Happy Birthday, Mr. Darwin (Americans overwhelmingly support teaching both sides of evo debate)

Discovery Institute ^ | February 12, 2009

[GodGunsGuts]

Just in time for Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of his Origin of Species, a new nationwide Zogby poll of likely voters indicates overwhelming public support for teaching the scientific evidence for and against Darwin’s theory. The poll shows similar overwhelming support for giving students and teachers the academic freedom to discuss the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution...

[GodGunsGuts]

“...dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom....”

—Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863.

“But then with me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man’s mind, which has been developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy. Would any one trust in the convictions of a monkey's mind, if there are any convictions in such a mind?”

—Charles Darwin, Letter to William Graham, 1881. Died 1882.

[GodGunsGuts]

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, a proclamation was issued by the, people of the world, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

That on the twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine,
all Darwin doubters held as captives within any scientific community or designated
part of an academic institution, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion
against the Darwin Party, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the
administration of any institution, including the hiring and firing authority thereof,
will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or
acts to expel such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for
their actual freedom of inquiry.

That on this day, hereby to be designated Academic Freedom Day, that inquiries
into the actual nature of the living things, including their design, and their
functional information, and their origins, shall henceforth be decoupled from any
and all slavish requirement of metaphysical naturalism, or any other such limits
on free and honest investigation toward following the evidence where it leads, as
befits the quest to discover and understand the sources and operations of nature.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the
principles of noble science, upon academic necessity, I invoke the considerate
judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

Witnesseth,

The Spirit of A. Lincoln
Academic Freedom Day

[Caramelgal]

…a new nationwide Zogby poll of likely voters indicates overwhelming public support for teaching the scientific evidence for and against Darwin’s theory.

And in other breaking news, more American’s voted in last years American Idol contest than bothered to vote in this past presidential election.

[drjimmy]

Both sides? Does that mean the evolution side and the Flying Spaghetti Monster side?

[Pox]

Dumbest poll question of the year to date.

A better question would have been:

Should Evolution and Creationism be taught in public schools?

Those results would be much more interesting than a question that actually reflects what Darwin proposed in the first place.

[Former Fetus]

…a new nationwide Zogby poll of likely voters indicates overwhelming public support for teaching the scientific evidence for and against Darwin’s theory.

The poll is missing one question: support for teaching alternative theories such as Intelligent Design and Creationism. Until they offer that choice, the poll is worthless IMHO.

[Former Fetus]

LOL, I’m too slow typing!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[GodGunsGuts]

ping!

[freespirited]

Does the public think calculus should be taught in elementary school?

Does it think contract law should be taught in the first year of law school or the second?

Does the public think that all high school students should take science, or just those in college prep?

No one asks the public such questions. The answers are left to the faculty. But for some reason, people who cannot even define the word evolution accurately believe the biology curriculum should reflect their views. Go figure.

[Oztrich Boy]

[GodGunsGuts]

The poll numbers do not look good for the Temple of Darwinistic Materialism. Public patience is obviously growing thin for the jackbooted tactics of the Darwin Party. Get ready for the backlash.

[freespirited]

There is no “Darwin Party.” There is the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory (scientists rarely use the term Darwinism anymore given all the modifications to his theory.) The Modern Synthesis holds the attention of liberals, far lefties, independents, moderates, and yes, even conservatives like me. For one reason: the supporting data are compelling.

Should the scientific data cease to be compelling, this will change. But poll numbers will have no effect on scientific thinking. Nor will the postings of websites like the one you have linked here, where commentators may try hard but unfortunately do not understand what they are talking about.

[GodGunsGuts]

Actually, the data is overwhelming that Darwin didn’t know what he was talking about. But then what did you expect from a med-school dropout turned amateur naturalist who presumed to rewrite the entire history of biology based on nothing more than a few minor variations between finches.

The HMS Beagle is sinking, and sinking fast. Even the Evos are abandoning the HMS Beagle in search of a new evolutionary ship.

http://creationsafaris.com/crev200902.htm#20090211a

[Pox]

“The poll numbers do not look good for the Temple of Darwinistic Materialism. Public patience is obviously growing thin for the jackbooted tactics of the Darwin Party. Get ready for the backlash.”

This gibberish is precisely why the Republican party is evaporating and conservatives are looked upon with contempt by young people. Most young people are absolutely against being indoctrinated by YOUR version of reality.

We would be much better off simply believing what we choose to believe and letting others believe what they will.

[GodGunsGuts]

==This gibberish is precisely why the Republican party is evaporating and conservatives are looked upon with contempt by young people.

Pure hogwash, the GOP was at its strongest at the height of the power and influence of the Christian Right. In case you have forgotten, they formed one of the central pillars of the Reagan Coalition. The GOP can’t survive without them. Marginalizing the Christian Right within the GOP will spell the end of the GOP.

[freespirited]

Enjoy your fantasy world.

[GodGunsGuts]

==Enjoy your fantasy world.

That means a lot coming from someone who thinks brain-dead materialism is responsible for super-sophisticated nano-bio-machines that merely give the “appearance” of design. LOL

[Pox]

Nobody said anything about marginalizing the Christian right.

In case it has escaped your notice, the GOP cannot survive exclusively with the Christian right. Alienating young people who are not fervently religious will end the Republican party once and for all.

Nobody is asking you to abandon your beliefs. It would do the party good to keep those beliefs and stop trying to impose those beliefs on others who do not believe what you believe.

Believe what you please, just don’t force me to think as you do, and do not berate or ridicule others who do not think as you do. Stop pushing the religious agenda and you can begin bringing young people into the fold of the Republican party.