booted....

 Timotheous seems to be well read concerning evolution and natural history so I may have misjudged.  My opologies. I am sure that you will have some interesting points of view.

Thank you for granting me membership.  I also particularly dislike the very types of arguments that you were considering when deciding on what to do with my request.    I believe in a universe that is roughly 15 billion years old, and in an earth that is about 4.5 billion years old.  I am an evolutionist.  I am not trying to smuggle in creationism or even intelligent design.  I am past the point of enjoying discussions that debate whether or not the universe and all of life is of natural origin and has undergone an evolutionary process. I accept that as having been established.  I am willing to consider Dawkins views that it happens at the gene level, or Gould's that it happens at the species level.