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The Religious Cult of Evolution Fights Back
PostItNews.com ^

Posted on 12/21/2004 7:59:02 PM PST by postitnews.com

HARRISBURG, PA-The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and attorneys with Pepper Hamilton LLP filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of 11 parents who say that presenting "intelligent design" in public school science classrooms violates their religious liberty by promoting particular religious beliefs to their children under the guise of science education.

"Teaching students about religion's role in world history and culture is proper, but disguising a particular religious belief as science is not," said ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Director Witold Walczak. "Intelligent design is a Trojan Horse for bringing religious creationism back into public school science classes."

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United Executive Director, added, "Public schools are not Sunday schools, and we must resist any efforts to make them so. There is an evolving attack under way on sound science...Read More

(Excerpt) Read more at postitnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: aclu; creation; crevolist; cults; evolution; intelligentdesign; scienceeducation
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To: Blood of Tyrants

He's some kind of universalist church leader. I can't stand the guy. Americans United and ACLU are groups that are so anti-Christian it's not funny. Brrrrr.


301 posted on 12/22/2004 12:48:18 PM PST by Marysecretary (Thank you, Lord, for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!)
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To: RadioAstronomer

Evolution is only a theory as well. It shouldn't be taught as fact either.


302 posted on 12/22/2004 12:49:13 PM PST by Marysecretary (Thank you, Lord, for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!)
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To: Marysecretary
Evolution is only a theory as well. It shouldn't be taught as fact either.

In science a theory is a stronger statement than a fact. Facts are frequently found to be in error. Established theories, almost never.

303 posted on 12/22/2004 1:04:41 PM PST by js1138 (D*mn, I Missed!)
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To: betty boop
Evolutionary theory seems to be lacking a method to get to the bottom of that question.

Probably because it doesn't try to. Sigh! One more time! The theory of evolution deals with how species are descended from other species; not how life originated.

304 posted on 12/22/2004 1:17:23 PM PST by Right Wing Professor
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To: muawiyah
I want you people out of the business of forcing me to pay taxes to support government run schools that pursue the propagation of your particular sectarian beliefs and shibboliths. That should eliminate your problem as well because you would then be responsible for teaching your own d****ed kids your own d****ed myths. The public school system in America has failed!

Agreed.

305 posted on 12/22/2004 1:20:12 PM PST by balrog666 (The invisible and the nonexistent look very much alike.)
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To: muawiyah

"That should eliminate your problem as well because you would then be responsible for teaching your own d****ed kids your own d****ed myths."


That's such a Christian thought! I'm happy to see you as a shining example of Jesus!

Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa!!


306 posted on 12/22/2004 1:24:55 PM PST by Blzbba (Conservative Republican - Less gov't, less spending, less intrusion.)
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To: Dimensio
How so? I have known people who believe in God for many years that are evolutionist. It is just that evolutionists on a whole are atheist and evolution feeds into people's unbelief on a whole. I am amazed when I talk to people who purport to believe in God and evolution though I can understand it as evolution has been put forth as fact for so long by so many. I use to believe in evolution and was an atheist. I came to realize that evolution was without merit before I became a Christian as I studied it in college and asked my professors questions I believed they could easily answer and found them going in circles and not able to answer my questions. I was an atheist who didn't believe in evolution and yes there are Christians who do. It is by the saving blood and putting one's trust and faith in Christ as the Son of God that saves not one's belief in creation. At the time I was saved I did not believe in evolution but had not really understood or accepted creation either.
307 posted on 12/22/2004 1:28:51 PM PST by Bellflower (A NEW DAY IS COMING!)
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To: Blzbba

Jesus didn't even attempt to set up a public school system. In my theological construct of true Christianity, Jesus would not have advocated anything he didn't talk about.


308 posted on 12/22/2004 1:29:38 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

"Jesus didn't even attempt to set up a public school system. In my theological construct of true Christianity, Jesus would not have advocated anything he didn't talk about."


Typical of a "Christian" to mention Jesus just two replies after calling my children "d*****eds".

Screw you.


309 posted on 12/22/2004 1:39:39 PM PST by Blzbba (Conservative Republican - Less gov't, less spending, less intrusion.)
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To: Blzbba
Guess you'd probably understand I'm not a non-confrontational Christian. At times we have to roll out the "Christian Soldier" model and have at it, particularly when we are forced to engage with an anti-Christian.

Bet you thought all Christians were supposed to be into forgiveness and inclusiveness, eh?

We aren't ~

On the other hand, your claim that there is some sort of stereotypical Christian who kicks your teeth in on occasion, and insults you back, suggests that you do meet up with some of us with some regularity.

BTW, against all stereotypes, I am not inviting you over to the "dark side" at all. You can go about your merry way on a one way trip to oblivion. It is simply not my concern. I just don't want to pay taxes to have your party line propagated in public schools and forced down my kids' throats.

310 posted on 12/22/2004 1:47:40 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

and did you read this?

New SAT Questions Replace Evolution with Creation
http://swiftreport.blogs.com/news/2004/12/new_sat_questio.html
Students attending school in districts that have phased out the teaching of evolution will no longer be forced to answer SAT questions about the controversial theory. Instead, they'll answer questions about the six days in which God created the earth and the great flood that took place 4,300 years ago.


311 posted on 12/22/2004 1:49:14 PM PST by chimatt1969 (god and country)
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To: muawiyah

"We aren't ~ "


No, but you do have the pious and ignorance part down pat!


"and insults you back"


No, a$$hole - you insulted my children. Big difference, faux-Christian. Although the history of Christianity is certainly filled with violence perpetrated on innocents in the name of God, so I guess you're only doing your best to live up to that legacy.


" I just don't want to pay taxes to have your party line propagated in public schools and forced down my kids' throats."

I actually agree with you. If I want my kids to learn about mythology, I'll send 'em to Sunday school. I have no desire to have my taxes spent on forcing them to learn Christian (or Muslim, Jewish, etc) beliefs.

Although the teaching of science isn't a "party line".


312 posted on 12/22/2004 1:53:41 PM PST by Blzbba (Conservative Republican - Less gov't, less spending, less intrusion.)
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To: Right Wing Professor; Alamo-Girl; js1138; PatrickHenry; Baraonda
Sigh! One more time! The theory of evolution deals with how species are descended from other species; not how life originated.

But Prof, you said this:

There are no particularly worrisome gaps in the modern theory of evolution, barring the gap at the very beginning of life.

Perhaps I read too much into this statement. It seems to acknowledge a "gap" in need of an explanation.

As for species descending from other species: Darwin, I'm told, drew many of his insights from selective breeding experiments. But none of these have ever shown descent of one species from another. I think when he got to Galapagos, and saw the concentrated, rich riot of birds and reptiles of so many different species running around this isolated piece of geography, he drew the perhaps unwarranted conclusion that they must all be related somehow by line of descent. (That's a speculation on my part.) But what "looks plausible" ain't the same thing as establishing a fact.

So, forgive me, but I'm a skeptic; for me, the "jury's still out" on the issue of species being derived from other species. I don't think this sort of thing has ever been observed. But it makes for a great "just-so story."

I am convinced that evolution is a fact, however.

And so, we get back to where we always begin, you and I, Prof. Though I sincerely respect your right to see things differently, and to disagree with me.

313 posted on 12/22/2004 1:56:10 PM PST by betty boop
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To: Bellflower
How pathetic to let someone else do your thinking for you. And even worse to completely stop learning.

Christ is going to give you eternity and all you will be able to do with it is smile and act like a turnip. Bravo!

314 posted on 12/22/2004 1:57:50 PM PST by balrog666 (The invisible and the nonexistent look very much alike.)
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To: chimatt1969
Well, it's an equally non-utilitarian question. So what!

The problem here is the Sumerian stories about "the Great Flood" predate that narrow, sectarian accounting of just how old the Bible is, or how long it's been since Creation.

I don't really care what kind of question is asked about things without the sort of evidence that can be reproduced in an independent laboratory! Evolution and Creationism fall into the same category in that regard.

Besides, SAT should be asking questions more along the lines of what a future lawyer might be expected to know. We import our scientists and engineers, but the lawyers are our specialty. May they live long and prosper, eh?! Let's hope "W" is successful in Iraq. They can use some of our legal talent as an import item!

315 posted on 12/22/2004 1:59:04 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: Blzbba
Hey, if it's something you approve of being taught in the public schools, it's a party line!

Time to dismantle that grievous error. Learn to take care of your own kids.

BTW, the reference was to you, not the kids. In the future, if you don't want to go around thinking your children have been insulted, keep it in your britches.

316 posted on 12/22/2004 2:01:14 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: betty boop
I don't think this sort of thing has ever been observed. But it makes for a great "just-so story."

You can see it happening, BB:
Ring Species. We can observe two species and the intermediate forms connecting them.
Ensatina eschscholtzi: Speciation in Progress. A Classic Example of Darwinian Evolution.

317 posted on 12/22/2004 2:05:24 PM PST by PatrickHenry (The List-O-Links for evolution threads is at my freeper homepage.)
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To: betty boop
Thanks for the ping!

And so it seems to me that people who break out in a rash on the mere hearing of the word "spiritual" risk falling into a condition, not only of spiritual, but also of intellectual closure. This would not seem to portend much good for the evolution of science.

Indeed. Behold the turtle, he only makes progress when he sticks his neck out.

318 posted on 12/22/2004 2:09:55 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: RadioAstronomer
ID is not a scientific theory and should not be taught as an alternative to evolution in our schools.

Oh, I don't know about that.

If physicists can promulgate "String Theory" (without even a lick of physical proof), why can't Intelligent Design--for which there is ample circumstantial proof, be taught?

Biology, physics, and chemistry are all pointing to an orderly, designed universe, which is, or should be, at the foremost of intellectual chatter of this era.

That such a mountain of evidence is ignored is telling of the bias (and fear) in some. Perhaps they feel it would dry up funding? It shouldn't--I'd DOUBLE funding, because we'd be getting closer to an understanding.

If OJ Simpson could be convicted on circumstantial evidence (civil trial), and criminals are convicted daily based on circumstantial evidence, shouldn't that same standard apply elsewhere?

Many scientists are deists. Some, theists. IMHO, the weight of coincidences has now piled up to where an honest scientist ought to, at least, concede the probability that this is a designed universe, not a "Cinderella" one that "just happened" to be favorable for our existence.

The Anthropic argument can work both ways. It doesn't necessarily rule anything out either way.

319 posted on 12/22/2004 2:11:07 PM PST by sauron ("Truth is hate to those who hate Truth" --unknown)
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To: postitnews.com
It's a lot more reasonable to believe in 'intelligent design' than it is to believe we evolved from apes. In fact, most of America agrees.

They should ask their little Islamo-fascist buddies which version they believe.
320 posted on 12/22/2004 2:14:08 PM PST by superskunk (Quinn's Law: Liberalism always produces the exact opposite of it's stated intent.)
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