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
"Changing One Gene Launches New Species" about Wu's efforts at the U of Chicago three years ago. I search him out once in awhile to see if he's ever made that fly he promised.
Make your own link, if you've a mind'ta. Some scientists with brainpower know how to search.
Otherwise you would post the link. I remember the thread. I just don't think it means what you think it means. I would like to see it again.
Once again, attempting to control the debate by defining terms to suit yourselves. You can make a list--you can spam it and spam it--we'll see if you can enforce it. You clearly can't persuade, so enforcement is the only other option.
I'm controlling debate by asking you to use words within hollering distance of their common definitions? When did I do that "once before"? Did the two fruit fly populations in question fail to procreate, or not? Do you know what speciation means--or do you just prefer the "uncontrolled" form of debate where you hold your breath and turn blue until you get your way?
I said 'appears.' Viewed from a distant point, any planet 'appears' to be supported by nothing.
[...And if God was all-powerful, He wouldn't require a sacrifice to forgive sins...]
"No greater love hath a man than one who would lay down his life for another". (John 15:13)
While God is all powerful, He is also an all loving gentleman. He wants our love through free will, not through force. Since He cannot look upon sin, Jesus became our way to God. When God looks at us, He sees His Son (who is without sin).
While God is all powerful, He demonstrated a Godly love by laying down His life. And no... He didn't have to. He WANTED to. I stand in awe of this amazing love toward me and you.
Go to older articles and don't use exact phrase function button. Glad to help.
[...common animals did get convicted of crimes in the middle ages...]
And that is why is it often referred to as the DARK AGES.
Did you check the link I posted before? Did you read the text?
So you want to stick to informal, common usage? Aren't you getting off the plantation?
Well said Wolf!
Exchanging posts with Demen is like playing with a jack-in-the-box with a broken latch ;o)
Naw. Just applying logic.
Tried that with the same result. You made a claim. Now put up.
"And that is why is it often referred to as the DARK AGES."
I'm not defending it, just reporting. :)
http://abc.net.au/animals/program4/factsheet1.htm
If He was infinitely just He would not kill an innocent, would He?
Note, my argument is not against the existence of God, my argument is against certain concepts of God.
Bag man.
js1138 can't find this thread, is that what you're saying? I think you just don't want to.
" Did you check the link I posted before? Did you read the text?"
Yes, I did. I want citations of specific fossils in specific museums that are faked.
LOL... I know that there's no capital "C" in the man's name.
"I see it as much of an attack by science on religion. That's the problem. The science classroom should teach evolution as the theory that science accepts. It should not attack people's beliefs in intelligent design, and that's the biggest rub. There are professors who punish students who do not give up their religous views. This kind of bigotry in the scientific community is uncalled for. There are extremes on both sides."
I strongly agree with you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.