Royal Society statement on evolution, creationism and intelligent design

The Royal Society ^ | 11 Apr 2006 | Staff (press release)

[Echo Talon]

if evolution theory is so important teach it in college.

[Thatcherite]

Miraculous explanations are nothing more than examples of spasmodic omphalism. If you adopt naturalism as a useful general policy, why would you abandon it in special instances, those instances remarkable only because they are the ones that survived from an earlier, less naturalistic age, by being more difficult to challenge?

Incidentally, that is a remarkable argument that in my honest opinion smacks the nail firmly on the head. I've known about omphalism for a couple of years now, but that simple point hadn't occurred to me. Thank you.

[PatrickHenry]

Your posts can't be from the real Patrick Henry who was a creationist.

I've never claimed to be channeling the original PH. As for his creationism, that's not very surprising. It's difficult to see how the original PH could have known about the theory of evolution. After all, he died in 1799, which was 60 years before Darwin published Origin of Species.

As for your "quotes," the first large one ("the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate...") was taken out of context, in a discussion of the imperfection of the fossil record. Nice try. Your "quote" after that isn't from Darwin.

You're not very good at this stuff, are you?

[Thatcherite]

Is it considered ... what's the word ... "Christian," perhaps? ... to gloat over the supposed eternal torment of others? I mean, do you tell people you're trying to convince, "Join us so you too can revel in the eternal damnation of the heathens, heretics, and schismatics? Seems like an odd approach to me, but I'm always interested in new persuasive techniques.

The Al Capone school of witnessing.

[Right Wing Professor]

Well, in my defense, I said many IDers are engineers, not most engineers are IDers.

I have a pop-psych explanation, if you can stand it. Enginners live in a world of design; they create things from simpler elements. So seeing and admiring something intricate and complicated, they tend to admire the designer. Scientists tear things apart; and when we try to understand complicated processes, we look for explanations in terms of simple components. So evolution appeals to our prejudices, where it conflicts with engineers'.

[Thatcherite]

if evolution theory is so important teach it in college.

A winning principle!

Let's see...

If mathematics is so important teach it in college.

If reading is so important teach it in college.

Presumably you don't mean that. You are worried by the religious implications of people knowing about evolution. Therefore you'd rather limit instruction about it to a minority who take college-level biology?

Ignorance is strength?

[Gumlegs]

Creationism itself is zero treat threat, scientifically.

It was fine the way it was.

[elkfersupper]

if evolution theory is so important teach it in college.

It is important for it to be taught whenever and wherever necessary as demanded by the content and context of the area of study.

[Echo Talon]

What is a Jr.HS or HS kid going to do with TOE and how is it going to better his life or how can he use it when he graduates to be a productive citizen? Don't teach it in jr.HS and in HS if you teach it at all make it an elective. They would be better served learning chemistry and biology, TOE never even needs to enter the equation. They can learn that in College.

[Echo Talon]

It is important for it to be taught whenever and wherever necessary as demanded by the content and context of the area of study.

As i said in the previous post, how is TOE going to help a kid that doesn't even go to college? Answer it isn't. All it does is take time away from learning more important stuff, chemistry and biology. Don't tell me you need to know TOE to learn HS biology or chemistry.

[andysandmikesmom]

Excellent...'the Al Capone school of witnessing'...thats priceless...I have been looking for a phrase that describes exactly, those folks who do enjoy gloating over the eternal damnation of others...

I have run into many of the students of this school on these threads...I think they graduated with honors, as they take such grim delight in what they perceive to be the terrible fate of others...

[Echo Talon]

Ignorance is strength?

No people wasting endless hours on this theory is a waste.

[Right Wing Professor]

Don't tell me you need to know TOE to learn HS biology or chemistry.

You need to know TOE to learn HS Biology.

[Echo Talon]

Presumably you don't mean that. You are worried by the religious implications of people knowing about evolution. Therefore you'd rather limit instruction about it to a minority who take college-level biology?

Why try and indoctrinate them at such a young age? Do you fear rejection?

[Echo Talon]

You need to know TOE to learn HS Biology.

BS, My teacher never talked about TOE in Biology class.

[Right Wing Professor]

You need to know TOE to learn HS Biology.

BS, My teacher never talked about TOE in Biology class.

I think my point is proven.

[Echo Talon]

they taught that in science class, along with chemistry which i think they should stick with exclusively

[andysandmikesmom]

I think you have things exactly backwards...Its those who insist on creationism or ID being the only feasible explanation for life on earth, that fear the teaching of evolution will cause their children to question their religious faith...its as if, they think, that no one can maintain a religious faith, and still support evolution...they do seem to think, narrowly, that one can support only evolution or only God, but never the two together...they have a great fear, that in questioning their religious beliefs, they will reject those religious beliefs....

To me, thats one great big mistake...

[Echo Talon]

I think you have things exactly backwards...Its those who insist on creationism or ID being the only feasible explanation for life on earth, that fear the teaching of evolution will cause their children to question their religious faith...its as if, they think, that no one can maintain a religious faith, and still support evolution...they do seem to think, narrowly, that one can support only evolution or only God, but never the two together...they have a great fear, that in questioning their religious beliefs, they will reject those religious beliefs....

To me, thats one great big mistake...

I think TOE is a waste of time, but im glad that are sensitive enough to Almight Darwin to mold your faith to fit mans theory. I mean hey it's only God right?

[longshadow]

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