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Ga. Evolution Dispute Embarrasses Some (AP says Christians are an embarrassment to society)
AP ^ | 11/11/04 | Kristen Wyatt

Posted on 11/12/2004 4:54:43 AM PST by fr11

ATLANTA - First, Georgia's education chief tried to take the word "evolution" out of the state's science curriculum. Now a suburban Atlanta county is in federal court over textbook stickers that call evolution "a theory, not a fact." Some here worry that Georgia is making itself look like a bunch of rubes or, worse, discrediting its own students.

"People want to project the image that Georgia is a modern state, that we're in the 21st century. Then something like this happens," said Emory University molecular biologist Carlos Moreno.

The federal lawsuit being heard this week in Atlanta concerns whether the constitutional separation of church and state was violated when suburban Cobb County school officials placed the disclaimer stickers in high school biology texts in 2002. The stickers say evolution should be "critically considered."

Some scientists say they are frustrated the issue is still around nearly 80 years since the Scopes Monkey Trial — the historic case heard in neighboring Tennessee over the teaching of evolution instead of the biblical story of creation.

"We're really busy. We have a lot to do. And here we are, having to go through this 19th century argument over and over again," said Sarah Pallas, who teaches biology and neuroscience at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Moreno and dozens of other science instructors, along with the county superintendent, argued that the stickers only make the state look backward. And high school teacher Wes McCoy worried the issue could tarnish his students.

"I didn't want college admission counselors thinking less of their science educations, thinking they hadn't been taught evolution or something," McCoy testified.

Moreno recalled how, after graduating from Georgia public schools, he headed north to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (news - web sites), only to find that people were less than kind about his educational roots.

"They felt Southerners were not only less well educated, but less intelligent," Moreno said.

Doughnut shop worker Maria Jordan, 48, said her Atlanta customers were shaking their heads over the latest dispute. "Lord, don't we have more important things to worry about?" she asked. "It's just a flat-out embarrassment."

As for what they are saying elsewhere around the country, she said: "Whatever Georgia's getting up north, we're putting it on ourselves."


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: crevolist; lawsuit
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To: Dimensio
In fairness, some others evade, distract, and brazen forever without running away.
181 posted on 11/12/2004 3:58:17 PM PST by VadeRetro (A self-reliant conservative citizenry is a better bet than the subjects of an overbearing state. -MS)
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To: orionblamblam

LOL, there are a lot of very smart right wing evo's on this board. Sadly, you're not one of them.


182 posted on 11/12/2004 4:37:19 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: jwalsh07

Take a guess as to how much your lame insults bother me.


183 posted on 11/12/2004 6:05:07 PM PST by orionblamblam
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To: orionblamblam

?!?!


184 posted on 11/12/2004 6:06:28 PM PST by RobRoy (Science is about "how." Christianity is about "why.")
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To: orionblamblam
OK, a wild guess.

It bothered you enough that you saw fit to respond to it.

How'd I do?

185 posted on 11/12/2004 6:17:55 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: orionblamblam
OK, a wild guess.

It bothered you enough that you saw fit to respond to it.

How'd I do?

186 posted on 11/12/2004 6:17:55 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: RobRoy

Leviticus 11:23 "But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you."

Maybe all the insects *evolved* another set of legs since then?


187 posted on 11/12/2004 6:58:09 PM PST by orionblamblam
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To: jwalsh07

Poorly, as usual.


188 posted on 11/12/2004 6:58:49 PM PST by orionblamblam
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To: RobRoy
Just as the Bible proves itself, so the Earth proves Gods existence

Really? Then where are all the fossils of giants, cockatrices, satyrs, unicorns, and "fiery flying serpents" that are mentioned over & over again in the Bible

189 posted on 11/12/2004 9:56:45 PM PST by qam1 (McGreevy likes his butts his way, I like mine my way - so NO SMOKING BANS in New Jersey)
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To: OriginalIntent

The Casimir effect comes to mind.


190 posted on 11/12/2004 10:52:44 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: Othniel
The "theory" of evolution proposes that a) everything in the universe came out of NOTHING....

No. The theory of evolution explains the taxonomic relationship among living things. It makes to assumptions about beginnings. You people should at least learn what a theory says before discussing it.

191 posted on 11/12/2004 11:00:05 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: orionblamblam

Just another Creationist wishing you were dead.


192 posted on 11/12/2004 11:02:55 PM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: fr11

um... Evolution is a theory last I heard


193 posted on 11/12/2004 11:04:08 PM PST by GeronL (http://images7.fotki.com/v125/photos/2/215708/780411/reow-vi.jpg?1100155138)
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To: fr11

The fraud continues with the erroneous separation of Church and state line.The is all the left is capable of doing these days, smoke and mirrors, and downright deceit.


194 posted on 11/12/2004 11:06:11 PM PST by ladyinred (Congratulations President Bush! Four more years!)
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To: Dimensio; All
I'm back. Went to the movies with my kids.

What evolutionists refuse to admit is that the whole purpose of Darwin's shoddy rantings was to explain how life could be so diverse without a creator. The problem with evolution is that, taken to its beginnings that are described by people on this (and other) threads is that it espouses something coming out of nothing: A universe appearing out of nowhere, made by nothing, with atoms that organize themselves (when we see the exact opposite occuring), with DNA coming together in more and more complex forms, making cells, making organs, making animals, giving rise to consciousness (another example of something coming out of nothing), giving rise to better and better people.

It doesn't wash. It never has. It never will. It takes more faith to believe that than in an intelligence with enough power and wisdom to pull it off. As for me getting my information from Discover, I find it sad that every so often they come out with an article ("What was before DNA? Was your ancestor a seasponge?") that never quite answers any of the questions I posted at first, or now. How DOES something appear out of nothing? How DOES natural selection give rise to new DNA sequences,longer sequences that make for more complex information, and thereby more complexity?

How DOES a person who takes science seriously and honestly describe with a straight face that the grand nothingness in the beginning gave rise to a universe that is so finely tuned, to a planet that is perfect for life, to a cell with complexity that was unknown a century ago? Is name-calling and sarcasm the best evolutionists can do?

195 posted on 11/12/2004 11:50:25 PM PST by Othniel (Democrats are like roaches: Shine the Light on them, and they scatter for the darkness.)
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To: Othniel

> What evolutionists refuse to admit is that the whole purpose of Darwin's shoddy rantings was to explain how life could be so diverse without a creator.

Evolutionists refuse to admit that because... it's not true. Darwin did not invent evolution as a way to aid his atheism; he was a religious man who discovered evolution, and that discovered affected his religious beliefs.

> atoms that organize themselves (when we see the exact opposite occuring)

Atoms "organize themselves" with some repeatable regularity in nature.

> How DOES natural selection give rise to new DNA sequences,longer sequences

Natural selection doesn;t "give rise to new DNA sequences." Nobody but Creationists ever suggests that it does. New DNA sequences arise through means such as mutation via chemicals or radiation, or through replication errors, or through invasion by retrovirii; natural selection simply weeds out those changes that are not beneficial.

> a planet that is perfect for life

Life made this planet perfect for life.

> Is name-calling and sarcasm the best evolutionists can do?

When a rational person, such as an Evolutionist, is faced with someone who is willing to lie baldly right in his face over and over again (such as claims about natural selection changing DNA, or nonsense about Darwin), reason and logic simply don't work anymore.


196 posted on 11/13/2004 12:49:00 AM PST by orionblamblam
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To: GeronL

So is Relativity. Don't believe those cranks in the nuclear industry. Nobody ever saw the Sun turn on, so you can never prove that nuclear fusion is possible. All that talk about "H-Bombs" is a bunch of damned godless atheist drivel.


197 posted on 11/13/2004 12:50:40 AM PST by orionblamblam
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To: Walkin Man

You got it.


198 posted on 11/13/2004 12:53:31 AM PST by SirLurkedalot (Thank You Veterans!!!)
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To: fr11

God, Creator of the Universe, is all knowing and all powerful.
GOD CAN DO EVOLUTION.


199 posted on 11/13/2004 12:58:28 AM PST by PJBlogger
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To: usslsm51

LOL! I know better too. If I'm just an advanced animal why is'nt it OK for me to kill and eat my annoying neighbor?


200 posted on 11/13/2004 12:58:36 AM PST by SirLurkedalot (Thank You Veterans!!!)
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