It look like Tennessee want to have a repeat of the Scopes trial, the state house have passed a law allowing teaching of "alternatives to controversial theories" which we all know is a code for, lets teach creationism while claiming that the evolutionists are all closed minded bigots for insisting on teaching science in science class. Too bad for the people of Tennessee, I'm sure there are better uses for their tax dollars then litigating the same losing argument again.
The Scopes monkey trial, now the sequal.
(9 posts) (6 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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The shit's happening in my backyard, basically. :P
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think maybe we are going about this thing the wrong way. Maybe we should invite/force all the major ID players to come together for a month long tv special and have their ideas and views on evolution put forward and debunked by experts in the fields of science. Make it a put up or shut up thing. Be fair, allow them as much rope as they need to strangle themselves on public tv. Show the sheep why creationism is rubbish. I am reaching to high? If it's done, properly, it will make the idiots in the pews rethink things I believe.
We just need a will to do this properly, and kill the concept of creationism once and for all. Lead the folks step by step, in simple fun safe terms to reality.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Balstrome, that's not a bad idea.
Just pitting the several flavors of Creationism against each other may be useful, it would force them to put together a non-ambiguous idea.
Then, at least there would be only a single thing to address, rather than a moving target.Posted 2 years ago # -
If people that care and have coin could put together a month long TV special, actually showing both sides of the debate, let the creationists make their name mud, by themselves on national TV, and have the experts show why what they say is incorrect. Public debate is the best I think in this case.
But we know this will never happen, and America will die.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Balstrome, every single creationist argument have been debunked, repeatedly, in public and it haven't stopped them yet. It won't stop the Michel Behe and Ray Comforts who have shown again and again that having their arguments trashed is not going to prevent them from using the same, fully debunked, argument again the following week.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Balstrome, as much as that seems like a good idea, there is a very good reason not to do that.
Daniel Dennett did a research project on peoples views on different subjects after debates. One of the interesting results was the bonus that the 'wrong' position received. The basic thinking goes like this: The majority of the believers know deep down that their ideas don't hold a candle to real science. They suffer from a strong cognitive dissonance, which is why they are so defensive when attacked on the subject. If you take one of the leaders from that group, and put them on a stage with a real professional scientists, then you've done something in their eyes. You've put their idea on parity with the scientist.
So the exact opposite of what you want occurs after these debates. The people who came to the show with a belief in creationism leave actually having their faith strengthened. If we were to have a nation wide, televised referendum on evolution vs ID, it would probably set back the nation another decade.
Posted 2 years ago # -
But we know this will never happen, and America will die.
No we won't. Not gonna let it happen. Creationism is on a downward spiral, albeit a slow one. Evolution is too well documented and too significant to be marginalized in the public square indefinitely. Religion is just slow to change, and keep in mind that we still have a massive Christian majority over here. The Creationist movement can't fight reality in a society built on free speech, not forever. The free availability of information will be its downfall.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The proponents of ID, churches and church leaders, find ways to keep their flock from seriouly examining the facts on this issue. All the wonderful bible quotes that tell people to trust whatever is in the book even, no, especially when it contradicts objective reality, logic and reason. So, they are already doing a pretty good job of ignoring reality.
Posted 2 years ago #
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