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To: Mr. Silverback
in it he accuses Creationists of trying to make us a theocracy and predicts that once this theocracy is in place the government will ban certain lines of scientific inquiry outright.

Some do. There's always been a vocal fringe in religion that want to prevent scientific research.

From Galileo to IVF to stem cell research.

Heck, I even remember reading a story or watching a news cast that featured some nutjub that wanted to stop the LHC from launching, because she believed we were "playing God" or some other such nonsense.

The sort of thing you would expect to see on DU, not FR.

Most of the science-friendly people on FR keep their mouths shut, because they don't want to get into a drawn out fight with the... ah... more 'notorious' Biblical literalists and/or get banned.

*shrug*

Scientists usually doesn't have to actively engage with the general public, because their work - collectively mostly, but sometimes individually - drags society along.

398 posted on 12/27/2008 8:11:06 PM PST by CE2949BB (Fight.)
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To: CE2949BB
Some do. There's always been a vocal fringe in religion that want to prevent scientific research.

Sigh.

1. Name me a Christian or other Creationist of any consequence who has proposed that we change over to a theocracy.

2. Failing that, name me a Christian or other Creationist of any consequence who has proposed that we ban whole scientific disciplines.

3. If you can even provide an example that qualifies for item 1 and/or 2, provide evidence that any significant number of Christians, Creationists or voters of any stripe supported them or took them seriously.

4. Opposing research into a certain field is not the same as opposing science. Sometimes there are excellent reasons to oppose a line of inquiry, such as the arguments against embryonic stem cell research that are based on the inherent ethical problems.

5. Bringing up Galileo is like bringing up the Crusades: No relevance to today's realities. Moreover, given the many contributions to science by devout Christians, it's sort of like a Christian painting every scientist as a Pete Singer clone.

Heck, I even remember reading a story or watching a news cast that featured some nutjub that wanted to stop the LHC from launching, because she believed we were "playing God" or some other such nonsense.

So what? That's the science equivalent of Fred Phelps. Would you judge every Christian by Fred Phelps, or every scientist by Doctor Mengele?

401 posted on 12/27/2008 8:48:45 PM PST by Mr. Silverback (I want a hippopotamus for Christmas. Only a hippopotamus will do!)
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To: CE2949BB; Mr. Silverback
Scientists usually doesn't have to actively engage with the general public, because their work - collectively mostly, but sometimes individually - drags society along.

I guess the self-appointed elite don't like to dirty their hands with the unwashed masses, eh?

Actually, with the liberal bent that most scientists have, it's more like they're a drag ON society.

You guys sure think no small potatoes of yourselves. Scientists dragging society along. What a laugh....

412 posted on 12/27/2008 10:31:38 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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