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Antievolutionists asked to review draft standards in Texas
The National Center for Science Education ^ | October 16, 2008

Posted on 10/17/2008 7:59:18 AM PDT by Soliton

Three antievolutionists have been appointed to a six-member committee to review the draft set of Texas state science standards, and defenders of the integrity of science education in the Lone Star state are livid. "The committee was chosen by 12 of the 15 members of the board of education, with each panel member receiving the support of two board members," as the Dallas Morning News (October 16, 2008) explains. Six members of the board "aligned with social conservative groups" chose Stephen C. Meyer, the director of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, Ralph Seelke, a biology professor at the University of Wiconsin, Superior, and Charles Garner, a chemistry professor at Baylor University.

Meyer, Seelke, and Garner are all signatories of the Discovery Institute-sponsored "Dissent from Darwinism" statement. Meyer and Seelke are also coauthors of Explore Evolution: The Arguments For and Against Neo-Darwinism (Hill House, 2008), which, like Of Pandas and People, is a supplementary textbook that is intended to instill scientifically unwarranted doubts about evolution. A recent review by biologist John Timmer summarized, "But the book doesn't only promote stupidity, it demands it. In every way except its use of the actual term, this is a creationist book." Garner reportedly told the Houston Press (December 14, 2000) that he "criticizes evolutionary theory in class."

Meyer and Seelke also testified in the 2005 "kangaroo court" hearings held by three antievolutionist members of the Kansas state board of education, in which a parade of antievolutionist witnesses expressed their support for the so-called minority report version of the state science standards (written with the aid of a local "intelligent design" organization), complained of repression by a dogmatic evolutionary establishment, and claimed to have detected atheism lurking "between the lines" of the standards..

(Excerpt) Read more at ncseweb.org ...


TOPICS: Education; Religion; Science
KEYWORDS: creationism; evolution; id; scientism
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To: Mojave; Soliton
Which is heresy to you global warming cultists. You're busted.

Have fun playing the "Soliton's Shifting Stance" game!

BTW, if you feel like having some fun, ask him to describe for you the difference between Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar.

21 posted on 10/17/2008 8:40:04 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Here they come boys! As thick as grass, and as black as thunder!)
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To: Soliton
That wouldn't solve anything. Their problem is they can't get their kids to go to church, so there is no one to teach.

It would still do my heart good to see a preacher teaching the truth for once. Even if it was only basic math.

22 posted on 10/17/2008 8:42:33 AM PDT by LeGrande
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To: Mojave
Which is heresy to you global warming cultists. You're busted.

Man! You sure haven't read my posts. I believe that the Earth has warmed an the Earth has cooled, but have never believed that it was man's fault. You need to learn the difference between global warming and anthropogenic global warming.

23 posted on 10/17/2008 8:43:15 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: Soliton
You sure haven't read my posts.

I read and refuted your attempt to put Sarah Palin in the "global warming" camp.

Put some ice on it.

24 posted on 10/17/2008 8:46:16 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: LeGrande
It would still do my heart good to see a preacher teaching the truth for once. Even if it was only basic math.

There are preachers who teach the truth. They stick to ethical and moral and faith issues. They are concerned with salvation of the soul based on a system of belief they have accepted. They would never challenge the validity of science. They see it as a test of their faith. In other words, evolution may be true on a material basis, but creatioism is also true from a religious basis. That is what faith is for; believing things that can not be proven or rationalized.

25 posted on 10/17/2008 8:50:15 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: Mojave; Soliton
Try not to use the WashPo to get an unbiased report on Sarah Palin's position

What is your take on global warming and how is it affecting our country?

A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made. http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/sarah_palin_vp/2008/08/29/126139.html

Seems to agree with what Soliton said
Your quote shows that she accepts global warming may be part of a natural cycle. She is unsure as to weather it is caused by humans or not.

26 posted on 10/17/2008 8:52:08 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to send an e-mail - from the MSM)
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To: Mojave
I read and refuted your attempt to put Sarah Palin in the "global warming" camp.

I made the point that Sarah Palin was NOT in the AGH camp, but does accept that global warming HAS occured. Geez!

27 posted on 10/17/2008 8:53:44 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: Oztrich Boy
Try not to use the WashPo to get an unbiased report on Sarah Palin's position

WaPo was attacking her for not buying into their global warming rubbish.

Try not to be so dishonest.

28 posted on 10/17/2008 8:54:24 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: LeGrande

“If the religious folk around here are so intent on injecting their false beliefs into Science, maybe the Churches should lose their tax exempt status unless they start teaching proper science in Church?”

Hi LeGrande! Long time, no see. Hope you are well!

1. Tax exempt status - OK by me - of course the government will have to start shouldering the charitable work and charge you for it...
2. False? You can prove that?


29 posted on 10/17/2008 8:54:24 AM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion (Stalin was a community organizer...)
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To: Soliton
I made the point that Sarah Palin was NOT in the AGH camp

AGH? I see what they mean about your changing stances.

30 posted on 10/17/2008 8:55:45 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Soliton; metmom; betty boop; MrB; GodGunsGuts; Fichori; Arthur Wildfire! March


That is what faith is for; believing things that can not be proven or rationalized.


Would this apply to algae springing up out of mud somehow turning into salamanders, into rabbits, into monkeys, into great apes, into people with absolutely no purpose, all quite by "accident"?

31 posted on 10/17/2008 9:01:08 AM PDT by tpanther (All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke)
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To: Mojave
WaPo was attacking her for not buying into their global warming rubbish.

No they are trying to slot her into the ignorant, tongue speaking, 6 day Creationist, Dominionist position. Because that's the only kind of conservative Christian they can imagine.

32 posted on 10/17/2008 9:03:34 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to send an e-mail - from the MSM)
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To: tpanther
Would this apply to algae springing up out of mud somehow turning into salamanders, into rabbits, into monkeys, into great apes, into people with absolutely no purpose, all quite by "accident"?

Yes, if that's what you believe. Scientists don't.

33 posted on 10/17/2008 9:05:53 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: Oztrich Boy
ignorant, tongue speaking, 6 day Creationist, Dominionist position

None of that was in the article. Try to be less blatant in your lying.

34 posted on 10/17/2008 9:06:00 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Soliton
Scientists don't.

Are you a scientist?

35 posted on 10/17/2008 9:06:53 AM PDT by Mojave
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To: Mojave
AGH? I see what they mean about your changing stances.
36 posted on 10/17/2008 9:13:50 AM PDT by Soliton (> 100)
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To: Soliton
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

37 posted on 10/17/2008 9:15:07 AM PDT by allmendream (White Dog Democrat: A Democrat who will not vote for 0bama because he's black.)
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To: Mojave
None of that was in the article.

No but that has been the whole thrust of the Democrat and Media (but I repeat myself) attacks on Sarah Palin over the past month. I recognise the brushwork.

And this is the second time you have accused me of lying. It's a leftist thing to represent a difference in opinion to be not possibly mistaken, but actually positively dishonest.

38 posted on 10/17/2008 9:16:58 AM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to send an e-mail - from the MSM)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
Well, I have a Masters in chemistry, with a synthetic organic emphasis, and work in the pharmaceutical industry doing actual research. IIRC, a number of other FReepers who reject/question evolution hold similar or higher degrees in the physical sciences.

On the other hand, IIARC, you are a high school history teacher, with no background in science.

Hence, you have basically no credibility in making this sort of judgment.

You do science by adhering to the scientific method.

What creationists and creation "scientists" do is the opposite of the scientific method. They start with an a priori belief and twist, manipulate, or ignore the data to make things fit that belief.

That's not science; and it doesn't matter how many degrees one has, it still isn't science. Its apologetics.

39 posted on 10/17/2008 9:17:32 AM PDT by Coyoteman (Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.)
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To: Soliton
They would never challenge the validity of science.

Honestly challenging science is great :) If they can falsify Evolution or any other scientific principle that would be tremendously helpful.

The problem is that their basic view of the world is wrong. Truth does not come from false beliefs.

40 posted on 10/17/2008 9:18:23 AM PDT by LeGrande
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