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To: Marysecretary
Darwinism is anti-scientific. It's a theory for heaven's sake. It should be taught that way.

First, evolution/"Darwinism" IS taught as a scientific theory. Indeed it is (often far and away) among the LEAST dogmatically presented scientific theories in typical textbooks and curricula. In fact such textbooks typically discuss dozens or hundreds of scientific theories as if "matters of fact," never even identifying them as "theories". Evolution is consistently among the few, and sometimes the ONLY, "theory" that is actually identified and treated as such.

Second, you contradict yourself. If "Darwinism" (conventional evolutionary theory) really were "anti-scientific," then it should NOT be taught in science classes as a scientific theory (or a scientific anything else). Why would you advocate teaching "anti-science" (even as a "theory") in a science class?

IOW, why do you anti-evolutionists lack any apparent strength of conviction in this matter? You come here and call evolution (or "Darwinism") a "myth" or a "lie" or "junk science," or whatever, but then say, "Oh, No. We don't want to ban it. We just want it taught this way or that way."

Well, why the heck not ban it if it's "anti-science"? Why the wishy-washy relativism? Doesn't intellectual integrity and adherence to solid academic standards (of the type required to combat the accumulation of liberal pablum in curricula) require that ideas be included and excluded purely on the basis of merit, not because we (or some "identity group") "dislike" them, or because the might effect our "self-esteem"?

If you think evolution lacks scientific merit, why not have the integrity and the intellectual clarity to follow through on the clear implications of that evaluation? Why the schizophrenia? Instead you antievolutionists give the impression (ACCURATELY I suspect, with due consideration of the psychological complexity involved) that you don't really believe what you claim to believe.

Heck, we evolutionists have no problem in saying that junk science and lies should be excised from science curricula. And if some new theory should come along that genuinely (not as a pretense or imposture) surpasses and supplants evolution in explaining biological diversity, we "evolutionists" would have no problem with saying the evolution should then be excluded in favor of the new theory.

476 posted on 10/16/2006 11:15:16 AM PDT by Stultis
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To: Stultis

I would LOVE to see it banned, but that's not the American Way, Stultis. If they insist on teaching it, they should also be teaching ID and letting people have their own opinions and choices on which is which. They can decide if they are 'theory' or 'fact.'


494 posted on 10/16/2006 12:23:53 PM PDT by Marysecretary (Thank you, Lord, for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!)
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