RE: paleonet Good news for evolution and science teaching

["Park,Lisa E" <lepark@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I guess what I have trouble understanding is what other area of Science is being so negatively impacted by religious doctrine?  Why is the study and understanding of evolution being singled out, since it is based on the same principles as all other scientific inquiry?  If people understood the fields of Astronomy or Quantum Physics better, they would try to disallow the teaching of that in our schools as well; since those fields, more than any other contradicts what is in the Old Testament of the Bible.  Why is it intellectually acceptable to "choose" what science you "believe" and what you don't?  not based on the science, but based on religious principles?  This is a case where religious mysticism trumps science, yet people go to hospitals to heal, use their cell phones, drive their cars and watch their televisions, not knowing how the science behind each of these works, yet accept it.  There is a logical inconsitency to it.  My concern is that the political (and funding) climate in the US right now is veering towards scientific censorship because it does not support the religious viewpoint of some people.  Looking at it objectively and from the long view of history, it is unfortunate for our times.  
 
 

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk on behalf of Peter Roopnarine 
	Sent: Tue 1/18/2005 8:17 PM 
	To: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: paleonet Good news for evolution and science teaching
	
	

	Just have to be a bit of a stickler here, and I most certainly do not wish to
	offend any religious readers, but...
	   Evolution, in fact _all_ of science, currently tells us nothing about
	intelligent designers, nor the role of special creation in the origin of
	life. Evolution is _agnostic_ on this argument, and rightfully so, since it
	is a testable (and verifiable) scientific theory. This might be of great
	comfort to atheists, but atheism is a decision to not hold a religious faith.
	Likewise, there is no comfort to be had for religious views, since
	reconciliation of evolution with any of those views is a personal religious
	choice (regardless of the philosophical or theological underpinnings), and
	not a scientific one.
	  Kudos to the atheists for spearheading this particular fight, and kudos to
	religious individuals who value the role of science in understanding nature.
	   Just two cents from an agnostic.
	
	On Tuesday 18 January 2005 14:30, you wrote:
	> >  I agree with you David, and I am sorry I posted that particular email.
	> > It was the only news I had of it at the time.   I should have waited for
	> > the CNN, NCSE, and other blurbs about it.    I hope I clarified it in my
	> > most recent post.  On the other hand, it does point out that we need to
	> > look more broadly than our own particular interests when it comes to
	> > science literacy.  Most religious people in mainstream churches, at
	> > least, support science.
	>
	> Yes, I thought that you posted the initial blurb for the news content
	> rather than the extraneous spin.
	>
	> The particular difficulty is that antievolutionists gain support largely by
	> portraying evolution as inherently atheistic, a misrepresentation abetted
	> by the philosophical claims of Dawkins and others.  Thus, it's particularly
	> important for us to point out that evolution is good science and compatible
	> with many religious and philosophical views.  All evolution tells us is
	> that, if there is some sort of intelligent designer involved in the
	> creation of life, he/she/it/they either used evolution or did an extremely
	> good job of making it look like evolution was the method used.  Very useful
	> for biology, but not so useful for philosophy and religion.
	>
	>     Dr. David Campbell
	>     Old Seashells
	>     University of Alabama
	>     Biodiversity & Systematics
	>     Dept. Biological Sciences
	>     Box 870345
	>     Tuscaloosa, AL  35487-0345 USA
	>     bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
	>
	> That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
	> Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
	> Droitgate Spa
	
	--
	Dr. Peter D. Roopnarine, Assoc. Curator
	Department of Invertebrate Zoology & Geology
	California Academy of Sciences
	875 Howard St.
	San Francisco CA 94103
	
	Phone: (415) 321-8271
	FAX: (415) 321-8615
	WWW: http://www.calacademy.org/research/izg/roopnarine/peter.htm
	No more wars please
	
	
	

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