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> Here's what our old buddy Pat Robertson had to say about the Dover > incident today. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9995578/ Robertson's claim (that God is likely to smite Dover for voting out the deluded school board members who tried to push ID) is indeed remarkably bad. Although it's true that Robertson would probably identify himself as evangelical, the fact that he identifies God with teaching ID raises questions about his priorities. Robertson's comments have also been cited negatively on the American Scientific Affiliation email list. Most participants on that list would probably identify themselves as evangelical. However, noise is sure to prevail over substance in getting media coverage. On the other hand, such silly claims do serve as a reminder of the importance of distinguishing between evolution and philosophical views. It's far too easy for antievolutionists to cite claims by scientists who ought to know better that evolution supports atheism or other philosophical views. Evolution tells us about the physical processes affecting and involving living things. It is easier to reconcile with some philosophical and religious views than with others, but does not directly tell us much that is relevant to assess them. As Michael Ruse has pointed out, the militant atheism of Dawkins is just as much a religious view as the teachings of creation science. Dawkins does much better science, but perhaps even worse than young earthers on history and philosophy-they at least realize that they are imposing a religious view on everything else. -- Dr. David Campbell 425 Scientific Collections Building Department of Biological Sciences Biodiversity and Systematics University of Alabama, Box 870345 Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0345 USA
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