This charge emerges from secular America’s docile homage to the doctrines of Darwin. Wise and educated people today realize that the borderline between cutting-edge science and religious belief is fuzzy. One need only examine the work of cosmologist Stephen Hawking, British scientific philosopher Antony Flew, or Israeli physicist Gerald Schroeder to hear the language of theology. Only propagandists and ideologues think that Darwin ended the discussion.
The truth is that two incompatible beliefs can account for mankind’s presence on the planet. The first is that God created us in His image and placed us here. The second is that through a lengthy process of unaided materialistic evolution, primitive protoplasm became Bach, Beethoven, and the Beatles.
Many scientists, including the 40% who are religious according to a University of Georgia study cited by the New York Times in February of this year, accept the first view. Many scientists accept the second view and some scientists await further evidence. The issue is hardly cut and dried because a great deal of modern science flows as much from scientific philosophy as it does from laboratory experiment. This is particularly true of non-replicable science such as that dealing with cosmology and origin of the universe questions.
This leaves only one question: Are secular liberals or Christian conservatives more dogmatic and closed-minded? To any fair-minded person, the answer is startlingly simple. It would be tough to find a single Christian high school, college, or university in the nation that does not treat Darwinian evolution seriously. However, it would be even tougher to find a single public high school or secular university that grants a respectful hearing to intelligent design, let alone a religious view of creation.
It is also only on secular campuses that truth is frequently suppressed in the interests of political correctness.
If science means being open to all ideas, judging those ideas on the basis of evidence rather than belief, and withholding judgment in the absence of evidence, there can be no doubt at all. Christian conservatives are far less anti-Scientific than others.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin
It is also only on secular campuses that truth is frequently suppressed in the interests of political correctness.
If science means being open to all ideas, judging those ideas on the basis of evidence rather than belief, and withholding judgment in the absence of evidence, there can be no doubt at all. Christian conservatives are far less anti-Scientific than others.
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Great comment, Rabbi.
Lost in the "discussion" between the dogmatic atheists and devoted Christians (and Theists) is what the issue in the law suit actually is. It's not good enough for RWP and his fellow atheists (or secular humanists, etc., whatever label is preferred) that every child in American be taught Darwinian evolution. It must be taught as established scientific fact. Even that is not sufficient. The students must agree and believe in the theory. In the case of the UC, not even that suffices. Private, Christian schools such as the one my daughter attends, Calvary Chapel Christian High School, Vista, CA, must NOT teach anything that contradicts their dogma. The UC system has publicly expressed it's opinion that it has the lawful, constitutional right to be the final arbiter on curriculum any place a student in America studies, if they intend to apply to a UC school. This will logically apply to home schooled students as well, and will range far beyond the issue of evolution. If a Bob Jones, Beka, or even a Pastor's notes are found there, the UC Administrators intend that my child and others who attend such schools will never see the inside of an advanced University. And it's not just biology. Every left-wing principle now in play will be taught to every child in America, or those children will never attend a major University. It's not a reactionary conjecture on my part; it's a logically deduction based on the UC's stated position.
The issue is not whether Darwinian Evolution is "true", or scientifically accurate. University professors such as "Right Wing Professor" and the UC Administrators want to make sure that NO SCHOOL IN AMERICA dares teach anything that contradicts their dogma.
My daughter is well versed in the sciences, she tutors Math and English, and she also knows what she believes, and why she believes it. She can articulate her objections to Darwinian evolution because she has studied it. She has a good, classical "liberal" education, because she attended the private schools (seven different schools in 12 years) that she has. But that is not good enough for the UC or RWP. Her SAT scores and stelar accomplisments mean nothing.
RWP and his Darwin worshipping buddies are having a good old chuckle at the Neanderthal-Christians like myself, who dare to disbelieve their holy teachings. They could care less that my well-qualified daughter faces clear discrimination - real, personal, lifetime-lasting damage, because of, and only because of her religious faith. She's and other kids like her must be considered acceptable "collateral damage" to RWP and his ilk. I can just imagine their thoughts: "Too bad she had stupid parents who sent her to a Christian school to learn "voodoo" science. Oh well, screw her; at least our University classrooms will be pure and undefiled by those mystics. Maybe we should pin a star on them so we'll all be able to recognize those idiots in case they try to sneak in."
RWP is so far "right wing" that his position on religious people is hard to distinguish from that of Hitler's. He certainly has never absorbed the U.S. Constitution, or the First Amendment. (Hint: It was written to protect my daughter from creeps like the secular left, not to empower them in persecuting Christians.")
SFS
"This leaves only one question: Are secular liberals or Christian conservatives more dogmatic and closed-minded? "
Fortunately it is only a portion of evangelical Christian conservatives who want to reject the scientific method and teach faith in science class. That needs to be opposed by the rest of us Christian conservatives.