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Huge crowds extend Darwin exhibit in New York
Yahoo ^ | 3-22-06 | N/A

Posted on 03/22/2006 6:22:07 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser

Huge crowds extend Darwin exhibit in New York

Wed Mar 22, 2:54 PM ET

NEW YORK (AFP) - A monumental Charles Darwin exhibition in New York has been extended by five months amid an overwhelming public response to what was touted as a scholarly rebuke to opponents of teaching evolution in US schools.

The American Museum of Natural History said Wednesday that nearly 200,000 people had visited "Darwin" since it opened three months ago.

Originally slated to close at the end of this month, the exhibition will now run through August 20, said museum spokesman Joshua Schnakenberg.

"Darwin" had opened amid furious debate in many school districts over the teaching of the 19th century naturalist's evolutionary theory and the first trial on the teaching of the God-centered alternative favoured by many religious groups, "intelligent design," or ID.

That trial, in Pennsylvania, ended in defeat for the evangelical right with the judge in the case decrying the "breathtaking inanity" of the school board in the town of Dover which backed the concept that nature is so complex it must be the work of a superior being.

"Our conclusion today is that it is unconstitutional to teach ID as an alternative to evolution in a public school science classroom," the judge said in his ruling in December.

An early section of the New York exhibit is devoted to the question, "What is a Theory?" and seeks to clarify the distinction between scientific theories and non-scientific explanations about the origins and diversity of life.

"This is really for the schoolchildren of America. This is the evidence of evolution," said the exhibit's curator, Niles Eldridge.

In a Gallup poll released last October, 53 percent of American adults agreed with the statement that God created humans in their present form exactly the way the Bible describes it.

Thirty-one percent stood by the "intelligent design" stance, while only 12 percent said humans have evolved from other forms of life and "God has no part."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: crevolist; darwin; museum
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To: AnnoyedOne

Yeah, it is unprovable unless some surprising things turn up. Don't know what practical difference it would make anyway.


21 posted on 03/22/2006 6:59:57 PM PST by RightWhale (pas de lieu, Rhone que nous)
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To: cripplecreek

I've seen it. It's so crowded it's hard to see. Lots of interesting displays including some live animals. There is an Intelligent Design section consisting of video displays.


22 posted on 03/22/2006 7:02:45 PM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
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To: RightWhale

I can imagine no practical difference, other than simply seeking the truth. If ANY of the theories can ever be PROVEN, then we can lay the arguments about it to rest, which would be a worthwhile thing, probably.

I just believe that no halfway reasonable theory should be discounted and discarded until it can be disproven. In our search for truth, I would hate to see us overlook the significance of any evidence we may someday encounter, simply because what it is telling us is something we already ignored because it seemed too far fetched. Many great minds, for instance, think it is very far fetched that we will ever encounter intelligent life out there, even if it exists. But I would hate to see someone ignore a coherent signal we got from space just because we refuse to believe anyone is out there.


23 posted on 03/22/2006 7:09:02 PM PST by AnnoyedOne
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To: VadeRetro
Could it be that everything creationists say about Eldridge, Gould, punctuated equilibrium, and Darwin is false?

You mean the same people who don't understand or follow their own 9th commandment?

24 posted on 03/22/2006 7:12:11 PM PST by balrog666 (Irrational beliefs inspire irrational posts.)
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To: finnman69

Do you mean the American Museum of Natural History exhibit includes an Intelligent Design section?


25 posted on 03/22/2006 7:13:04 PM PST by puroresu (Conservatism is an observation; Liberalism is an ideology)
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To: PatrickHenry; CarolinaGuitarman; Junior; Ichneumon; VadeRetro; Luis Gonzalez; longshadow; ...

There is also an exhibit on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, called Evolving Planet....this exhibit just opened on March 10, 2006, so its a new exhibit...I dont know if this exhibit is permanent, or if it will have a limited time frame...but this exhibit is supposed to address evolution, and may be of interest to some on this thread...

The Field Museum, also has the largest, most complete fossil of a Tyrannosaurus Rex on exhibit in the main hall, as one enters the museum...The T. Rex, is named Sue, after the woman who originally discovered this amazing fossil in South Dakota in 1990...the Field Museum purchased the fossil in 1997, and in 2000, Sue went on permanent exhibition at the museum...

So if anyone lives in the Chicago area or near there, or is planning a trip to Chicago, a visit to the Field Museum might be a fine way to spend a day...

I was born and raised in Chicago...my parents took me and my brother to the Field Museum all of the time, first of all, because when I was a child, the museum was free, but more importantly, because the Field Museum is just a wonderful place to take children, and allow them to see the exhibits which examine the whole natural world...its a very large museum, with something for everyone to see and enjoy...My husband and I took our own children there so many times, and we all just enjoyed it so much...

My husband has been back to Chicago(we have not lived there in a long time),and did get to the Field Museum to see Sue, and he assures me, it was quite an impressive sight to see such a large fossil of a T. Rex...

If anyone is interested in Sue or the Evolving Planet exhibit, click onto the Field Museum website, which will give a lot of pertinent info...its www.fieldmuseum.org...
Along with the Field Museum in Chicago, other places worthy of a visit are the Shedd Aquarium, right near to the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, which is near to both the Museum and Aquarium, and of course, there is the world famous, Museum of Science and Industry, which is a number of miles away from the other mentioned places, but still within Chicago....of course, as any big city, there are many other places of interest, but just thought I would mention a few of my favorite places...

Now, I am sounding like I work for the Chicago Chamber of Commerce...but for those who are interested in such things, Chicago does have much to offer...


26 posted on 03/22/2006 7:18:57 PM PST by andysandmikesmom
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To: balrog666

I would say that when you make that generalization against all of those who believe in creationism , that you are probably bearing false witness against a number of them yourself.

(BTW, before ya make the accusation of bias, I am not a creationist, nor am I Jewish or Christian.)


27 posted on 03/22/2006 7:19:19 PM PST by AnnoyedOne
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To: Central Scrutiniser

Well, I'll be a monkey's -- ummm -- great-great-great...great-nephew.


28 posted on 03/22/2006 7:21:18 PM PST by southernnorthcarolina (Some people are like Slinkies: totally useless, but fun to throw down a stair.)
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To: puroresu
Do you mean the American Museum of Natural History exhibit includes an Intelligent Design section?

Yes

http://amnh.com/exhibitions/darwin/evolution/responses.php

BTW The new Comic Collisions space show is tre cool.

29 posted on 03/22/2006 7:23:13 PM PST by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
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To: andysandmikesmom

Hopefully the T. Rex won't collapse when they try to add the intercostal clavicle (classic movie joke). :-)


30 posted on 03/22/2006 7:23:27 PM PST by puroresu (Conservatism is an observation; Liberalism is an ideology)
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To: Central Scrutiniser
Thirty-one percent stood by the "intelligent design" stance, while only 12 percent said humans have evolved from other forms of life and "God has no part."

They left the most intelligent choice off the list.

God created the Universe, and everything in it, and then stood back and let evolution happen over time.

31 posted on 03/22/2006 7:23:58 PM PST by CobaltBlue (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.)
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To: andysandmikesmom
Museum guides are now being specially trained to deal with creationist disruptors:
Evolution and Creationism: A Guide for Museum Docents. PDF file.
32 posted on 03/22/2006 7:25:07 PM PST by PatrickHenry (Yo momma's so fat she's got a Schwarzschild radius.)
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To: Central Scrutiniser

I bet if they gave a "monumental exhibition" in Noo Yoke celebrating the other two 19th century secular gods (now mostly discredited, thank God. Charlie, you're next!) Marx and Fraud, even more fools would rush in.


33 posted on 03/22/2006 7:26:55 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: PatrickHenry

We went last week. Fabulous job. It's the next best thing to visiting Down house. I'm reading Niles Eldredge's companion book to the exhibit and it's a well-written and thoughtful statement about Darwin, his life and the events which shaped his scientific thought.
A plus are two wonderful Galapagos tortoises on loan from the Milwaukee Zoo and an iguana.


34 posted on 03/22/2006 7:28:38 PM PST by stanz (Those who don't believe in evolution should go jump off the flat edge of the Earth.)
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To: All
While creationists like Ken Ham train the kiddies to behave like disruptors:
"Boys and girls," Ham said. If a teacher so much as mentions evolution, or the Big Bang, or an era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, "you put your hand up and you say, 'Excuse me, were you there?' Can you remember that?".
35 posted on 03/22/2006 7:29:08 PM PST by PatrickHenry (Yo momma's so fat she's got a Schwarzschild radius.)
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To: finnman69

Cool! Hopefully the ACLU won't sue them!


36 posted on 03/22/2006 7:31:27 PM PST by puroresu (Conservatism is an observation; Liberalism is an ideology)
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To: Revolting cat!

Congrats, you are the first poster on this thread to equate Evolution with liberalism and communism.

For that, I point and laugh at your ignorance.


37 posted on 03/22/2006 7:33:40 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser (Stunned, he asked: "What do you call your act?" "The Aristocrats!")
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To: CobaltBlue

"They left the most intelligent choice off the list.

God created the Universe, and everything in it, and then stood back and let evolution happen over time."

Actually, that still fits under the umbrella of Intelligent Design theory. Most ID subscribers believe he did it basically as you describe, but stepped in to "tweak" things now and then... but your idea still fits into the general concept. ID is a pretty broad concept.


38 posted on 03/22/2006 7:36:16 PM PST by AnnoyedOne
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To: Central Scrutiniser

Well then, you can sleep soundly tonight having accomplished your daily mission: came to the internet and made yourself feel superior to somebody! (No fear, it's a well documented syndrome.) What a pathetic life.


39 posted on 03/22/2006 7:38:28 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: AnnoyedOne

#####Actually, that still fits under the umbrella of Intelligent Design theory. Most ID subscribers believe he did it basically as you describe, but stepped in to "tweak" things now and then... but your idea still fits into the general concept. ID is a pretty broad concept.#####


I think you're right. We're often told by evolutionists that there's such a thing as Theistic Evolution. But if God had anything to do with evolution, then evolution is ID. If He didn't have anything to do with evolution, then it can never be theistic.


40 posted on 03/22/2006 7:40:04 PM PST by puroresu (Conservatism is an observation; Liberalism is an ideology)
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