| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Jason Spaceman" |
| Date: |
04 Jul 2004 08:02:53 PM |
| Object: |
Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
From the article:
-----------------------------------------------------
The ongoing controversy about teaching creationism in local public
schools reveals a significant lack of understanding of what science
and the scientific method are. All too often, well-meaning people say
creationism should be taught "to be fair" or that evolution is "only a
theory." But science isn't "fair"— it is based on what explanations
are in best accord with the evidence. And a theory is not just
somebody's "hunch" — it is an explanation supported by significant
evidence. Furthermore, the weight of the evidence justifies the status
of "fact" for evolution — with numerous theories describing various
mechanisms by which evolution occurs. Despite many claims of
"scientific creationism," there has not yet been any scientific
research done by advocates of creationism, whereas the practical
utility of evolutionary theory has greatly advanced our understanding
of the biological world.
-----------------------------------------------------
Read it at http://ydr.com/story/letters/31365/
J. Spaceman
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| User: "The other Donald" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
05 Jul 2004 04:28:42 PM |
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"Jason Spaceman" <notreally@jspaceman.homelinux.org> wrote in message
news:4bahe05ihkmjjp51eituvsncvpdf1su726@4ax.com...
From the article:
-----------------------------------------------------
The ongoing controversy about teaching creationism in local public
schools reveals a significant lack of understanding of what science
and the scientific method are. All too often, well-meaning people say
creationism should be taught "to be fair" or that evolution is "only a
theory." But science isn't "fair"- it is based on what explanations
are in best accord with the evidence. And a theory is not just
somebody's "hunch" - it is an explanation supported by significant
evidence. Furthermore, the weight of the evidence justifies the status
of "fact" for evolution - with numerous theories describing various
mechanisms by which evolution occurs. Despite many claims of
"scientific creationism," there has not yet been any scientific
research done by advocates of creationism, whereas the practical
utility of evolutionary theory has greatly advanced our understanding
of the biological world.
-----------------------------------------------------
Read it at http://ydr.com/story/letters/31365/
J. Spaceman
Were you the person that submitted this? If not, can you find out who it is
and get me permission to submit it to the Austin American-Statesman. The
fundies continue to rant their ignorance, and Texas is a huge buyer of
textbooks.
--
-Donald in Austin
AA #2104
Apatriot #22
Atheist FF/EMT
.....and ordained minister
Stork pin recipient: May 1, 2003 -Madelyn
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| User: "Geoff" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
05 Jul 2004 06:41:57 PM |
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"The other Donald" <the_donald_13@yehaw2.com> wrote in message
news:RNjGc.18371$W6.10035@fe2.texas.rr.com...
Read it at http://ydr.com/story/letters/31365/
Were you the person that submitted this? If not, can you find out who it
is
and get me permission to submit it to the Austin American-Statesman. The
fundies continue to rant their ignorance, and Texas is a huge buyer of
textbooks.
According to the above link, it was written by:
MARK T. DUIGON
SHREWSBURY
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| User: "Jason Spaceman" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
05 Jul 2004 05:11:55 PM |
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The other Donald wrote:
Were you the person that submitted this? If not, can you find out who it is
and get me permission to submit it to the Austin American-Statesman. The
fundies continue to rant their ignorance, and Texas is a huge buyer of
textbooks.
--
Nope, I just found it in the Letters to the Editor section of the York Daily Record
(which is in Pennsylvania I think). The letter writer was a Mr. Mark T. Duigon, and
I have no idea how to get in touch with him.
J. Spaceman
--
My email address (notreally@jspaceman.homelinux.org) is fake. Email sent to it will
only get caught in my spam tarpit.
.
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| User: "John M Price PhD" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
05 Jul 2004 05:59:49 PM |
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In article <2ku290F6en2gU1@uni-berlin.de> from sci.skeptic you wrote:
: The other Donald wrote:
: >
: > Were you the person that submitted this? If not, can you find out who it is
: > and get me permission to submit it to the Austin American-Statesman. The
: > fundies continue to rant their ignorance, and Texas is a huge buyer of
: > textbooks.
: > --
: Nope, I just found it in the Letters to the Editor section of the York Daily Record
: (which is in Pennsylvania I think). The letter writer was a Mr. Mark T. Duigon, and
: I have no idea how to get in touch with him.
From the webpage of the paper:
York Daily Record
122 S. George St., P.O. Box 15122
York, PA 17405, (717) 771-2000
I'd start there for the permission routines.
(c) 2004. Copyright, John M. Price, PhD. All Rights Reserved.
Contents may not be republished in any form or medium without prior
written consent of the author with the express and only exception of
followup postings limited to and within usenet.
--
John M. Price, PhD
Life: Chemistry, but with feeling! | PGP Key on request or FTP!
Email responses to my Usenet articles will be posted at my discretion.
Comoderator: sci.psychology.psychotherapy.moderated Atheist# 683
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are
neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make
things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they
serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed
man may be attacked with greater ... confidence than an armed man.
- Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in
On Crimes and Punishment (1764).
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| User: "Dixit" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
18 Jul 2004 04:07:20 AM |
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The other Donald wrote:
"Jason Spaceman" <notreally@jspaceman.homelinux.org> wrote in message
news:4bahe05ihkmjjp51eituvsncvpdf1su726@4ax.com...
From the article:
-----------------------------------------------------
The ongoing controversy about teaching creationism in local public
schools reveals a significant lack of understanding of what science
and the scientific method are. All too often, well-meaning people say
creationism should be taught "to be fair" or that evolution is "only a
theory." But science isn't "fair"- it is based on what explanations
are in best accord with the evidence. And a theory is not just
somebody's "hunch" - it is an explanation supported by significant
evidence. Furthermore, the weight of the evidence justifies the status
of "fact" for evolution - with numerous theories describing various
mechanisms by which evolution occurs. Despite many claims of
"scientific creationism," there has not yet been any scientific
research done by advocates of creationism, whereas the practical
utility of evolutionary theory has greatly advanced our understanding
of the biological world.
-----------------------------------------------------
Read it at http://ydr.com/story/letters/31365/
J. Spaceman
Were you the person that submitted this? If not, can you find out who it is
and get me permission to submit it to the Austin American-Statesman. The
fundies continue to rant their ignorance, and Texas is a huge buyer of
textbooks.
Can't you just say the same thing in your own words?
I would maybe try a pseudo-positive approach, as though you are 110% in
favor of discussing with mature students in the public high schools the
totally unscientific religious belief that everything was created by
this hypothetical (speculative, 'might be' imagining) God entity that is
nowhere in evidence that the true believers can point to.
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| User: "John Thomas Grisham" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
06 Jul 2004 09:46:56 AM |
|
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Jason Spaceman <notreally@jspaceman.homelinux.org> wrote in message news:<4bahe05ihkmjjp51eituvsncvpdf1su726@4ax.com>...
From the article:
-----------------------------------------------------
The ongoing controversy about teaching creationism in local public
schools reveals a significant lack of understanding of what science
and the scientific method are. All too often, well-meaning people say
creationism should be taught "to be fair" or that evolution is "only a
theory." But science isn't "fair"? it is based on what explanations
are in best accord with the evidence. And a theory is not just
somebody's "hunch" ? it is an explanation supported by significant
evidence. Furthermore, the weight of the evidence justifies the status
of "fact" for evolution ? with numerous theories describing various
mechanisms by which evolution occurs. Despite many claims of
"scientific creationism," there has not yet been any scientific
research done by advocates of creationism, whereas the practical
utility of evolutionary theory has greatly advanced our understanding
of the biological world.
-----------------------------------------------------
Read it at http://ydr.com/story/letters/31365/
J. Spaceman
This is of course a bad argument. It isn't science that is being asked
to be fair. It's the U.S. government. Science doesn't dictate what is
taught in public schools, the government does. The Constitution is
interpreted to ban religious teachings in public schools and that is
what "Creationists" believe is unfair. As many letters to an editor,
the author is a moron.
JTG 7/6/04
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| User: "EjP" |
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| Title: Re: Letter to the Editor: Science doesn't have to be 'fair' |
06 Jul 2004 11:24:12 AM |
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John Thomas Grisham wrote:
Jason Spaceman <notreally@jspaceman.homelinux.org> wrote in message news:<4bahe05ihkmjjp51eituvsncvpdf1su726@4ax.com>...
From the article:
-----------------------------------------------------
The ongoing controversy about teaching creationism in local public
schools reveals a significant lack of understanding of what science
and the scientific method are. All too often, well-meaning people say
creationism should be taught "to be fair" or that evolution is "only a
theory." But science isn't "fair"? it is based on what explanations
are in best accord with the evidence. And a theory is not just
somebody's "hunch" ? it is an explanation supported by significant
evidence. Furthermore, the weight of the evidence justifies the status
of "fact" for evolution ? with numerous theories describing various
mechanisms by which evolution occurs. Despite many claims of
"scientific creationism," there has not yet been any scientific
research done by advocates of creationism, whereas the practical
utility of evolutionary theory has greatly advanced our understanding
of the biological world.
-----------------------------------------------------
Read it at http://ydr.com/story/letters/31365/
J. Spaceman
This is of course a bad argument. It isn't science that is being asked
to be fair. It's the U.S. government. Science doesn't dictate what is
taught in public schools, the government does. The Constitution is
interpreted to ban religious teachings in public schools and that is
what "Creationists" believe is unfair. As many letters to an editor,
the author is a moron.
No, the author is exactly on point - a point which you seem to miss.
Of course these groups are trying to bring religion into the
classrooms, but the point is, but they're not *admitting* it.
They're claiming that "intelligent design"
is a *scientific* theory and that all scientific theories (no matter how
bad) deserve equal time, and this is the claim that the letter is
addressing. If you doubt this, I recommend you check out the
Discovery Institute website:
http://www.discovery.org/csc/
They go out of their way to pretend this is a scientific debate.
-E
JTG 7/6/04
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