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Creationist School Holds Evolution Debate
The Guardian ^ | 4/9/2002

Posted on 04/09/2002 11:28:16 AM PDT by JediGirl

The school at the centre of the row over creationism in education is inviting one of its chief critics to speak to its students about evolution, it has emerged.

Sir Peter Vardy, the multimillionaire entrepreneur who donated £2m to found Emmanuel city technology college in Gateshead, and who remains director of its board, wants Richard Dawkins to take part in a debate.

Emmanuel has been criticised since the Guardian revealed last month that lectures given by its staff, suggested evolution was a "faith position" and urged teachers to "counter [its] false doctrines".

At the time, Professor Dawkins, an authority on evolution, wrote: "Any science teacher who denies the world is billions (or even millions) of years old is teaching children a preposterous, mind-shrinking falsehood. These men disgrace the honourable profession of teacher."

But the two men have been corresponding privately since the dispute broke out and are now planning to meet. Sir Peter said: "We are quite open to talking to anybody. I would like to have a debate at Emmanuel college for the students to hear and I'll be asking him to take part."

He added: "I am not a creationist and neither is Emmanuel college. We have guys who do believe in young earth [theories], but we also have atheists and agnostics and folks that believe in the old earth _ What we seek to do is present all the views of both creation and evolution."

But in a lecture, the school's head of science, Steven Layfield, urged Christian teachers to "show the superiority" of creationist theories.

He added that they should "note every occasion when an evolutionary/old-earth paradigm [millions or billions of years] is explicitly mentioned or implied and courteously point out the fallibility of the statement". Most scientists agree that life on earth is around four billion years old.

"I'm keen to meet Sir Peter and no doubt the idea of a debate will be one of many things we discuss when we meet up," Prof Dawkins said.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: creationism; crevolist; evolution
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1 posted on 04/09/2002 11:28:16 AM PDT by JediGirl
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To: *crevo_list;PatrickHenry;jennyp;RadioAstronomer;Junior
ping
2 posted on 04/09/2002 11:28:51 AM PDT by JediGirl
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To: JediGirl
Evolution is the pcp-zation of the mind---world!
3 posted on 04/09/2002 11:33:30 AM PDT by f.Christian
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To: JediGirl
"What we seek to do is present all the views of both creation and evolution."

Bull! There are dozens of creation myths. They want to advocate one particular creation myth.

4 posted on 04/09/2002 11:46:22 AM PDT by jlogajan
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To: JediGirl
Cloaked. Lurking ...
5 posted on 04/09/2002 11:48:57 AM PDT by PatrickHenry
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: jlogajan
The morph myth---the only thing evolving--drifting are the holes--spaces in peoples heads and species...

all the lines are cut--disconnected...

no dial tone...brain waves---

human intelligence has sunk---bottomed out---reaching new lows!

7 posted on 04/09/2002 11:59:00 AM PDT by f.Christian
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To: toddhisattva
I think f.Christian is actually an "Eliza" program coded by a very nasty person.
8 posted on 04/09/2002 11:59:26 AM PDT by Poohbah
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To: toddhisattva
Tour holy--hairy grail has holes---fleas!
9 posted on 04/09/2002 12:00:09 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: f.Christian
Yikes! Cut back on the meds!
10 posted on 04/09/2002 12:01:23 PM PDT by jlogajan
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To: Poohbah
Evolution...brain virus---aids!
11 posted on 04/09/2002 12:01:45 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: jlogajan
If you had enough brain matter left to ne objective for one one instant---

you would die from shame for believing this crap---

you remind of the attica school---takeover---congress---William Kndumhbstlers!

12 posted on 04/09/2002 12:05:20 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: Poohbah
You: I think f.Christian is actually an "Eliza" program coded by a very nasty person.

Eliza/f.Christian: Can you elaborate on that?

13 posted on 04/09/2002 12:10:05 PM PDT by general_re
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To: general_re
Glad to see someone else who remembers Eliza...
14 posted on 04/09/2002 12:12:50 PM PDT by Poohbah
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To: Poohbah
Evolution is socialized education for the lame-hadicapped...

welfare--food stamps---lie/bs-fare...

national ID---charge card for the intellectually disadvantaged but PC-elite--priveledged...

special science---royalty(wolves)--the American popes---curia--cardinals and their sheep!

15 posted on 04/09/2002 12:14:44 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: jlogajan
Evolution is the lsd-zation of the mind---world!
16 posted on 04/09/2002 12:18:53 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: jlogajan
They want to advocate one particular creation myth.

Just because your brain--understanding is morphing...

does that mean reality--science and Truth is morphing/blending(psychopath)...

not in my same-sane--one-world---no morphing/schizophrenia!

Concrete--real vs plastic--phony!

17 posted on 04/09/2002 12:26:04 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: f.Christian
Evolution is the lsd-zation of the mind---world!

Please go on.

18 posted on 04/09/2002 12:27:22 PM PDT by general_re
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To: f.Christian
You do a grave disservice to these discussions.

Please stop.

19 posted on 04/09/2002 12:30:46 PM PDT by Heartlander
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To: general_re
Dr morph-evolution says...

Bull! There are dozens of creation myths. They want to advocate one particular creation myth.

4 posted on 4/9/02 9:46 AM Hawaii-Aleutian by jlogajan

Bones--entrails---voodoo-morph...

how big is the evo-bone in your brain-nose-lips?

20 posted on 04/09/2002 12:31:35 PM PDT by f.Christian
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