[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping! This list is for the evolution side of evolution threads, and maybe other science topics like cosmology.
See the list's description in my freeper homepage. Then FReepmail me to be added or dropped.

[PatrickHenry]

I wanted to post a different article, from USA Today, but apparently that outfit doesn't allow even excerpts to be posted here. But it's a good article, which neatly summarizes the education conflicts all around the country, and it's worth reading. So here's a link:
School science debate has evolved.

[Rammer]

Given the absurd number of times bacteria have reproduced in the last 100+ years that we've been observing them (millions given the rapid rate of reproduction), how many new bacterial species have been seen? Any?

[KTpig]

'Science isn't a matter of votes -- or beliefs. It's a system of verifiable facts'

Science can not prove the theory of evolution. It takes more "faith" to believe in it than Creation. Creation follows sound scientific principles.

[mikeus_maximus]

Y-a-w-n.

Summary of typical hitpiece: "Let's confuse science with philosophy, throw in a few Latin terms, and hope the ignorant masses don't catch on. There are only 2 roads: Evolution or religion. Evolution is a fact, not really a theory; we just screwed up the semantics. Everything else must be "religion." Forget the disappointments of the fossil record. Forget the numerous missing links hoaxes and fallacious ascent records we used for many years to "prove" the religious nuts wrong. Forget the glaring evidence of design. Ignore scientific inquiries in fields like the mathematics of probability. Ignore the fallacy of reasoning from a conclusion ("sure macroevolution is infinitely improbable, but we're here, so it must have happened.") We believe that somehow, an amorphous mass began to undergo millions of benefical mutations until it developed the human eye, and sense of aesthetics, etc. Don't question our faith, you ignorant Bible thumpers."

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[GarySpFc]

“The conflict is fundamental and goes much deeper than modern liberal theologians, religious leaders and scientists are willing to admit. Most contemporary scientists, the majority of them by far, are atheists or something very close to that. And among evolutionary biologists, I would challenge the reader to name the prominent scientists who are ‘devoutly religious.’ I am skeptical that one could get beyond the fingers of one hand. Indeed, I would be interested to learn of a single one.”

William B. Provine, “Progress in Evolution and Meaning in Life,” in Evolutionary Progress, ed. Matthew H. Nitecki (University of Chicago Press, 1988), p. 69 Provine was Professor of History of Biology, Cornell University