[Cicero]

My problem with evolution is that it's junk science.

We can argue the issue all day, and we often have. But there's enough doubt about the General Theory of Evolution so biology books should present it as a theory, not a fact. I don't see why that is so difficult to accept. I have no problem with teaching kids about evolution, which is now an important part of modern intellectual history. But it really should be taught as a theory.

Even if evolution becomes discredited as science, it still should be taught as an important piece of scientific and intellectual history, like phrenology or racial theory.

Of equal interest is the effect that evolutionary theory has had on politics and other fields. It was largely responsible for the euthanasia movement under the early Communists and under Hitler, for instance. That's not Darwin's fault, but "survival of the fittest" has undergone some pretty nasty political turns.

It was also responsible for the widely held view that Africa and Asia were full of "lesser breeds," a commonly held view a hundred years ago. Again, not Darwin's fault, but part of the big picture.

[Hegemony Cricket]

BTT (broken twig trailmarker)

[gobucks]

Even if evolution becomes discredited as science, it still should be taught as an important piece of scientific and intellectual history, like phrenology or racial theory.

Insightful. I would add another subject to the list that should be taught to kids as part of the big picture of evolution and its historical impact: eugenics and an honest biography of Margaret Sanger.

[Doctor Stochastic]

It was also responsible for the widely held view that Africa and Asia were full of "lesser breeds," a commonly held view a hundred years ago

Are you claiming that before 1859, Europeans and Americans thought that Africans and Asians were as highly developed as Europeans? So was did the South consider iteslf to be enslaving equals before 1859?

[qam1]

It was also responsible for the widely held view that Africa and Asia were full of "lesser breeds," a commonly held view a hundred years ago. Again, not Darwin's fault, but part of the big picture.

Yeah sure, It was all because of Darwin. Let me guess it was just a coincidence that all the slaves the Christians owned pre-darwin just happen to be black.

And I'm sure the KKK and Aryan Nations are big subscribers to TOE.

[Ichneumon]

My problem with evolution is that it's junk science.

Oh? Please demonstrate your level of knowledge on this subject by trying to support this claim.

But there's enough doubt about the General Theory of Evolution so biology books should present it as a theory, not a fact.

They do.

I don't see why that is so difficult to accept.

It isn't.

I have no problem with teaching kids about evolution, which is now an important part of modern intellectual history. But it really should be taught as a theory.

The theory part of evolution is a theory. The fact part of evolution are facts.

Of equal interest is the effect that evolutionary theory has had on politics and other fields. It was largely responsible for the euthanasia movement under the early Communists

Darwin's book on evolution ("Origin of Species"): 1859. Marx's book on communism ("Communist Manifesto"): 1848. What's wrong with this picture?

and under Hitler, for instance.

"I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.."
-- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

Hitler's own handwritten notes, drawing an outline of his philosophy:

Hitler divided his study into five sections:

1. The Bible
2. The Aryan
3. His Works
4. The Jew
5. His Work

Under the first section, "The Bible -- Monumental History of Mankind", he lists these topics (among others): "2 human types-- Workers and drones-- Builders and destroyers", "Race Law", "First people's history (based on) the race law-- Eternal course of History".

So it seems that Hitler was actually basing his racial view of mankind on *Biblical* foundations.

Nazi SS belt buckle, with motto "Gott mit uns [God is with us]":

Nazi propaganda paper:

The headline reads, "Declaration of the Higher Clergy/So spoke Jesus Christ". The caption under the cartoon of the marching Hitler Youth reads, "We youth step happily forward facing the sun... With our faith we drive the devil from the land."

It was also responsible for the widely held view that Africa and Asia were full of "lesser breeds," a commonly held view a hundred years ago.

Uh huh... And this view was not "widely held" before 1859? Go pull the other leg now..