| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"J Young" |
| Date: |
07 Mar 2006 11:59:09 PM |
| Object: |
Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll |
The people have spoken. When will the politicians and the courts ever
listen?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49153
Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll
Whopping 69 percent of Americans want alternate theories in classroom
A new poll shows 69 percent of Americans believe public school
teachers should present both the evidence for and against Darwinian
evolution.
The Zogby International survey indicated only 21 percent think biology
teachers should teach only Darwin's theory of evolution and the scientific
evidence that supports it.
A majority of Americans from every sub-group were at least twice as
likely to prefer this approach to science education, the Zogby study showed.
About 88 percent of Americans 18-29 years old were in support, along
with 73 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of independent voters.
Others who strongly support teaching the strengths and weaknesses of
evolutionary theory include African-Americans (69 percent), 35-54 year-olds
(70 percent) and Democrats (60 percent).
Casey Luskin, program officer for public policy and legal affairs with
Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture said while his group
does not favor mandating the teaching of intelligent design, "we do think it
is constitutional for teachers to discuss it precisely because the theory is
based upon scientific evidence not religious premises."
The Seattle-based Discovery Institute is the leading promoter of the
theory of Intelligent Design, which has been at the center of challenges in
federal court over the teaching of evolution in public school classes.
Advocates say it draws on recent discoveries in physics, biochemistry and
related disciplines that indicate some features of the natural world are
best explained as the product of an intelligent cause rather than an
undirected process such as natural selection.
"The public strongly agrees that students should be permitted to learn
about such evidence," Luskin said.
The Discovery Institute noted Americans also support students learning
about evidence for intelligent design alongside evolution in biology class -
77 percent.
Just over half - 51 percent - agree strongly with that. Only 19
percent disagree.
--
" The truth shall set you free "
.
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| User: "satyr" |
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| Title: Re: Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll |
09 Mar 2006 12:09:02 AM |
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On Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:59:09 -0500, "J Young" <youngopinions@aol.com>
wrote:
The people have spoken. When will the politicians and the courts ever
listen?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49153
Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll
Whopping 69 percent of Americans want alternate theories in classroom
But every time a school board passes a rule to force this, they get
kicked out on their kesters in the very next election.
--
satyr #1953
Chairman, EAC Church Taxation Subcommittee
Director, Gideon Bible Alternative Fuel Project
Supervisor, EAC Fossil Casting Lab
.
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| User: "Kate " |
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| Title: Re: Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll |
08 Mar 2006 09:32:02 AM |
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On Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:59:09 -0500, "J Young" <youngopinions@aol.com>
wrote:
The people have spoken. When will the politicians and the courts ever
listen?
Courts aren't supposed to listen to popular opinion. Politicians
aren't supposed to change education to only popular opinions - at
least not if they are ethical.
And science is supposed to be based on facts, not popular opinion,
otherwise it doesn't work. If you prefer it the other way, you are
welcome to get your medical help at a college of theism and see if you
survive it.
How do you manage to make a living? You are an incredible lame
brain.
.
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| User: "John Baker" |
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| Title: Re: Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll |
08 Mar 2006 04:39:54 AM |
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On Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:59:09 -0500, "J Young" <youngopinions@aol.com>
wrote:
The people have spoken. When will the politicians and the courts ever
listen?
Popular opinion does not determine truth. Evidence does.
.
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| User: "Alan Ferris" |
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| Title: Re: Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll |
08 Mar 2006 01:07:35 PM |
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On Wed, 8 Mar 2006 00:59:09 -0500, "J Young" <youngopinions@aol.com>
wrote:
Whopping 69 percent of Americans want alternate theories in classroom
But what alternate theories....surely not ID which is discrediting
itself with is tissue of lies.
--
Alan "Ferrit" Ferris
()'.'.'()
( (T) )
( ) . ( )
(")_(")
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| User: "Thandarr" |
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| Title: Re: Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll |
08 Mar 2006 08:40:25 PM |
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The poll is meaningless. Look at how the questions are phrased.
Statement B: Biology teachers should teach Darwin's theory
of evolution, but also the scientific evidence against it. 69
Statement A: Biology teachers should teach only Darwin's
theory of evolution and the scientific evidence that supports it. 21
Neither/Not Sure 10
6. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or
strongly disagree with the
following statement: "When Darwin's theory of evolution is taught
in school, students should also be able to learn about scientific
evidence that points to an intelligent design of life."
Strongly agree 51%
Somewhat agree 26 Agree 77%
Somewhat disagree 6
Strongly disagree 13 Disagree 19
Not sure 4
It phrases the questions as if there were scientific evidence to
contradict Darwin's theories and that the universe shows signs of
intelligent design. If that were true, if there were indeed scientific
evidence to support the anti-evolutionary position or the intelligent
design position, I suspect even most of the people on this board would
be
among the majority. I for one would love to hear the scientific
evidence that points to intelligent design of life. Statement A sounds
profoundly intolerant if you assume the existence of scientific
evidence refuting Darwin's theory.
The problem is that there is no such evidence. I've seen what passes
for scientific evidence against Darwinism and in favor of "intelligent
design" and it is profoundly unconvincing. Frequently the advocates of
this pernicious wishful thinking resort to what must be knowing
deception. I'm sure it's easier and far more profitable to lie to
hopeful unsophisticated people for money than do actual science, but
that doesn't mean any serious or reputable scientists subscribe to this
nonsense.
The question is posed to a largely scientifically illiterate populace.
Because of the massive and effective disinformation campaign of the
religious community, most people believe that Darwinism is only a
theory, that there is a legitimate scientific debate about Darwinism,
and that there is credible scientific evidence that the creator left
his fingerprints in creation and that scientists have found them.
I suspect the results would be different if the question were phrased
differently. E.g.
Statement B: Biology teachers should teach Darwin's theory
of evolution, but also the unscientific arguments against it.
Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly
disagree with the
following statement: "When Darwin's theory of evolution is taught
in school, students should also be able to learn about unscientific
philosophical arguments that suggest an intelligent design of life."
Granted, even phrased this way the wrong answer would still garner a
majority, but a poll like this, based on a false premise, is of little
use to the debate.
Besides, scientific truth isn't subject to a majority vote. If it
were, we should just vote that water works as well as gasoline and that
chocolate fudge helps us lose weight.
Thandarr
J Young wrote:
The people have spoken. When will the politicians and the courts ever
listen?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49153
Darwin smacked in new U.S. poll
Whopping 69 percent of Americans want alternate theories in classroom
A new poll shows 69 percent of Americans believe public school
teachers should present both the evidence for and against Darwinian
evolution.
The Zogby International survey indicated only 21 percent think biology
teachers should teach only Darwin's theory of evolution and the scientific
evidence that supports it.
A majority of Americans from every sub-group were at least twice as
likely to prefer this approach to science education, the Zogby study showed.
About 88 percent of Americans 18-29 years old were in support, along
with 73 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of independent voters.
Others who strongly support teaching the strengths and weaknesses of
evolutionary theory include African-Americans (69 percent), 35-54 year-olds
(70 percent) and Democrats (60 percent).
Casey Luskin, program officer for public policy and legal affairs with
Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture said while his group
does not favor mandating the teaching of intelligent design, "we do think it
is constitutional for teachers to discuss it precisely because the theory is
based upon scientific evidence not religious premises."
The Seattle-based Discovery Institute is the leading promoter of the
theory of Intelligent Design, which has been at the center of challenges in
federal court over the teaching of evolution in public school classes.
Advocates say it draws on recent discoveries in physics, biochemistry and
related disciplines that indicate some features of the natural world are
best explained as the product of an intelligent cause rather than an
undirected process such as natural selection.
"The public strongly agrees that students should be permitted to learn
about such evidence," Luskin said.
The Discovery Institute noted Americans also support students learning
about evidence for intelligent design alongside evolution in biology class -
77 percent.
Just over half - 51 percent - agree strongly with that. Only 19
percent disagree.
--
" The truth shall set you free "
.
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