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Scientists in the Kansas intelligent design hearings make their case public
AP ^ | 5/9/05 | John Hanna

Posted on 05/09/2005 11:35:25 PM PDT by Crackingham

While Kansas State Board of Education members spent three days soaking up from critics of evolution about how the theory should be taught in public schools, many scientists refused to participate in the board's public hearings. But evolution's defenders were hardly silent last week, nor are they likely to be Thursday, when the hearings are set to conclude. They have offered public rebuttals after each day's testimony. Their tactics led the intelligent design advocates -- hoping to expose Kansas students to more criticism of evolution -- to accuse them of ducking the debate over the theory. But Kansas scientists who defend evolution said the hearings were rigged against the theory. They also said they don't see the need to cram their arguments into a few days of testimony, like out-of-state witnesses called by intelligent design advocates.

"They're in, they do their schtick, and they're out," said Keith Miller, a Kansas State University geologist. "I'm going to be here, and I'm not going to be quiet. We'll have the rest of our lives to make our points."

The scientists' boycott, led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Kansas Citizens for Science, frustrated board members who viewed their hearings as an educational forum.

"I am profoundly disappointed that they've chosen to present their case in the shadows," said board member Connie Morris, of St. Francis. "I would have enjoyed hearing what they have to say in a professional, ethical manner."

Intelligent design advocates challenge evolutionary theory that natural chemical processes can create life, that all life on Earth had a common origin and that man and apes had a common ancestor. Intelligent design says some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause because they are well ordered and complex. The science groups' leaders said Morris and the other two members of the board subcommittee presiding at the hearings already have decided to support language backed by intelligent design advocates. All three are part of a conservative board majority receptive to criticism of evolution. The entire board plans to consider changes this summer in standards that determine how students will be tested statewide in science.

Alan Leshner, AAAS chief executive officer, dismissed the hearings as "political theater."

"There is no cause for debate, so why are they having them?" he said. "They're trying to imply that evolution is a controversial concept in science, and that's absolutely not true."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: crevolist; science
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To: Junior; PatrickHenry
"one of the more blatantly dishonest .."

To behold the spectacle of a moral relativist using the word "dishonest" as if he is assuming that everyone should be outraged by that behavior - and would just automatically know that it's "absolutely morally wrong" to be dishonest, is hilarious!!!

This means that you recognize the fact that there are absolute moral truths that are true for all people in all places at all times and you expect others to know about them too.

Now....... where do these absolute moral truths come from .... hummmmmmm????

481 posted on 05/10/2005 7:36:35 PM PDT by Matchett-PI (The DemocRAT Party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: Dimensio
.. he is lying .."

To behold the spectacle of a moral relativist using the word "lying" as if he is assuming that everyone should be outraged by that behavior - and would just automatically know that it's "absolutely morally wrong" to lie, is hilarious!!!

This means that you recognize the fact that there are absolute moral truths that are true for all people in all places at all times and you expect others to know about them too.

Now....... where do these absolute moral truths come from .... hummmmmmm????

482 posted on 05/10/2005 7:39:04 PM PDT by Matchett-PI (The DemocRAT Party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: VadeRetro

"...Too complex for my shirt, too complex for my shirt..."


483 posted on 05/10/2005 7:41:29 PM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: Matchett-PI

Ah, the old "end justifies the means" argument. "Mom! He's doing it too!" BTW, I'm not a moral relativist you two-dimensional liar. Sometimes people are a bit more complex than your comic book world allows. I'm pretty much a straight-laced Roman Catholic, and I find lying in the name of the Almighty abhorent. You're lucky blasphemy is the only unforgiveable sin, but for the sake of your soul I'd reconsider your tatics if I were you. You knew that quote was a straight-up lie, but you used it anyway. "Thou shalt not bear false witness" evidently means nothing to you.


484 posted on 05/10/2005 7:42:49 PM PDT by Junior (“Even if you are one-in-a-million, there are still 6,000 others just like you.”)
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To: Junior; Matchett-PI
Matchett-PI is one of the most respected, informed and knowledgeable long-time posters on Free Republic. Your personal attacks reflect only on you, availing you naught.

Perhaps you should take off your propeller beanie and show some respect to your betters, Junior.

Leni

485 posted on 05/10/2005 7:44:09 PM PDT by MinuteGal ("The Marines keep coming. We are shooting, but the Marines won't stop !" (Fallujah Terrorists)
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To: MinuteGal
Matchett-PI is one of the most respected, informed and knowledgeable long-time posters on Free Republic.

So this justifies him lying about a quote from Charles Darwin? This justifies him fabricating a quote from Wayne Carley?

Why is it that more often than not, creationists jump in to defend other creationists who have been repeatedly caught red-handed in a lie?
486 posted on 05/10/2005 7:48:14 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: chronic_loser

Both sides share an inescapable anthropic worldview and are not capable of knowing the real truth behind life, the universe and everything. Knowing something and believing something are different.


487 posted on 05/10/2005 7:51:41 PM PDT by scheuber
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To: MinuteGal

He blatantly lied and you're defending him. Interesting...


488 posted on 05/10/2005 7:52:11 PM PDT by Junior (“Even if you are one-in-a-million, there are still 6,000 others just like you.”)
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To: js1138

Mythbusters class...

I think it would be great.


489 posted on 05/10/2005 8:11:32 PM PDT by From many - one.
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To: Dimensio
"So this justifies him lying about a quote from Charles Darwin?"

Stomping around pointing your finger at everyone yelling "out-of-context quote" or "liar", "liar" when Darwin's "beliefs" are accurately portrayed only makes you look foolish

"This justifies him fabricating a quote from Wayne Carley?"

You know better than that. Keep saying it and I'll keep proving it.

490 posted on 05/10/2005 8:25:20 PM PDT by Matchett-PI (The DemocRAT Party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: Matchett-PI; MinuteGal

You see? His lies have been exposed, yet he continues to prance about here declaring victory and asserting moral superiority despite the fact that he continues to blatantly and repeatedly lie. And you defend this man?


491 posted on 05/10/2005 8:31:11 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: donh
oh yeah...exactly....that too
492 posted on 05/10/2005 8:35:31 PM PDT by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
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To: hosepipe
Thank you so much for your reply! Hugs!
493 posted on 05/10/2005 8:43:16 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: Matchett-PI
[ The universe was created by chance events without ultimate purpose. Man is the product of impersonal time plus chance plus matter. ]

This caustic view must eat the heart out of the believers..
infecting all other views.. including political views..

How could it not do that.?. ultimately..

494 posted on 05/10/2005 9:04:30 PM PDT by hosepipe (This Propaganda has been edited to include not a small amount of Hyperbole..)
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Lying for Jesus® placemarker
495 posted on 05/10/2005 9:16:18 PM PDT by anguish (while science catches up.... mysticism!)
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Comment #496 Removed by Moderator

To: mlc9852
I don't know anyone who questions the laws of physics or astronomy or geology like they do evolution.

You cannot have been reading the crevo threads here very much then. Numerous Young Earth Creationists post here and if the opinion polls are anything to go by YEC is the position of a very sizable minority of the American population. YEC mandates the rejection of pretty much the whole of astronomy, cosmology, geology, paleontology, plate tectonics, archeology, atomic physics, oh yeah and biology.

497 posted on 05/10/2005 11:59:27 PM PDT by Thatcherite (Conservative and Biblical Literalist are not synonymous)
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To: Thatcherite
YEC mandates the rejection of pretty much the whole of astronomy, cosmology, geology, paleontology, plate tectonics, archeology, atomic physics, oh yeah and biology.

And Chemistry

498 posted on 05/11/2005 12:06:40 AM PDT by dread78645 (Sorry Mr. Franklin, We couldn't keep it.)
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To: A_Conservative_Chinese

Good post!


499 posted on 05/11/2005 12:10:26 AM PDT by puroresu
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To: dread78645

That's the problem with us evos, we're so humorless...


500 posted on 05/11/2005 12:17:45 AM PDT by Thatcherite (Conservative and Biblical Literalist are not synonymous)
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