Evolution's bottom line

National Center for Science Education ^ | 12 May 2006 | Staff

[Junior]

Okay. Show us the positive evidence that creation was created by a creator. Go ahead. We'll wait.

[RadioAstronomer]

In this case, Dr. Scott's agenda is crystal clear.

Yes! To keep the pseudo science crap out of the classrooms.

[aimhigh]

Refresh my memory, was it Darwin, Wallace, Huxley, Haeckel, or Martin Luther

Stay on subject. Hitler took evolution and applied it.

[js1138]

If evolution corrupts, then biology teachers should be absolutely corrupted. Let's compare the number of biology teachers who have been convicted of diddling children with the numbe of ministers convicted of diddling children.

[shuckmaster]

Is this author trying to say that we would not have medical nor agricultural science today if not for the theory of evolution?? That is a tough pill to swallow. Do you agree with that statement??

I believe what the author is saying is that medical or agricultural science would still be in the dark ages if not for the theory of evolution. That of course is the truth.

[Elpasser]

Yes, I always form MY opinions based on what the NYT and its columnists think. How 'bout you?

[connectthedots]

So evolution has some pretty exciting applications (like food), and I'm guessing most people would prefer antibiotics developed by someone who knows the evolutionary relationship of humans and bacteria.

A conclusion not supported by the facts.

Has nothing to do with the evolutionist's claims concerning common descent/universdal common descent. And it certainly says nothing about macro-evolution.

[Dimensio]

Applications of evolution? I assume he mentioned naziism, communism, and eugenics programs?

I suppose that naziism, communism and eugenics are good examples of things that are not applications of evolution, but are commonly claimed to be by individuals who do not understand evolution.

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution is no more "godless" than relativity.

Well then, it's next on the hit list!

[JCEccles]

"I am driven to observe of the ultra-Darwinists the following features as symptomatic: first is their . . . almost unbelievable self-assurance, their breezy self-confidence. Second, and far more serious, are particular examples of sophistry and sleight of hand in the misuse of metaphor, and more importantly a distortion of metaphysics, in support of an evolutionary programme. Consider how ultra-Darwinists, having erected a naturalistic sytem that cannot by itself possess any ultimate purpose, still allow a sense of meaning mysteriously to slip back in. Thus, the philosopher of science John Greene remarks,

'Not all of the champions of the modern synthesis have been as open as [Julian] Huxley is in acknowledging the religious aspects of their devotion to evolutionary biology, but most of them, especially those who reject religious and philosophical approaches to the problem of human duty and destiny, manage to smuggle in by way of simile and metaphor the elements of meaning and value that their formal philosophy of nature and natural science excludes from consideration.'

"Despite this, such scientists have no foundation for their reaction agaisnt pointlessness other than the not unworthy and intuitive sense that the world should be built as it is; embedded in the Universe are not only neutrons but such edicts as, to echo Chesterton, 'Thou shalt not steal.'"

Simon Conway Morris, Life's Solution, pp. 314-315, (Cambridge University Press, 2003). Dr. Morris is professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Cambridge. A fellow of the Royal Society, his work on Cambrian soft-bodied faunas figured prominently in Stephen Jay Gould's Wonderful Life.

[hosepipe]

[ I thought Creationism was science? Now you're telling me that it's actually religion? ]

When "science" determines how humans were created(evolved)..
It is a religion.. Creationism covers a whole range of how that happened with different creators and mechanisms for that creation.. Even Peter Falk(Columbo) would have to close that case as unsolved.. and unsolvable..

It takes "faith" to believe in God or Evolution.. Heck it takes a measure faith to believe that you will get from point "A" to point "B" intact.. alive.. Many people have faith in people(scientists) or (clergy).. or even dogma..

Jesus came to make ALL religion obsolete, AND DID..
You gotta love him for that.. if only for that only..

He is and was what he said he was... and still IS.. -OR-
He is not or wasn't who he said he was, and still isn't..

Its really quite simple.. Its a choice..

[betty boop]

To put it succinctly, evolution sells commercial applications; religion sells hope.

Well I suppose you think the enjoyment of commercial applications in the here and now trumps eternal life. However, you may not always feel that way.

[andysandmikesmom]

Thanks for the ping...I just finished reading the entire article, and it was interesting...

I get the feeling that some folks think that coming up with new and better scientific innovations, which will create more wealth, is somehow a bad thing....creating wealth is a bad thing?...Why?

Forget the wealth part, what about the advantages that new and better scientific innovations, will, as this article states, improve society for all of us...applications in medicine alone will benefit all of us, whether now or in the future...I would not want to be living in a society, which practices medicine as it was practiced 50yrs ago, and am sad that I will not be around 50yrs from now, to see the benefits of research and innovation in medicine...but I sure want my children, and my future grandchildren, and so on down the line, to be able to benefit from research and innovation in the field of medicine..

And on to the matter of what students in other countries are learning, and how our students will fare, when in competition with them....I think this is quite an important issue...students from other countries eagerly come to the USA for their college educations, if they can get in to those college they have applied to...they are competing with American students all the time...will they return home better educated than our American students, whose own lack of credentials disallow them from entering those very same universities?...

When my son graduated from Cornell(yeah, I know, I am waiting for all the booers and hissers to appear), with his degree in Applied Physics Engineering, I was shocked to see the makeup of those receiving this particular degree..virtually everyone was either from a foreign country, or if they were Americans, they were almost all Asians, except for my own son, and one or two of his best friends...I had to ask myself, why was this...do Asians tend to concentrate more on math and sciences, and leave religion to the parents and their church?...I dont know, but am wondering...and women receiving this particular degree?...very, very few...I can only remember one or two ladies receiving this degree...why is this?...do we really think that the women cannot learn this discipline?...this was 10yrs ago, I would be interested to see the makeup of those earning this degree currently...

Whether we like it or not, more and more countries are providing excellent science education in their schools, and their students are taking advantage of it...they then come here for their university educations(as the USA still has the best universities), but they are returning home to their own countries, and putting what they have learned here, to advantage back home...

And no, I dont think that I am over-reacting...

[Dimensio]

Hitler took evolution and applied it.

Evolution cannot be "applied". Evolution is the end-result of a population of organisms existing in a system where environmental conditions create advantages or disadvantages based upon heriditable traits. Blaming Hitler's actions on evolution only demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of what evolution is.

[ROTB]

>Perhaps we should compare the number of clergymen convicted
>of child molestation

The Bible advocates marriage for deacons and bishops. It's in the book of Timothy.

If preists were only ordained if they could get and stay married, the Catholic Church would not have a problem with homosexuals in the clergy.

Have a good day my fellow Freeper.

[shuckmaster]

I'm embarrassed this man is from my state.

Are you one of the Dixie Chicks?

[PatrickHenry]

Show us the positive evidence that creation was created by a creator. Go ahead. We'll wait.

Just look out the window, you dolt! Look out the window! Look out the window!!!!!

[atlaw]

If I'm getting the point of your post, you're saying that you are now obligated to reject the theory of evolution, despite its enormous evidentiary support, because the NYT published an editorial defending its presence in science curricula. Is that about right?

[Junior]

No. Hitler took Luther's dictates and applied them. Anti-Semitism and pogroms predate Darwin by literally centuries. Christians were preaching hatred against the Jews at least as early as the Second Century. The only innovation Hitler brought to the table was mechanization.

[Dimensio]

Is this author trying to say that we would not have medical nor agricultural science today if not for the theory of evolution??

Consider the resulting disasterous effect to the Soviet agricultural industry when Stalin outlawed the teaching of Darwinian evolution.