Posted on 06/21/2006 8:33:46 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
In a veiled attack on creationism, the world's foremost academies of science on Wednesday called on parents and teachers to provide children with the facts about evolution and the origins of life on Earth.
A declaration signed by 67 national academies of science blasted the scriptural teaching of biology as a potential distortion of young minds.
"In various parts of the world, within science courses taught in certain public systems of education, scientific evidence, data and testable theories about the origins and evolution of life on Earth are being concealed, denied or confused with theories not testable by science," the declaration said.
"We urge decision-makers, teachers and parents to educate all children about the methods and discoveries of science and to foster an understanding of the science of nature.
"Knowledge of the natural world in which they live empowers people to meet human needs and protect the planet."
Citing "evidence-based facts" derived from observation, experiment and neutral assessment, the declaration points to findings that the Universe is between 11 and 15 billion years old, and the Earth was formed about 4.5 billion years ago.
Life on Earth appeared at least 2.5 billion years ago as a result of physical and chemical processes, and evolved into the species that live today.
"Commonalities in the structure of the genetic code of all organisms living today, including humans, clearly indicate their common primordial origin," it said.
The statement does not name any names or religions, nor does it explain why it fears the teaching of evolution or the scientific explanation for the origins of planetary life are being sidelined.
Signatories of the declaration include the US National Academy of Sciences, Britain's Royal Society, the French Academy of Sciences and their counterparts in Canada, China, Germany, Iran, Israel and Japan and elsewhere.
It comes, however, in the context of mounting concern among biologists about the perceived influence of creationism in the United States.
Evangelical Christians there are campaigning hard for schools to teach creationism or downgrade evolution to the status of one of a competing group of theories about the origins of life on Earth.
According to the website Christian Post (www.christianpost.com), an opinion poll conducted in May by Gallop found that 46 percent of Americans believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years or so.
Scientists say hominids emerged around six million years ago and one of their offshoots developed into anatomically modern man, Homo sapiens, about 200,000 years ago, although the timings of both events are fiercely debated.
Nearly every religion offers an explanation as to how life began on Earth.
Fundamentalist Christians insist on a literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis in the Bible, in which God made the world in seven days, culminating in the creation of the first two humans, Adam and Eve.
A variation of this is called "intelligent design" which acknowledges evolution but claims that genetic mutations are guided by God's hand rather than by Charles Darwin's process of natural selection.
US President George W. Bush said last August that he believed in this concept and that he supported its teaching in American schools.
The academies' statement says that science does not seek to offer judgements of value or morality, and acknowledges limitations in current knowledge.
"Science is open-ended and subject to correction and expansion as new theoretical and empirical understanding emerges," it adds.
Who exactly decides what is and isn't a scientific theory? Macroevolution should only be a hypothesis, not a theory. The scientific method cannot be applied to it (nor can it to Creationism).
Dungeon Master: So do you accept the Big Bang theory?
Dumpster Baby: bla bla bla yes bla bla bla.
I rest my case.
The holy church of the scientific community.
Macroevolution should only be a hypothesis, not a theory. The scientific method cannot be applied to it (nor can it to Creationism).
The holy church of the scientific community says that spending billions of dollars to prove something passes the test of being "scientific method".
"Don't ask me what I think of you.
I might not give the answer that you want me to..."
LOL
As long as you weren't bummin' my load.
It can't. As soon as we agree that facts and evidence don't matter, then there is no science. Not a good situation for a technological society.
When your computer crashes, do you want someone to come and read Bible verses to it, then if it isn't fixed, to leave with a recommendation that you be excommunicated for being a non-believer?
Also, creationists can end the evolution debate any time they want. Produce a billion year old human fossil. Or any billion year old fossil mammal. They've been at this for 150 years and haven't succeeded yet.
My respected FR friend, how I wish you knew the kindness and gentleness of the Creator.
"As long as you weren't bummin' my load.
"
Oh, Well.
Cellular life is extremely complex. That chemicals would randomly combine to form a single cell lifeform, is highly improbable. Also, the hypothesis of the Big Bang calls for the universe to have expanded faster than c. Currently, that flys in the face of general relativity, MineralMan wall .
You might want to start here:
One would never guess from observing those who claim to serve.
Do you actually know a scientist?
No WAY!! I'm talkin' about REAL Creationism/IDism!!!!!!!!!!!!!...............
http://www.rael.org/rael_content/rael_summary.php
The Designers have been here!
I read it on the Internet therefore it must be true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Bible says so too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..........
Lets all get together and get this into our Godless Public School System as a viable alternative to what the Godless Evilutionists profess!!!!!!!!
Who's with me?
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Wednesday, 29 March 2006 14:54
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Evolutions have also made some absurd comments on this thread so far.
"Who's with me?"
I am! (If you'll tell me where I can get one of those rigs and how I can make my hair do that.)
Science can go on with or without an agreed upon model of how the Universe, the Earth, and life formed.
If you are asking me to cite chapter and verse then my reply is that the whole Bible points out the folly of evolution and I would ask if you have taken the time to read the Bible? However, Genesis chapter one and two is a good starting point. Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27 might also be considered.
It doesn't say anything about evolution there.
One cannot come to eternal salvation apart from having a personal relationship with the Creator in this life. Those are word not of condemnation, but are words of hope!
You seem to assume that being pro-evolution means that someone cannot have 'a personal relationship with the Creator in this life'. Who told you that? A great many devout religious leaders have said otherwise.
Guilty as charged.
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