Posted on 03/22/2006 6:22:07 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser
Huge crowds extend Darwin exhibit in New York
Wed Mar 22, 2:54 PM ET
NEW YORK (AFP) - A monumental Charles Darwin exhibition in New York has been extended by five months amid an overwhelming public response to what was touted as a scholarly rebuke to opponents of teaching evolution in US schools.
The American Museum of Natural History said Wednesday that nearly 200,000 people had visited "Darwin" since it opened three months ago.
Originally slated to close at the end of this month, the exhibition will now run through August 20, said museum spokesman Joshua Schnakenberg.
"Darwin" had opened amid furious debate in many school districts over the teaching of the 19th century naturalist's evolutionary theory and the first trial on the teaching of the God-centered alternative favoured by many religious groups, "intelligent design," or ID.
That trial, in Pennsylvania, ended in defeat for the evangelical right with the judge in the case decrying the "breathtaking inanity" of the school board in the town of Dover which backed the concept that nature is so complex it must be the work of a superior being.
"Our conclusion today is that it is unconstitutional to teach ID as an alternative to evolution in a public school science classroom," the judge said in his ruling in December.
An early section of the New York exhibit is devoted to the question, "What is a Theory?" and seeks to clarify the distinction between scientific theories and non-scientific explanations about the origins and diversity of life.
"This is really for the schoolchildren of America. This is the evidence of evolution," said the exhibit's curator, Niles Eldridge.
In a Gallup poll released last October, 53 percent of American adults agreed with the statement that God created humans in their present form exactly the way the Bible describes it.
Thirty-one percent stood by the "intelligent design" stance, while only 12 percent said humans have evolved from other forms of life and "God has no part."
ping
I'd like to check it out.
Re: the Gallup poll. Those were the only options? Sheesh. I guess they didn't care to poll Catholics.
Maybe they just wanted a last look at somethng which is about to disappear. :D
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I hear ya. I did k-12 in Catholic school, we were taught science, we were taught about other religions. I even did a field trip in 5th grade to the Mormon Temple in town before the y consecrated it and it was off limits.
They weren't afraid that we would become "godless" by learning about the world. I applaud them for that.
Did they poll the Lay Thomists?
Those who wish to seek truth are never afraid be exposed to various theories, be they blind evolution, or intelligent design.
It only becomes religion when a theory is put forth as fact.. and that is true whether the theory is I.D. or blind evolution.
I'm glad they've extended the exhibit. Little Highball Junior has made it difficult to get out to as many museums as I'd like (although we have been to the Met and MoMA already).
I'll definitely get to see it this summer.
Oh, dear.
Are we going to have to review the meaning of words, again? Really?
Unnecessary. Substitute "Unknowable and unprovable" for the word "Theory"
Thirty-one percent stood by the "intelligent design" stance, while only 12 percent said humans have evolved from other forms of life and "God has no part."
Are these statistics correct? !!!!
The theory of God?
"Are these statistics correct? !!!!"
Actually, it is probably a pretty good reflection of what people believe as far as a creator of some form being involved. I am suprised so many accept the idea that we were created in the present form, whole and complete.
Niles Eldridge said that? Wait a minute! Isn't he one of the oft-quoted scientists who refute Darwin? Didn't he and Gould supposedly invent that hopeful monster theory, punctuated equilibrium, to hide the lack of evidence for that evil Darwin person's failed theory? How can he have said what he said?
Could it be that everything creationists say about Eldridge, Gould, punctuated equilibrium, and Darwin is false?
They didn't ask the interesting question. A sizeable number believe that we were created by space aliens 40,000 years ago.
No.. the theory that some intelligence was behind guiding evolution, etc. I guess you can call that "God" if you wish, I cannot say since I am unable to specifically define what "God" means.
What I beleive in regarding creation, I am unsure. But, I do know that in both camps I see unprovable (so far) ideas and beliefs being put forth as if they were fact (the essence of dogmatism). There are zealots who defend these ideas as if they were proven Truths. There are entire hierarchies arranged which reward and elevate those who conform to accepted belief, and scream heresy and try to destroy those who dare to speak any contradictory idea.
These are religions. One is the one we are all commonly envision when we think "religion". The other is a religion with men like Stephen Hawking as High Priest.
"A sizeable number believe that we were created by space aliens 40,000 years ago."
A theory which I do not hold to (due to our DNA simlarities with other life here), but I am not willing to say it is impossible that dna of existing species on Earth was not altered at some time or other, possibly by aliens. It is, so far, unprovable either way. But is an interesting idea which deserves some exploration, IMO.
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