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To: NewLand
This issue divides families, friends, so no suprise that it will divide Republicans...I don't know what will happen with FR, but when I read the passion some of these folks have for a 'theory', it would not suprise me if they protect that belief with whatever it takes...so switching party affiliation would be a minor detail.

That is ridiculous. We have a passion for the truth and for reason. The divide goes deeper than just evolution: It's a question of where morality comes from. Creationist conservatives think there is no moral code that people can converge upon by examining the real world. Ironically, in this they agree with postmodernist deconstructionists! But where po-mos are happy to live in their world of competing, totally subjective "texts", creationists want there to be a deus-ex-machina god to come down to Earth and impose his morality upon us. A Deus-ex-machinocracy, if you will.

Evolutionist conservatives, OTOH, think morality is a concept that flows naturally from the facts of human nature, and as such there is indeed a single, objective morality which is best for all people to follow. The problem is, it's not self-evident, but must be learned through hard experience, and analyzed through our capacity for reason.

Both creationist & evolutionist conservatives believe humans need a single set of consistent moral codes to live by for civilization to flourish - so there should be some common ground for us as conservatives - and indeed there is, when we come together on other day-to-day subjects, such as supporting the war in Iraq, etc.

This issue evokes such passion with me because now that Communism has collapsed, creationists want to distract the conservative movement into a totally useless side-issue which is an embarrassment to the movement, and if successful would do great harm to America's science profession. Not to mention giving the liberals & leftists (remember them?) a great gaping hole through which to charge and stage a major comeback.

As long as you creationists keep trying to wedge the religious doctrine of creationism into public schools' science classes, this divisive issue will not go away. That is not our fault.

715 posted on 07/09/2003 11:18:02 PM PDT by jennyp (http://crevo.bestmessageboard.com)
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To: jennyp
As long as you creationists keep trying to wedge the religious doctrine of creationism into public schools' science classes

As long as you keep defining any attempt at exposing the weaknesses and flaws of Darwininian "science" as an attempt at teaching creationism it will remain a divisive issue.

717 posted on 07/09/2003 11:38:49 PM PDT by AndrewC
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To: jennyp; ALS; NewLand
Evolutionist conservatives, OTOH, think morality is a concept that flows naturally from the facts of human nature, and as such there is indeed a single, objective morality which is best for all people to follow. The problem is, it's not self-evident, but must be learned through hard experience, and analyzed through our capacity for reason.

Yes, human nature will govern itself morally. Ever look around at all the nations degenerating into tribal states, where the ones with the most firepower subjugates the rest?

This reads like a call for the State to take control and your ideal society is nothing more than Communism

719 posted on 07/09/2003 11:58:28 PM PDT by JesseShurun (The Hazzardous Duke)
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To: jennyp
Personally I don't link evolution and morals/ethics/philosophy/religion.

Scientific explanations of evolution are mechanistic, not teleological.

Evolution can't explain consciousness or behavior, either. It's reasoning backwards, which is inherently flawed. Fun to do, but not real science.

Some evolutionists, like EO Wilson, try to use evolution to explain behavior, but he's studying insect behavior, which appears to be more or less hard wired in.

739 posted on 07/10/2003 5:56:26 AM PDT by CobaltBlue (Never voted for a Democrat in my life.)
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To: jennyp
"creationists want to distract the conservative movement into a totally useless side-issue which is an embarrassment to the movement"

Sorry jennyp, but to consider God, His devine power, His creation that was done out of LOVE...to consider that a 'useless side issue' is more than a political embarassment...it is a condemnation of our Lord and His majesty, His holiness...and of your place in eternity.

"Evolutionist conservatives, OTOH, think morality is a concept that flows naturally from the facts of human nature"

Belief in this statement classifies you politically as a liberal through and through...I can't believe you don't see that.

What facts BTW...facts from the 1st century, 2nd century, 3rd centrury, 10th century, 20th century, 30th century, 100th century...facts from Botswana or Beijing or Bangkok or Bulgaria or Baghdad...facts from liberals or conservatives or agnostics or atheists or wiccans...facts from pharoahs or kings or dictators or presidents or generals...

780 posted on 07/10/2003 9:21:54 AM PDT by NewLand
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