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The attack on evolution
The Economist ^

Posted on 10/07/2002 12:44:39 PM PDT by wallcrawlr

A suburban school board declares that evolution is just another theory

NEWT GINGRICH, while he was a Georgia congressman and then as speaker of the House, was known for his interest in scientific research. Some Georgians prefer a different approach. On September 26th the school board of Cobb County, in the north-western Atlanta suburbs, voted to amend existing policy to allow discussion of “disputed views of academic subjects”, specifically the idea that God created the universe in six days—Charles Darwin, Stephen Jay Gould and the rest of them be damned.

The vote came after a month of deliberation, at a meeting crowded with concerned parents. Some 2,000 of the county's residents signed a petition last spring to have the board put stickers on biology textbooks telling students that evolution is a theory, not a fact. “What they're trying to do is appease the religious right,” says Michael Manely, the lawyer representing a local parent who wanted the stickers removed.

The war between creationists and evolutionists had recently fallen quiet. In 1999, the Kansas state board of education dropped evolution from state examinations; but by 2001 the three most prominent anti-evolutionists had been voted out of office, and the decision quietly reversed. Of late, the Christian right has focused on other topics. But the anti-evolutionists' victory in Cobb County may stimulate similar-minded people elsewhere. In Ohio, the state board of education is under pressure to include “intelligent design”—the idea that the complexity of the universe proves the existence of the divine—when it issues a new science curriculum.

Cobb County's new policy argues that providing information on “disputed views” is “necessary for a balanced education” and will help to promote “acceptance of diversity of opinion”. A poll commissioned in 2000 by People for the American Way, a liberal-minded group, shows that many Americans think this way. Nearly half of the respondents believed that the theory of evolution had not yet been proved. And of those who believe in evolution—only a fifth wanted evolution taught alone—three-quarters liberally agreed that students should be presented with “all points of view” and “make up their own minds”. In this post-modern reasoning, evolution and the Book of Genesis are equally valid.

The losers have already begun worrying aloud that this will hurt Cobb County's reputation as a place where children can get a good education. Cobb's schools consistently rank above the state average, which is not saying much. But what happens if superior schools insist that previously accepted facts have become mere theory? No comment from Mr Gingrich, who now lives in Virginia.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: creationism; crevolist; evolution
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To: f.Christian
You converted me. No need to post anything further.
41 posted on 10/07/2002 2:09:34 PM PDT by js1138
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To: js1138
I'm not being sarcastic when I say I feel bad making fun of the handicapped.

There's nothing to be done about it. When you see an unwashed, deranged wino staggering down the street, waving his arms wildly, babbling incoherently, his clothing encrusted with vomit, the only thing to do is to look away -- and if necessary you cross the street to avoid contact. It would be absurd to attempt a dialogue. And so it is, sometimes, on the internet.

42 posted on 10/07/2002 2:11:28 PM PDT by PatrickHenry
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To: PatrickHenry; js1138
for months now I've just been scrolling through his uniquely psychotic babble, but today I actually read one and try as I might, I just can't figure out where he's coming from. I think he lives in Hawaii, which is infamous for illicit hallucinagens. If I were a coherent ID'er or creationist, or bible literalist or whatever they are calling themselves these days to try to lie/scam/cheat the "system," I would really beg f.christian to stop his constant barrage of repeated garbage. What the hell point does he think he's making? Just shut up already!
43 posted on 10/07/2002 2:17:54 PM PDT by whattajoke
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To: f.Christian
Evolution is a criminal conspiracy...

and I see in the near future there is going to be a new civil rights revolution happening.

There are enormous injustices and injury to levy and exact!

ROFLMAO

Didn't I see you doing a show on the Comedy Channel? You're really good!

44 posted on 10/07/2002 2:19:15 PM PDT by FreeLibertarian
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To: f.Christian
I apoligize for my post! I didn't realize you were ill until I had read more of your postings. Please accept my apology.
45 posted on 10/07/2002 2:43:47 PM PDT by FreeLibertarian
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To: Joe Bonforte
Lol! His mind doesn't function/work/operate without crack-cocain in copious/large quantities. Forgive/forget him/her/he/she/it for having $hit/dung/rubbish for syntax :)
46 posted on 10/07/2002 3:11:56 PM PDT by dheretic
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To: wallcrawlr
Remember, absence of proof does not mean that a thing does not exist.

Scientists said that no life could exist without sunlight, either directly or indirectly, yet life has been found in the deepest, darkest regions of the ocean living off of sulfur or methane that escapes from the earth’s crust. The guys with the high foreheads said it was impossible, that there was no proof.

Suddenly, poof! Another theory disproved.

By the same token, the existence of God cannot be (scientifically) proved, but most of us believe in the existence of the Supreme Being.

I like to think of myself as a Scientific-Creationist. This is someone who believes in evolution, but knows in his/her heart that it would take God to give creatures/life the ability to change over time to increase their survival rates.

In layman’s terms. Sure things evolve, God made sure of it. "He" doesn't believe in planned obsolescence, "He" only does first class work.

Best Regards

Sergio

47 posted on 10/07/2002 3:36:49 PM PDT by Sergio
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To: johniegrad
Odd that this writer would not recognize that. I think he has his own agenda.

The Economist has an agenda - Marxism

48 posted on 10/07/2002 3:43:43 PM PDT by cinFLA
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To: f.Christian
but this whole evolution idea of erosion---sedimentary levels is bogus!

Erosion and sedimentology have nothing to do with evolution. They are geological terms describing physical processes and can be observed in action right now.

49 posted on 10/07/2002 4:12:23 PM PDT by Da_Shrimp
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To: f.Christian
post cambrian(older/same) layers from above---volcanic/flooding!

Your theory fails to explain salt horizons, aeolian sandstones and fossil soils. Please clarify.

50 posted on 10/07/2002 4:19:41 PM PDT by Da_Shrimp
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To: wallcrawlr
The losers have already begun worrying aloud that this will hurt Cobb County's reputation as a place where children can get a good education.

Since when is indoctrination a good education? If evolution were a science, they would be glad to discuss different theories.

51 posted on 10/07/2002 4:43:49 PM PDT by gore3000
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To: js1138
Evolution is a bit like the O.J. Crime scene. You can never prove a historical fact in the same sense that you can prove a mathematical theorem, but people who take the time to see the evidence come to a conclusion.

And what evidence is that? A bunch bones specifically selected and specifically arranged to back up their theory? That's not much evidence and even with bones and with the so called 'scientists' who dig them up being all devout evolutionists, evidence comes out which they cannot explain according to their theory.

52 posted on 10/07/2002 4:47:57 PM PDT by gore3000
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To: whattajoke
Do creationists realize that if a peer reviewed scientist were to come forth with one iota of evidence supporting creation, he'd be on every magazine/paper cover, lauded with awards, glory and money, and most assuredly would become not only a hero to religious people everywhere, but a respected revolutionary thinker up there with Einstein and Hawking?

This peer review garbage is total nonsense. Nobody reads that nonsense and some of the stuff I have seen in Nature and Scientific American is not worthy of an 8 year old.

The newspapers love evolution, it gives lots of stupid stories to put up as new fossil found and junk like that. It makes Enquirer headlines look legit. They therefore do not want anyone to put an end to their little scam. Also, most newspapers are far left and their editors are avowed atheists. They would not countenance publicity for such a person.

Further such a person has shown up, Michael Behe who unlike the fakes that the editors loved - Gould and Dawkins, is a real PHD biologist of many years. He originated the whole irreducible complexity idea and gave proof of it. For this he has been universally attacked but never disproven.

53 posted on 10/07/2002 4:58:56 PM PDT by gore3000
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To: wallcrawlr
I haven't been following this. What are they planning to teach as the alternative view? Is it really the literal Genesis story? Because that will have repercussions in some subjects other than biology. Or is it a theistic evolutionary view, which most people accept anyway?

The second option wouldn't trouble me personally, but the idea that young-earth creationsim should be taught as science is totally laughable.

54 posted on 10/07/2002 5:00:08 PM PDT by Youngblood
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To: PatrickHenry
a vast amount of information on this topic,

Have you read that stuff Patrick? If it favors your views why don't you use it instead of placing 'placemarkers', wake up notices, and insults on opponents?

55 posted on 10/07/2002 5:02:05 PM PDT by gore3000
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To: js1138
Schizophrenia is a terrible condition,

Seems you do not even know what schizophrenia is. f.christian definetely does not have a split personality.

However, it is interesting that while the evolutioists claim he is writing nonsense, they seem to understand it well enough to disagree with it! Perchance you folk are not being truthful?

56 posted on 10/07/2002 5:05:07 PM PDT by gore3000
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To: wallcrawlr
What exactly are these evolutionist so afraid of?
57 posted on 10/07/2002 5:12:01 PM PDT by JZoback
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To: PatrickHenry
The article inspired this massive thread on FreeRepublic:

... in which evolutionists took a thorough beating. The Scientific American article was so thorougly silly that it totally discredited the magazine. They even tried to silence a small Australian journal for showing how moronic the statements were. The devastating response which (as usual) the evolutionists tried to suppress is here

58 posted on 10/07/2002 5:16:17 PM PDT by gore3000
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To: Sergio
for some, evolution is one creature becoming something else... through many many adaptations... but wasn't darwin's ocean going iguana, still an iguana?

i am not confused, god created life with the ability to adapt, and the earth to recycle and renew its rock layers... hiding from god's most precious creation, the true secret of his creation... that man is no match for the knowledge of god...

and yes i find fchristian's posts annoying
59 posted on 10/07/2002 5:18:29 PM PDT by teeman8r
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To: js1138
I'm not being sarcastic when I say I feel bad making fun of the handicapped.

And I do not feel bad saying that all you evolutionists know how to do is insult those who oppose your atheistic religion. Can't you guys discuss anything without insulting people?

60 posted on 10/07/2002 5:18:53 PM PDT by gore3000
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