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I’m an evolutionary biologist and I’m an Atheist. You probably didn’t expect (such) a reply, but I hope you don’t take this as offence, because that’s not my intention at all. I respect other people’s belief and I think that everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.

Science can’t and will never be able to tell whether there’s a god I fully agree with you about that. The existence or non-existence of god is a hypothesis that is not falsifiable, and therefore it can’t be assessed with science (the same is true for the Flying spaghetti monster, but that’s a different topic).

If you want to be a scientist (in your case anthropologist) and to believe in god, then this is your right and your decision, as you say, and I fully respect you for that.

What I have a problem with is, when you try to argue “scientifically” that there is no proof for the non-existence of god and that’s why you should doubt…because as I said earlier, you can’t test a non falsifiable hypothesis with science - ergo the question is not scientific. Even if your arguments would all be correct (see below), that would still not mean that believing in God is a scientifically valid alternative to the theory of evolution. I think this simple misunderstanding is one of the main causes for the misunderstanding betweens theists and atheists.

Furthermore, I don’t know what teachers you had at college, but believe me, the cambrian (it’s referred to as cambrian and not precambrian) explosion is not at all a mystery and does fit very well within the framework of evolution under natural selection (it only started a debate within the evolutionary biologist community about the punctuated equilibrium theory, but explaining that would go too far here, everyone interested can look it up). It’s an example for an adaptive radiation, where the diversification rate is higher than at other times. It also didn’t happen in an instant, or a few hundreds or even thousand years, instead “the Cambrian explosion” was a process over 70 to 80 millions of years. So there was never a “jumping” from simple organisms to complex organisms. There are many theories about what might have caused this “rapid” radiation; Climate change has been suggested as a driver, just to mention one. Focusing on one of your other points: many people struggle with the concept of one species descending from another. This often happens, because what people usually don’t realise is, that the concept of distinct species is human made. In nature everything is a continuum. When we look at the origin of humans I can recommend you a good youtube video, explaining this in more detail and much better than I could: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWLhXi24Mo In the end, we’ll be never able to say where a new species starts and where the old ended because that’s not how it works. Gradual changes of certain populations can lead to a point where we, based on one of our concepts of what a species is (there’s several ones in biology) do no longer consider them one species, but two distinct species.

I’m not an physicist, so i don’t feel knowledgeable enough to say something about the origin of the universe.

I hope I didn’t offend you with my post, because that was never my intention. I just would love if people in this whole debate about religion versus science would stop using scientific arguments to argue int he favour of religion (or against it), because these are two completely different topics that can’t be mixed.

An anthropologist and a Christian

Th two seem like oxymorons, as an anthropologists I study evolution but as a Christian I believe God created man, how can I believe both?

The simple answer is science. Science is ably questions, asking a question, creating an experiment to test and to draw all conclusion and if the answer is unclear then to doubt,l.

The problem is that Science is being mistaken for religion. As scientists we are told that science has proven that there is no need for God. “The science is settled” is a common phrase but hundreds of years ago people said the same thing about a universe where the sun revolves around the earth. The point of science is to doubt and ask questions but more and more scientists are telling us to make an exception in the case of God.

As a college student I asked questions. If none of our so called ancestors are directly related to us then why do we say we are descendants of them? If evolution explains how all life came to being how can you explain the Precambrian explosion where we jumped from simple invertebrates to complex organisms without ANY explanation for a slow stream of natural selection? If the universe was created in an instant flash of light how do explain the similarities to Genesis? How can a universe create itself from nothing when science says that is impossible?

For each question I received one response.

No one knows.

If no one can come up with a scientific explanation then how can we disprove God? We cannot. Nor can we definitively prove God but as Chrisgians that is not ur duty. There can be no faith without doubt and that is the whole point. It’s free will, we choose to believe.

More often then not non believers exist either because of anger or to justify living a life without consequences, but a life without consequences has no meaning.

I’m an anthropologist. I believe in God, his Son, and the Holy Spirit. I cannot prove he exists. But you cannot prove he does not, I choose to have faith, I choose to live a life with meaning.

You have the same choice.

I pray you follow God.

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It’s so hard to look at her here, as if she were carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, having to cope with the fact that Jane is gone again and she knows nothing about him, and she has to go on, cope with his absence and her work, on her own again, as years before, having no answers. It’s beautifully portrayed by Robin: it’s obvious Lisbon is trying to concentrate on the case but her mind is elsewhere, searching for answers; she’s trying to keep herself occupied but it’s too much for her, this not knowing anything, worrying about Jane, about them is wearing her out and it’s reflected in her every feature. 

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I’m still not over them getting married 😭

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“…I’d do it again”

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Take a break and admire Lisbon.

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lisbon trivia in 7x07.

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                                                 BLACK KNIGHT

                                            SEASON 8, EPISODE 5

                                                        TEASER

“Checkmate!”

“How did you…?” The sound of Wylie’s surprised words trailed off as Jane placed his king piece into its final position producing a smug grin upon the consultant’s face. The part-time consultant leaned over to check on Liam who was soundly sleeping in the pram sat beside him. He and Liam had come by to the offices to take Lisbon out for some lunch. Jane had made a delicious homemade picnic for them all, hoping to enjoy the warm sunshine at the local park for a few hours.

“Strategic planning, my young friend. Chess is not just a game of winning. It’s a skill of strategic planning and control. Always being two steps ahead of your opponent.”

“He’s not giving you his gloating speech on forward thinking and strategic planning, is he?” Lisbon quipped with a smirk as she entered the break room. She gave Wylie a sympathetic wink seeing that the poor guy had that solemn look of disappointment at being beaten.

“It’s not ‘gloating’ as you put it, my dear. It’s fact.” Jane stood up from the break room chair placing a quick kiss to his wife’s cheek. “And you, my dear, only think it’s babble as you’re a bad loser.”

Jane watched as Lisbon’s face changed from happy contentment to slightly irritated within a matter of seconds. “Are you ready for some lunch?” he asked hoping to distract his wife from his dangerously brave comment.

“I am NOT a bad loser!” Lisbon placed her hands on her hips glaring in Jane’s direction as he disengaged the brake on Liam’s pram.

“Oh, come on. You are. Admit it. But hey, it’s okay. It’s just one of your adorable little flaws that I love about you.” Jane gave her one of his beaming sexy smiles hoping it would work its magic.

“One…? Of my flaws?” Lisbon raised an eyebrow in disbelief as he began to dig the hole even deeper. “And when exactly have I been a bad loser?”

“Well…” Jane paused, contemplating whether to continue into this territory. “Christmas just gone for a start. At your brother’s,” Jane replied quickly handing the control of the pram over to Lisbon, hoping if her hands were occupied he was less likely to get injured or shot.

“Stan was cheating. He had over one thousand dollars stuck up his shirt sleeve and he added an extra hotel on Broadway when no one was looking,” she spat defensively.

“Well, that may be so, but using foul language, throwing the old shoe at Stan’s head and storming off was a tad dramatic,” Jane added, watching as Lisbon’s eyes widened in embarrassment. Jane playfully winked at young Wylie who was sat eagerly listening to the husband and wife banter.

“I didn’t throw it,” Lisbon huffed pushing Liam’s pram out of the break room towards the elevator. “I just… accidentally… dropped it.” She winced, hearing how her own lie wasn’t coming out very convincingly. Jane had always said she was a terrible liar and he was obviously right.

“Besides, I was heavily pregnant and full of hormones at the time. It’s rule number one, you never cheat a pregnant woman.”

Jane chuckled knowing full well Lisbon’s reaction towards her younger brother would have been exactly the same, regardless of hormones or not. Before Jane could respond or Lisbon could call for the elevator, Cho appeared at the doorway of his office with a look of apprehension written all over his face.

“Lisbon, Jane, can I have a word in my office?” With no further explanation, Cho disappeared back to his desk. It wasn’t often Cho let things rattle him, but it was obvious that something was up with their normally cool composed Supervisory Agent.

“Wonder what that’s about?” Lisbon remarked nervously. There was something in Cho’s tone that told her this was going to be something more than a friendly catch up.

“I don’t know.” Jane focused his attention on studying Cho through the glass partition that separated his office. “Let’s go find out, shall we?” Jane held his arm out allowing Lisbon to go first. He painted on a happy beaming smile hoping to ease Lisbon’s growing anxiety but knew himself by Cho’s mannerisms whatever this was about, it wasn’t going to be anything good.

“Hey Cho, let me guess, you need love life advice with Rosales and I am the man for the job.” Jane playfully winked as his wife as she parked Liam’s pram. She checked on her sleeping baby boy stroking a small curl and tucking the soft blanket in around him. Taking a seat beside her husband, Lisbon rolled her eyes before focusing her attention on her boss.

“I just had a call from the San Francisco office. They are going to be handing over a case to us,” Cho said getting straight to the point. “They discovered John Doe remains at a new housing development just outside of Fairfield in Napa Valley. I have already sent Rosales there to start on the forensics report. Initial reports indicate the victim has been buried for a while. But Anna should be able to confirm the exact timeline for sure.” Cho paused, watching as Lisbon’s posture tensed whilst Jane seemed unaffected and nonchalant, casually sitting crossed legged in the chair opposite.

“What’s that got to do with us here in Texas?” Lisbon inquired, unsure if she really wanted to know the real answer to that question. “Can’t the San Francisco office handle this?”

“We managed to get a positive DNA match.” With that Cho pointed his remote control at the TV screen placed on the wall. The face of Robert Kirkland’s Homeland Security profile appeared on the screen making Lisbon’s head spin back and forth. Jane also shifted forward in his chair taking a long look at the dead agent’s face staring back at him.

“I –I don’t understand,” Lisbon stuttered. “I mean, we know Kirkland was shot and killed by Reede Smith. Reede confessed and we had his body in our custody.” Lisbon spun to look at Jane, hoping he was as stunned as she was, but he seemed calm as he studied the screen.

“You’re right. He was,” Cho agreed not elaborating any further. Cho sat back in his chair watching as Jane slowly worked out the mystery, taking a few quiet moments to process it all.

“So… how the hell did Kirkland’s remains end up buried in a building site in Napa four years later?” Lisbon stated stunned, her eyes darting between her boss and her husband who were both sat in silence.

“They didn’t,” Jane finally responded calmly taking his wife’s hand in his own. He gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles in a soothing gesture knowing that this unexpected blast from their past had clearly unsettled her.

“Our victim is not Robert Kirkland. It’s his missing twin brother… Michael.”

Weiterlesen

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What feelings must they have as they think to themselves “It’s me who’s making him (her) happy, and he (she) is smiling because of me”? What immense pleasure it must be to be giving themselves and what they have – and have it accepted openly, see the most beloved face in the world illuminated by that precious smile, consider the two of them a family even before they get married officially, share every day and night and learn about each other’s habits at home. And, ultimately, to share a home and hurry there from work because they have where to go and who to spend their evenings with. I love seeing how they absorb each other’s happiness as they look at each other as it fills them with life.  

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I didn’t mind how long it took them, and as you @jisbonaddict, I loved to see how obvious their love for each other became, increasingly so with each episode. The second half of season six gave us so many painfuly, but still beautiful moments between them, as you illustrated so beatufiully with your gif set.

They were traumatised and they needed the time ...however, what in my opinion was completely and utterly unecessary, was the introduction of Pike into this. The story line could have worked so much better if he hadn’t been there, if it had only been about them (because in the end it was always only about them, and never about Pike). They still could have struggled to be open about their feelings, afraid of being hurt (left) again, unsure of what the other felt...all that would have worked perfectly as a story line, without adding a third person. Even the D.C. part could have fit in perfectly, but with Lisbon getting a great job offer in D.C. (maybe even a promotion) and not because she decided to follow a man she hardly new for more than a few weeks; Lisbon of all people who has comittment issues (which instead could have been one of the reasons why she was so reluctant to admit her feelings to Jane)...but no, the writers opted for the love-triangle instead. In short, while I love some of the scenes, I’ll just never stop regretting the over all context, especially because it would have been so easy to make it more meaningful and less cliché by avoiding the stupid love-triangle.

I love the second part of S6, because it gave us love between Jane and Lisbon in its raw form. It had been there for years but never before had it needed so much to be spoken. Jane’s words on the beach when he was forced to leave Lisbon for her own sake resonated throughout the rest of the season in their looks, their actions, the way each of them was trying to figure out what it really was that the other felt. They were insecure and still so exhausted by having to hide their feelings that they let them be seen. Needing a hint, they became less cautious of the questions they asked and the looks they gave each other. 

It is painful to watch but it’s a beautiful duel between two people that were deeply hurt in the past, and that can’t pretend, at least not completely, that they have the strongest life-changing feelings for each other, two people that need each other so much that life seems to stop for both of them when they are far away. And, simultaneously, it is a duel inside each of them between their fear and their inability to go on without the other, with the latter winning in both of them. I feel they needed that process, and I really love seeing the way they are trying to function in this new reality.

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                                             ALABASTER PLASTER

                                             SEASON 8, EPISODE 4

                                                        TEASER

Her fingertips spread out across the satin sheets, looking for the intimate warmth of skin she had become accustomed to finding. She had every intention of curling up against him in hopes she could fall back to sleep before either being called in hastily or Liam waking up and crying out, as he was still teething and uncomfortable. Her eyes opened just enough to see that his half of the bed was unoccupied, the covers flung over the side of the mattress without much care. Her half-lidded eyes opened wider as she shifted herself into a sitting position, setting her back against the rigid headboard.

In the stillness of the room, she became aware of a faint sound somewhere down the hall. Rubbing a hand over her face, she pulled back the covers and stood, yawning and stretching her sleep-tightened muscles. She moved toward the sound which brought her out of their room and into the hall. She could hear it clearly now; a small, quiet humming coming from Liam’s nursery across the hall. She thought it rather sounded like the song ‘Little Boy Blue’. She peered inside the room, the small light on the small table next to a rocking chair tucked away in the corner illuminated the room in dim, filtered light. Lisbon smiled at the sight before her, leaning against the door jamb and crossing her arms.

Jane sat in the rocking chair, their son pushed firmly against his chest, his hand rubbing Liam’s back in small circles as he hummed the song to him, rocking the chair slightly as if in an untamed wind. There was a pacifier on the table beside him, and Liam was sound asleep in his father’s arms.

“Did I wake you?” Jane whispered, laying off the humming and finding her profile in the gentleness of the table lamp light. “I’m sorry.”

Lisbon shook her head, lifting herself from the doorway and walking toward her husband and son. She closed the gap quickly between them, reaching a hand out to push through Jane’s sleep-pressed blond curls.

“No,” she whispered back. “You didn’t wake me. I reached for you and you were gone,” she told him. “I didn’t even hear Liam wake. Was he crying?”

Jane looked up at her and nodded softly, as to not disturb the baby. “A little,” he answered. “Sore gums.”

“You could have woken me up, Jane,” Lisbon told her husband, giving him a terse squeeze. “I would have tended to him. Got him to go back to sleep.”

He reached up with the hand that was caressing their son’s back and touched her elbow. “You’ve been working a lot, Teresa. You deserve some beauty sleep. Besides,” he said, turning back to Liam’s sleeping form, “I wanted to.”

“What were you humming?” she asked. “It sounded suspiciously like ‘Little Boy Blue’,” she added with a laugh.

“It was,” he replied. “I was singing the words until he fell asleep. I heard you singing it to him once,” Jane assured her. “Not really sure whether my singing did him in with the sleeping, or if he was just that tired.” Jane laughed and Lisbon joined in almost noiselessly as to not wake the baby.

She was about to reply to his humorous pondering when she heard the shrill of her ringing cell phone from across the hall. She sighed heavily, knowing there could only be one person making a call in the middle of the night. Lisbon bent down and gave her husband and kiss on the lips and then set a small peck on her son’s blond, curly locks.

“Duty calls,” Jane told her, reaching his free hand out to push a lock of hair that had fallen in front of her face back behind her ear. He gave her kiss and whispered that he loved her.

Lisbon whispered it back and rubbed her son’s back before raising herself and walking quickly through the nursery and crossing into her room to pick up her phone. She noted with a sour expression that the bedside clock read 3:02 am.

“Lisbon,” she greeted as soon as she put the phone to her ear. “Ashmore Garden Condominiums?” Lisbon sighed. “Okay. I’ll be there.”

“The new recruit starts today, doesn’t she?” Jane asked as Lisbon hung up the phone, coming into the room after putting Liam back down in his crib. “Should be interesting for you guys.”

“Yeah,” Lisbon told him. “Her name is Sandra Philips. Cho says she hails from the New Mexico office, “ she added as she dressed quickly, throwing him a rueful smile as he watched.

“Interesting,” Jane replied. “So, where are you headed off to this time?” He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled at the loops of her jeans, bringing her forward to settle between his pajama-clad legs. “Another embezzlement case?”

She shook her head, resting her hands on his biceps as he looked up at her. “No,” she finally said. “A murder at a high-rise apartment.”

“Oh,” answered Jane. “Are you going to need me? I can drop Liam off at the daycare…”

“Don’t wake him, Jane. Let him sleep. I’ve got to go, Patrick,” Lisbon told him, bending herself to kiss him on the lips. “If I need you, I will call. If not, I’ll be home for lunch, okay? Try to give him a bath when he wakes up. I’m going to go say goodbye to Liam and head out.”

Jane kissed her back, his hand floating up to lock in her chestnut hair framing her face. “Okay,” he said between kisses. “I love you. Be careful.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered, shoving one more quick kiss across his lips before grabbing her badge and coat off the dresser. “Don’t teach him how to pick pockets while I am gone.”

He laughed as he watched her dash toward the door. She turned back around, blew him a kiss, and disappeared across the hall, where he could hear her softly talking to their sleeping son. Finally, after a few minutes, he heard the front door click shut, and the cabin was once again stuck in silence.

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Reblog if you're still not over the fact that Jisbon is canon.

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I gotta say, these last days I’ve been missing The Mentalist… I miss our fandom…I miss our jisbon fandom.. I miss all the discussions about Red John, The antecipation and excitement with every episode and then the promos. The  nights discussing every aspect of the episodes, of Jane and Lisbon’s relationship, who Red John Could be, and on the shipper part, the times when we’d scream in frustration at Heller bc of our ship lol! I really miss all these things. I hope you guys are good!  

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When you look back, Lisbon had so much unspent tenderness to give, waiting to be let out and given so generously to the man she loves, the only one. There’s so much care to her every touch as she puts a blanket over Jane in Violets, the way she touches the couch he’s sleeping on, as if she were trying to communicate her love through her gesture and touching Jane. She lingers before she leaves the room, as if waiting for him to wake up to see her there and realise that she’s there caring about him. She’s probably thinking of how they could be together, touching each other and sharing their days and nights without nothing impeding that. She wants to fill that void of loneliness in him and have it filled inside her. All of this love would have never found its way out of her heart with anyone other than Jane, and she understands it so well.

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The only meaning of the word leave when he thought of Lisbon going to Washington must have produced a petrifying effect on Jane every time he imagined her starting a life far away from him, actually living without him, not needing him, having no connection with him on a daily basis. He wanted to be needed by her, matter to her. And all the dreams that he had of her by his side that he wanted to become a reality were going to end with him never getting to know what it was like to touch her face or kiss her lips or wake up by her side or tell her to stay with him forever, because otherwise life was worthless. He must have felt helpless and small. And he makes sure when she’s finally there with him that she really is going to stay, as if trying to get rid of the paralyzing effect of the fear he lived through of her going away for good.

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The joys of sailing - 5x15 episode tag by Chizuru-chibi