Posted on 02/20/2006 5:33:50 AM PST by ToryHeartland
I am a NON practicing Catholic.
I present it as making more sense than Fundamentalist pap.
Your best bet is to ignore these fallible mortals as I do and believe what God states. I don't know who their god is but MY GOD, did exactly what He stated in Genesis and referred to in other books of the Bible. Perhaps you will reconsider, who you believe too? ;)
All that they are doing is conforming to the world and that is NOT what we are to do besides the evidence doesn't support evolution.
Rom.12:2
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
So you are equating Creationism, Homosexuality, Holoccaust Denial, Flat Earthism, Astrology, etc.?
OK, I can see that point of view.
My reply was a laundry list of arguments people might use, not necessarily the ones I personally endorse.
If this is so in the US--and I cannot say that it isn't so--then the situation is indeed different there. I do not doubt that in the UK the preponderance of scientists are of a conservative inclination, at least within the classic disciplines (chemisty, physics, biology) rather than the "social" sciences. I'll try and run down a source for my assertion here and post it--I'm sure polls of voting intention by career have been published, let me see what I can find
Sound more like Denial of Reality other that anything else.
in the UK, all schools include RE (religious education) which covers an introductian introduction to the major religions of the world and their associated scriptures, with particular emphasis on Western Christianity.
I don't think it is unconstitutional in the US to teach such a class in public schools, provided it isn't biased towards a particular religion and provided it doesn't advocate religion in general. It would be okay to teach the history of religion as a history class. However, that's not what the religious fundamentalists want.
The enemies of the Theory of Evolution really don't want Evolution taught at all, and they want to proselytize their own version of Christianity in public schools. They also want science subservient to religion.
In the US among scientists that I know (and that's a fair number), I'd say the split as to Right/Left is about the same as the general population.
I pinged PH because he may have some hard numbers.
The post is totally unsubstantiated drivel.
That's probably the case in the US also. Science appeals to the conservative mind for the same reasons that free enterprise does. It's reality-based, it focuses on what works, it rejects failed concepts, and it produces results. Both science and free enterprise flourish where there is a minimum of governmental interference. There's nothing socialistic, communistic, fascistic, or atheistic about science; and there's nothing American about theocracy. American conservatism, which seeks to preserve and build on the wisdom of the Founders, is inherently rational at its intellectual base.
Having said that, however, I suspect that many scientists don't actually vote like conservatives, even if they are conservative by nature. It may be because so many Luddites tend to dominate the dialogue, which causes an understandable revulsion against any movement which appears to be so bone-headed.
It all comes from the mistaken notion that each of us is somehow important in the scheme of things; the sooner we get over our love affair with authority and get back to the business of personal survival at whatever cost, the quicker we can rid ourselves of the fools among us. </sarc>
You state in your post: "Like other British Conservatives, I look to the United States as our one great ally and the world's greatest defender of liberty, but I do not understand why such an enlightened nation is embroiled in a senseless science vs. religion turmoil--and even more puzzled that some whom on other issues I recognise as fellow conservatives are, on this topic, so vehement in their assault on science. I, and many, many others here are staunch defenders and admirers of America, but when it comes to this controversy over Darwin, we just don't get it. Intelligent explanations of the real issue here would be appreciated!"
I think you'll find that the reason this is much more of an issue in the US than in the UK and the rest of Europe is that you are much further along in the post-Christian culture.
No, neither of the issues you raise are scientific. Competing theories in science require examination, and good science will win out. It is part of teaching critical thinking, which was, is, and will always be part of any science curriculum.
But see also post 105. It doesn't have to be true for some to allege it and convince others.
There are small groups of Christians who believe that the first couple of chapters of Genesis should be interpretted literally.
Once Genesis is interpretted literally, you can calculate the age of the earth. It is on the order of 6000 years old. Thus, the Bible becomes a history book.
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There is a small group of atheist scientists who believe that science can be used to disprove God.
They have latched onto the literal interpretation of Genesis and offer evolution as proof that there is no God. They now defend evolution as a fact rather than a theory thats full of holes. Evolution has become the central tenet of their "anti-God" religion.
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Most of America does not interpret Genesis literally and thinks both groups are very vocal nuts.
Critical analysis of evolution is something to be feared in school rooms.
See this thread:
False Fear Epidemic over Critical Analysis of Evolution Spreads to Wisconsin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1574165/posts
...not sure you can say that anymore.
Competing scientific theories - fine, but Creationism hardly fills the bill. Besides, the question is about public schools. Is any high school student sufficiently based in science, especially biology, to do more than a cursory examination of anything? I think not.
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