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Evolution Coverage Missed Real Story
FoxNews. com ^ | September 30, 2002 | John G. West, Jr.

Posted on 10/01/2002 6:32:12 AM PDT by Phaedrus

Edited on 04/22/2004 12:34:48 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

More than 40 years ago, the film "Inherit the Wind" presented the controversy over the teaching of evolution as a battle between stick-figure fundamentalists who defend a literal reading of Genesis and saintly scientists who simply want to teach the facts of biology. Ever since, journalists have tended to depict almost any battle over evolution in the schools as if it were a replay of "Inherit the Wind"--even if it's not.


(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: crevolist; evolution; media; science; textbooks
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To: PatrickHenry
Placemarker.
81 posted on 10/01/2002 12:25:31 PM PDT by PatrickHenry
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To: Taliesan
In other words, this strict definition of science belongs to a world larger than itself.

Which world, by implication, contains entities not fully accessed by the scientific method.

Or maybe the scientific method is the only legitimate mode of knowledge.

Either way, the statement that religion has no place in a science curriculum would be false.

Here's why. On the one hand, a singular mode of knowledge must be able to treat the full range of human experience. But if you follow the other way, with several modes of knowledge, these several ways must be related or subordinated somehow.

.

82 posted on 10/01/2002 12:25:55 PM PDT by cornelis
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To: r9etb
True agnosticism is unstable (to borrow a term from control theory). The slightest nudge sends the true agnostic plummeting toward one side or the other, and only through real exertion can he reassume his precarious perch.

Are you saying that agnosticism and atheism are points on one continous 'line' of believes? I disagree. They are orthogonal.

"Confusion usually arises when people assume that "agnosticism" actually just means that a person is undecided about whether or not a god exists and also that "atheism" is limited to "strong atheism" - the assertion that no gods do or can exist. If those assumptions were true, then it would be accurate to conclude that agnosticism is some sort of "third way" between atheism and theism."
(more: about.com)

83 posted on 10/01/2002 12:35:41 PM PDT by Lev
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To: Doctor Stochastic
Which doesn't distinguish the validity of your beliefs from those who consider you to be a non-believer.

True enough. That's certainly the problem with trying to "prove" God to skeptics. It's also the problem facing atheists, which was my original point.

Theologian Karl Barth had a good discussion on the difficulty of "proving" God. The difficulty lies in the finding evidence (facts within the universe) about a God who is "bigger than" the universe. It's an example of the blind men and the camel -- and for this reason God's revelation of Himself is the necessary means by which He can be known.

84 posted on 10/01/2002 12:41:51 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: antidisestablishment
If half the scepticism heaped on ID were directed toward evolution, it would no longer be an issue.

Please. The doubting of evolution is a major cash industry in several states. Few people outside of creationist circles have ever even heard of ID.

True scientists should applaud competing theories.

And we do. If you come across a competing theory, let me know. ID doesn't cut it.

And they should not be afraid to differentiate between law, theory and hypothesis.

Tell me, how do you define each?

85 posted on 10/01/2002 1:16:00 PM PDT by Physicist
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To: CFW
Let me preface these brief remarks by noting that I think the scientific evidence that God created the universe 13-15 billion years ago is good ...

[T]here is no plausible scientific mechanism for the origin of life, i.e., the appearance of the first self-replicating biochemical system. The staggeringly high information content of the simplest living thing is not readily explained by evolutionists ...

The major feature of the fossil record is stasis, long periods in which new species do not appear. When new developments occur, they come rapidly, not gradually ...

I find no satisfactory mechanism for macroevolutionary changes. Analogies between a few inches of change in the beaks of a Galapagos finch species and a purported transition from dinosaur to bird (or vice versa) appear to me inappropriate.

Nice contribution. Thank you.

86 posted on 10/01/2002 1:22:57 PM PDT by Phaedrus
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To: dark_lord
I grew up "unchurched" and was agnostic during my early years. Being skeptical and rational by nature I chose to examine the evidence. (Joined MENSA for a while also, so I am reasonably bright. Quit because their level of neurotics seemed higher than usual - at least in the chapter I was in at that time.) Anyway, eventually the "preponderance of the evidence" convinced me that Christianity was the way to go.

I salute you as a brother. (or sister.) But you have an odd name.

87 posted on 10/01/2002 1:24:25 PM PDT by Taliesan
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To: Phaedrus
Nice contribution. Thank you.

You are welcome. My sister works for Dr. Shaefer, so I have been following his comments on the controversy. His quatam chemistry stuff is over my head, but his editorial made sense to even me.

88 posted on 10/01/2002 1:26:44 PM PDT by CFW
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To: antidisestablishment
And they should not be afraid to differentiate between law, theory and hypothesis.

Aw c'mon, please explain that to me. What do you think a law, a theory and a hypothesis is?

89 posted on 10/01/2002 1:26:57 PM PDT by BMCDA
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To: r9etb
Theologian Karl Barth had a good discussion on the difficulty of "proving" God. The difficulty lies in the finding evidence (facts within the universe) about a God who is "bigger than" the universe.

"Church Dogmatics"?

90 posted on 10/01/2002 1:42:05 PM PDT by Taliesan
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To: Doctor Stochastic
Which doesn't distinguish the validity of your beliefs from those who consider you to be a non-believer.

Nice point. For example, we know that AntiPope Gore MMM judges religions, even ones that are very closely related to his own, as heretical non-Christian. Of course, he may be the only member of his particular cult ...

91 posted on 10/01/2002 1:49:32 PM PDT by balrog666
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To: f.Christian
Very Very Good at #67, f.Christian -- Hats off!
92 posted on 10/01/2002 1:53:23 PM PDT by Phaedrus
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To: Phaedrus
I am amazed(ashamed to admit) I never heard of Russell Kirk before!

The... post---was on a thread 'defining conservatism'!

93 posted on 10/01/2002 2:04:58 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: Phaedrus
Very Very Good at #67, f.Christian -- Hats off!

What? I'm shocked, shocked. That you didn't see it the first twelve times he posted it, that is.

94 posted on 10/01/2002 2:05:00 PM PDT by balrog666
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To: balrog666
The... site---of origin!
95 posted on 10/01/2002 2:08:05 PM PDT by f.Christian
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To: Physicist
Please. The doubting of evolution is a major cash industry in several states.
People sell anything in this country. After all, this is America remember?
Few people outside of creationist circles have ever even heard of ID.
Consensus has no place in science.

If you come across a competing theory, let me know. ID doesn't cut it.
As if by divine decree, you invalidate your opposition. What rapier whit; what fabulous inspiration; what irrefutable logic!
Tell me, how do you define each?
Was Physics 101 that long ago? You should like this page.

Personally, I am simply amazed at the amount of time scientists waste waging war against a philosophical stance. And I am not talking about creationism or ID. It is your own convictions you battle.

96 posted on 10/01/2002 2:36:47 PM PDT by antidisestablishment
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To: Taliesan
"Church Dogmatics"?

Yes, basically -- though in point of fact I've only read his sketch of the discussion as it's laid out in "Dogmatics in Outline".

97 posted on 10/01/2002 3:09:36 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: balrog666
You're easily shocked.
98 posted on 10/01/2002 4:28:32 PM PDT by Phaedrus
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To: antidisestablishment
Was Physics 101 that long ago?

I want to know what you think is the difference between a law and a theory.

99 posted on 10/01/2002 4:52:25 PM PDT by Physicist
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To: Phaedrus
You're easily shocked.

So, where and when did you lose your sense of humor? Has that loss moderated your mood swings?

100 posted on 10/01/2002 4:53:55 PM PDT by balrog666
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