Trofim Denisovich Lysenko
Posted on 05/09/2005 11:35:25 PM PDT by Crackingham
While Kansas State Board of Education members spent three days soaking up from critics of evolution about how the theory should be taught in public schools, many scientists refused to participate in the board's public hearings. But evolution's defenders were hardly silent last week, nor are they likely to be Thursday, when the hearings are set to conclude. They have offered public rebuttals after each day's testimony. Their tactics led the intelligent design advocates -- hoping to expose Kansas students to more criticism of evolution -- to accuse them of ducking the debate over the theory. But Kansas scientists who defend evolution said the hearings were rigged against the theory. They also said they don't see the need to cram their arguments into a few days of testimony, like out-of-state witnesses called by intelligent design advocates.
"They're in, they do their schtick, and they're out," said Keith Miller, a Kansas State University geologist. "I'm going to be here, and I'm not going to be quiet. We'll have the rest of our lives to make our points."
The scientists' boycott, led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Kansas Citizens for Science, frustrated board members who viewed their hearings as an educational forum.
"I am profoundly disappointed that they've chosen to present their case in the shadows," said board member Connie Morris, of St. Francis. "I would have enjoyed hearing what they have to say in a professional, ethical manner."
Intelligent design advocates challenge evolutionary theory that natural chemical processes can create life, that all life on Earth had a common origin and that man and apes had a common ancestor. Intelligent design says some features of the natural world are best explained by an intelligent cause because they are well ordered and complex. The science groups' leaders said Morris and the other two members of the board subcommittee presiding at the hearings already have decided to support language backed by intelligent design advocates. All three are part of a conservative board majority receptive to criticism of evolution. The entire board plans to consider changes this summer in standards that determine how students will be tested statewide in science.
Alan Leshner, AAAS chief executive officer, dismissed the hearings as "political theater."
"There is no cause for debate, so why are they having them?" he said. "They're trying to imply that evolution is a controversial concept in science, and that's absolutely not true."
Hmmm - let's see. How many fossils of a T-rex do you think lurk in the back of the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Science?
"Overall, there have not been as many fossils found as science would lead us to believe"
I found no fewer than two dozen in one day at the beach last year.
In your opinion, how many fossils has science led us to believe exist? How much are they exaggerating?
There are literally *tons* of fossils out there. Try a search on ebay. You can buy a piece of an extinct animal for your very own.
Not defensive at all. Revolted by ignorance would be far more accurate.
I was just pointing out that a lot of science requires faith of what others have taught us.
No. That's a misuse of the term "faith." Faith is belief in the absence of evidence or logical argument. Science is the opposite. Any scientific proposition can be tested. Which is quite unlike creationism and ID, I should add.
The philosopher kings apparently have really bad teeth, and die, like Jim Henson, from rejecting medicine.
I've on occasion seen one creationist admonish another for such blatant dishonesty, but it is a rare thing to witness
Wow, I'm really impressed. Someone who has read Alfred North Whitehead. Wish more would.
Anything can be proven to be impossibly improbable. It takes a bit of psychosis to try this on something that has already happened.
"I found no fewer than two dozen in one day at the beach last year."
Week-old KFC bones don't count.
No - faith is belief in what someone else tells you. What have you personally discovered about the theory of evolution? How many excavations have you performed in say, China or Utah or Turkey? How many fossils have you discovered? How many species have you named?
Trofim Denisovich Lysenko
What a bizarre contention. Music theory doesn't entirely explain the natural world either, yet I've never heard it claimed that therefore we should all believe in God.
Flew made it quite clear that the God he believes in is a distant, non-interventionist deity nothing like the Christian God and that his "conversion" more relates to the Aquinas-style first cause argument and doubts about abiogenesis than any doubts about the evidence supporting evolution.
MOre than the cause, the suggested actions are politicized. The Kyoto treaty did nothing to alleviate any greenhouse effect. However, abandoning science doesn't give one arguments so show that.
Were you responding to my post or someone else's? I don't recall bringing up this topic.
Does this count as a creationist meta-lie, or is it just a lie?
"Week-old KFC bones don't count."
What makes you think I've mistaken fossils for chicken bones?
I'm still really curious though...what is your answer to my question:
In your opinion, how many fossils has science led us to believe exist? How much are they exaggerating?
You must have some data on this...
I am a creationist liar like all the rest. Sue me.
It's just a lie, since it's an assertion from a single person made about a single person (me) that is false.
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