Posted on 02/20/2006 5:33:50 AM PST by ToryHeartland
Churches urged to back evolution By Paul Rincon BBC News science reporter, St Louis
US scientists have called on mainstream religious communities to help them fight policies that undermine the teaching of evolution.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hit out at the "intelligent design" movement at its annual meeting in Missouri.
Teaching the idea threatens scientific literacy among schoolchildren, it said.
Its proponents argue life on Earth is too complex to have evolved on its own.
As the name suggests, intelligent design is a concept invoking the hand of a designer in nature.
It's time to recognise that science and religion should never be pitted against each other Gilbert Omenn AAAS president
There have been several attempts across the US by anti-evolutionists to get intelligent design taught in school science lessons.
At the meeting in St Louis, the AAAS issued a statement strongly condemning the moves.
"Such veiled attempts to wedge religion - actually just one kind of religion - into science classrooms is a disservice to students, parents, teachers and tax payers," said AAAS president Gilbert Omenn.
"It's time to recognise that science and religion should never be pitted against each other.
"They can and do co-exist in the context of most people's lives. Just not in science classrooms, lest we confuse our children."
'Who's kidding whom?'
Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education, which campaigns to keep evolution in public schools, said those in mainstream religious communities needed to "step up to the plate" in order to prevent the issue being viewed as a battle between science and religion.
Some have already heeded the warning.
"The intelligent design movement belittles evolution. It makes God a designer - an engineer," said George Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory.
"Intelligent design concentrates on a designer who they do not really identify - but who's kidding whom?"
Last year, a federal judge ruled in favour of 11 parents in Dover, Pennsylvania, who argued that Darwinian evolution must be taught as fact.
Dover school administrators had pushed for intelligent design to be inserted into science teaching. But the judge ruled this violated the constitution, which sets out a clear separation between religion and state.
Despite the ruling, more challenges are on the way.
Fourteen US states are considering bills that scientists say would restrict the teaching of evolution.
These include a legislative bill in Missouri which seeks to ensure that only science which can be proven by experiment is taught in schools.
I think if we look at where the empirical scientific evidence leads us, it leads us towards intelligent design Teacher Mark Gihring "The new strategy is to teach intelligent design without calling it intelligent design," biologist Kenneth Miller, of Brown University in Rhode Island, told the BBC News website.
Dr Miller, an expert witness in the Dover School case, added: "The advocates of intelligent design and creationism have tried to repackage their criticisms, saying they want to teach the evidence for evolution and the evidence against evolution."
However, Mark Gihring, a teacher from Missouri sympathetic to intelligent design, told the BBC: "I think if we look at where the empirical scientific evidence leads us, it leads us towards intelligent design.
"[Intelligent design] ultimately takes us back to why we're here and the value of life... if an individual doesn't have a reason for being, they might carry themselves in a way that is ultimately destructive for society."
Economic risk
The decentralised US education system ensures that intelligent design will remain an issue in the classroom regardless of the decision in the Dover case.
"I think as a legal strategy, intelligent design is dead. That does not mean intelligent design as a social movement is dead," said Ms Scott.
"This is an idea that has real legs and it's going to be around for a long time. It will, however, evolve."
Among the most high-profile champions of intelligent design is US President George W Bush, who has said schools should make students aware of the concept.
But Mr Omenn warned that teaching intelligent design will deprive students of a proper education, ultimately harming the US economy.
"At a time when fewer US students are heading into science, baby boomer scientists are retiring in growing numbers and international students are returning home to work, America can ill afford the time and tax-payer dollars debating the facts of evolution," he said. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/sci/tech/4731360.stm
Published: 2006/02/20 10:54:16 GMT
© BBC MMVI
Nausea and hatred are not the same thing.
It is interesting that some people believe that scientistist can be quoted to demonstrate they don't believe things they obviously do believe. This has to be on the short list of symptoms of insanity.
"It’s a question of which bias is the best bias to be biased with."
Perfect. And, very refreshingly, honest.
You forgot to mention, "and utter balderdash, resulting from incomprehension of the meaning of 'theory'"
Torah Jews today, who are not Zionists, believe that they are to remain dispersed among the nations and faithful, so they do believe the bible, yes.
And hysterical. Actually, it's even funnier. I have been doing to them the exact same things that they do to me, just to watch them scream in indignation. You can be talking to one and 10 others show up to help him, lol.
The OT tells us that the conflict that Israel has in our current day with it's neighbors is brought about because Israel had turned it's back on GOD, in fact it predicts this conflict will continue throughout history. The Jews understood that their slavery in Egypt was brought about for this reason.
1. Was the Holocaust the result of Jews turning their backs on God, in your opinion?
2. In what way are Jews turning their backs on God today?
Please stop it. This isn't a trial, and I'm not on the witness stand. Find a Jew who believes the OT and ask them.
God is no respector of person. Many Christians has turned their back on God wanting to do their own thing - What punishment do they get?
What about those that totally reject Him? Do they get the same punishment as the Jews?
No, but it is a forum for debate, and that includes having your posts challenged and your positions questioned. Remember the old adage about the heat and the kitchen.
IMO, none. I am not of the opinion that God metes out earthly punishment to individuals or groups.
Let me ask you this: What are some modern day examples, if any, of Christians being punished for turning their backs on God?
What about those that totally reject Him? Do they get the same punishment as the Jews?
Same answer. I don't think earthly punishments are divinely meted out.
Do you think the Holocaust was divine punishment for Jews turning their backs on God?
You're preaching to the choir. However, you may wish to address this to the poster who claimed that the Nazis were doing the Lord's work, and that the Jews had brought the Holocaust on themselves.
Let everyone read The Word for them self and the Holy Spirit be their teacher. No need to reply. I don't debate The Bible. I'm not the author nor the teacher.
As I said to another poster, you should expect to have your posts challenged on a forum such as this.
Well hullo to you too!!
I wasn't aware that there was "some thought by Jews themselves" that the Holocaust was divine punishment. How widespread is this thinkng?
You do realize that when one links biblical examples of punishment of Jews to modern day examples, one is saying that Jews were righteously dealt with in the Holocaust.
Elsie etc. have nothing against jews--they are just explaining that God has the Jews in His crosshairs, sort of like as a public service.
It would be interesting to know if they think the 911 attack was divine punishment for the US turning its back on God.
Are you Jewish?
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