Battle on Teaching Evolution Sharpens

Washington Post ^ | March 14, 2005 | Peter Slevin

[Crackingham]

Propelled by a polished strategy crafted by activists on America's political right, a battle is intensifying across the nation over how students are taught about the origins of life. Policymakers in 19 states are weighing proposals that question the science of evolution.

The proposals typically stop short of overturning evolution or introducing biblical accounts. Instead, they are calculated pleas to teach what advocates consider gaps in long-accepted Darwinian theory, with many relying on the idea of intelligent design, which posits the central role of a creator.

The growing trend has alarmed scientists and educators who consider it a masked effort to replace science with theology. But 80 years after the Scopes "monkey" trial -- in which a Tennessee man was prosecuted for violating state law by teaching evolution -- it is the anti-evolutionary scientists and Christian activists who say they are the ones being persecuted, by a liberal establishment.

They are acting now because they feel emboldened by the country's conservative currents and by President Bush, who angered many scientists and teachers by declaring that the jury is still out on evolution. Sharing strong convictions, deep pockets and impressive political credentials -- if not always the same goals -- the activists are building a sizable network.

In Seattle, the nonprofit Discovery Institute spends more than $1 million a year for research, polls and media pieces supporting intelligent design. In Fort Lauderdale, Christian evangelist James Kennedy established a Creation Studies Institute. In Virginia, Liberty University is sponsoring the Creation Mega Conference with a Kentucky group called Answers in Genesis, which raised $9 million in 2003.

[RadioAstronomer]

Ping.

[RadioAstronomer]

IMHO, this issue may hurt the conservatives in the upcoming elections.

[mike182d]

angered many scientists and teachers by declaring that the jury is still out on evolution.

Would anyone be upset if Bush had said: "The jury is still out on the Theory of Quantum Mechanics?"

I doubt it.

[PatrickHenry]

This has pretty much been covered in recent threads, but it's an important political issue, and one which the MSM will be using more and more against consevatives. I guess it's worth a ping. I'm cranking up the ping machine ...

[PatrickHenry]

EvolutionPing

A pro-evolution science list with over 250 names. See list's description at my homepage. FReepmail to be added/dropped.

[RadioAstronomer]

Would anyone be upset if Bush had said: "The jury is still out on the Theory of Quantum Mechanics?"

I doubt it.

I don't. That is just as silly as saying the jury is still out on the theory of evolution.

Remember a theory in science is not just some WAG.

[Non-Sequitur]

bump

[DoctorMichael]

The growing trend has alarmed scientists and educators who consider it a masked effort to replace science with theology.

Personally, I am alarmed by the attempts to replace Science with Ignorance.

[RadioAstronomer]

but it's an important political issue, and one which the MSM will be using more and more against consevatives.

Absolutely!

[exzoomie]

The problem with evolution is that it forms the basis for communism, facism, humanistic philosophies and much of the agenda that dominates the left. There are too many holes in the "Big Bang" theory as well as many other models dealing with the origin of the world. I think one has to have more faith believing in this so called science instead of the creation model, especially when examining something like the human DNA.

[RadioAstronomer]

Personally, I am alarmed by the attempts to replace Science with Ignorance.

I am right with you here! It is hurting the conservative movement as well. Sigh.

[PatrickHenry]

A few words to the creationists: You can post, but you can't meaningfully participate in the science threads unless you can show to the science-literate posters that you've "bought a ticket." The "ticket" is the ability to demonstrate that you have at least some basic understanding of what's going on here; and the "price" you have to pay for it is the effort needed to become informed. No ticket, no credibility.

The Theory of Evolution. (Excellent introductory encyclopedia article.)
The scientific method. You must know what science is (hint: it's not a cult).
What's a Scientific Theory? Encyclopedia article. Yes, evolution is a theory. That's a good thing.
Evolution as Fact and Theory by Stephen Jay Gould. Very useful article.
The List-O- Links. Direct link to the right part of my homepage.

[odoso]

The growing trend has alarmed scientists and educators who consider it a masked effort to... Reveal their foolishness to everyone!

Ping!

[Borges]

Personally, I am alarmed by the attempts to replace Science with Ignorance

And the idea that Biology teachers are in any way qualified to teach theology.

[gdani]

In Seattle, the nonprofit Discovery Institute spends more than $1 million a year for research, polls and media pieces supporting intelligent design

Heh. Yet they still can't explain male nipples (among other "intelligent" designs).

[RightWingAtheist]

Unfortunately, this article illustrates what I've was talking about a few weeks ago, about the creationists being used against conservatives as representative of the entire movement. The issue isn't one of right versus left, but of right versus wrong, and we need more "conser-evos" to get their voices heard in the mainstream media. Then again, maybe there's a reason why the MSM won't let pro-evolution conservatives get their voices heard on the issue; it helps them reinforce the stereotypes and prejudices they have towards anyone who leans even slightly rightward.

There is some good news, however. Lately, on NRO's The Corner, John Derbyshire has been plugging away against the anti-evolution forces, and even took the time out to plug the talkorigins website. Hopefully, he'll be educating a lot of people in the process.

[PatrickHenry]

The problem with evolution is that it forms the basis for communism, facism, humanistic philosophies and much of the agenda that dominates the left.

That's odd.
Trofim Denisovich Lysenko. Stalin's biologist, definitely an anti-Darwinian.
Darwin's Influence on Ruthless Laissez Faire Capitalism. ICR links Darwin to good ol' capitalism.

[RadioAstronomer]

The problem with evolution is that it forms the basis for communism, facism, humanistic philosophies and much of the agenda that dominates the left.

This is not true. I cannot get back to this thread till tonight so I hope others will point out the errors before I get back.