| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Desertphile" |
| Date: |
05 Feb 2006 11:20:12 AM |
| Object: |
Creationism and the Utah Legislature |
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/national/05evolution.html
By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: February 5, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 3 --- Faith's domain is evident everywhere at the
Utah Legislature, where about 90 percent of the elected officials are
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prayers are
commonplace, and lawmakers speak of their relationship with god in
ordinary conversation.
So it might be tempting to assume that legislation relating to the
divisive national debate about the teaching of evolution in public
schools would have a predictable outcome here.
Senate Bill 96 is proving that assumption wrong. The bill, which would
require science teachers to offer a disclaimer when introducing lessons
on evolution --- namely, that not all scientists agree on the origins
of life [though some 99.9999% do agree] --- has deeply divided
lawmakers. Some leaders in both parties have announced their opposition
to the bill, and most lawmakers say that with less than a month left in
the legislative session, its fate remains a tossup.
One of the reasons why is State Representative Stephen H. Urquhart, a
Republican from southern Utah whose job as majority whip is to line up
votes in his party. Mr. Urquhart announced last week that he would vote
against the bill.
"I don't think god has an argument with science," said Mr. Urquhart,
who was a biology major in college and now practices law.
Mr. Urquhart says he objects to the bill in part because it raises
questions about the validity of evolution, and in part because the
measure threatens traditional religious belief by blurring the lines
between faith and science.
Supporters of the bill, which passed the Senate on a 16-to-12 vote one
day before Mr. Urquhart's announcement, still predict that it will pass
in the House. They say the bill is not about religion, but science.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican and former Mormon missionary, has
not said what he will do if the bill reaches his desk.
"I don't have to talk about religion --- it's of no meaning and it's
not part of this discussion," said State Representative James A.
Ferrin, a Republican and the sponsor of the bill in the House. "It's
not about belief, it's about not overstepping what we know."
Opponents of the bill, including State Senator Peter C. Knudson, the
Republican majority leader, openly laugh at talk like that.
"Of course it's about religion," Mr. Knudson said.
He and other lawmakers say that part of the debate here is in fact over
what kind of religion would be buttressed by the legislation. Although
the Origins of Life bill, as it is formally known, does not mention an
alternative theory to evolution, some legislators say they think that
voting yes could be tantamount to supporting intelligent design, which
posits an undefined intelligence lurking behind the miracles of life
and which differs greatly from the Mormon creation story.
"There are people who say, 'That's not my religion,' or that it will
only confuse our children," said State Representative Brad King, a
Democrat and the minority whip in the House, who also plans to vote
against the bill. "For me, it's sort of that way," added Mr. King,
whose father, a Mormon bishop, taught evolution at the College of
Eastern Utah.
Others say that Mormonism, with its emphasis that all beings can
progress toward higher planes of existence, before and after death, has
an almost built-in receptivity toward evolutionary thought that other
religions might lack. Still others oppose the state's inserting itself
in matters of curriculum, which are mostly under the control of local
school districts.
Advocacy groups who follow the battle over the teaching of evolution
nationally say that what happens here could be important far beyond
state borders.
"It's being watched very closely because of the very conservative
nature of the state," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, the executive
director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, based
in Washington. "If the legislation is rejected in Utah, it would be a
very strong signal that the issue should be avoided elsewhere."
Missouri's legislature is considering a bill requiring "critical
analysis" in teaching evolution. An Indiana lawmaker has called
evolution a type of religion and proposed a bill banning textbooks that
contain "fraudulent information."
Gov. Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky, a Republican, pointed out in his State
of the State address earlier this month that alternative explanations
for the origins of species can already be taught in Kentucky schools. A
spokesman for Mr. Fletcher said he was not advocating alternatives to
evolution, but merely pointing out the options.
The Utah bill's main sponsor, State Senator D. Chris Buttars, a
Republican from the Salt Lake City suburbs, said he was not surprised
by the debate it had inspired. He said ordinary voters were deeply
concerned about the teaching of evolution.
"I got tired of people calling me and saying, 'Why is my kid coming
home from high school and saying his biology teacher told him he
evolved from a chimpanzee?' " Mr. Buttars said.
Evolutionary theory does not say that humans evolved from chimpanzees
or from any existing species, but rather that common ancestors gave
rise to multiple species and that natural selection --- in which the
creatures best adapted to an environment pass their genes to the next
generation --- was the means by which divergence occurred over time.
All modern biology is based on the theory, and within the scientific
community, at least, there is no controversy about it.
Even so, one important supporter of the bill, State Representative
Margaret Dayton, a Republican and chairwoman of the House Education
Committee, said her convictions had been underlined in recent days. "A
number of scientists have been in touch with me, and I can verify that
not all scientists agree," Ms. Dayton said.
Utah's predominant faith has also made its stance less predictable on
other issues touching on religion in school --- notably school prayer.
Enthusiasm for the idea has been muted or ambivalent, said Kirk Jowers,
a professor of political science and director of the Hinckley Institute
of Politics at the University of Utah. Professor Jowers pointed to the
awareness among Mormons of their religion's minority status in the
nation and world.
"It was kind of a realization that if you push to have prayer in
school, then outside of Utah, the prayer would not typically be a
Mormon's prayer, so is that road you want go down?" Professor Jowers
said.
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| User: "Fredric L. Rice" |
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| Title: Re: Creationism and the Utah Legislature |
05 Feb 2006 02:06:59 PM |
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"Desertphile" <desertphile@hotmail.com> wrote:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/national/05evolution.html
Prayers are commonplace, and lawmakers speak of their
relationship with god in ordinary conversation.
Good grief. The psychotically delusional in public office. No
wonder we have an insane Christian madman in the White House with
his finger leaning on the nuclear button.
"I don't think god has an argument with science," said Mr. Urquhart,
who was a biology major in college and now practices law.
Most Christians accept science except when they stupidly believe
that science has something to do with their deity constructs.
Supporters of the bill, which passed the Senate on a 16-to-12 vote one
day before Mr. Urquhart's announcement, still predict that it will pass
in the House. They say the bill is not about religion, but science.
They's insane Christanic liars, lying for their gods -- which is
specifically against their own gods' commandments.
---
"The power of the Executive to cast a man into prison without formulating
any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgement of
his peers, is in the highest degree odious and is the foundation of all
totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist." -- W. Churchill, Nov
21, 1943 (Or whether Christofascist Republican.)
"When the powers of state, that have been mandated to reach out and protect the
interest of people, begin to usurp the Constitution and undermine our laws,
people must rise up and speak against the regime. If the citizens fail to hear
that call, they should be charged with patriotic treason." -- Theodore Roosevelt,
the 26th President of the United States (1901-1909)
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| User: "DuTcHelMDiSeaSe" |
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| Title: Re: Creationism and the Utah Legislature |
05 Feb 2006 11:32:23 AM |
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Desert Pile better watch out. When Islamists hear about his rejection of
the creation story, they'll issue a Fatwa.
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| User: "David Rice, Esq. desertphile@ hot mail.com" |
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| Title: Re: Creationism and the Utah Legislature |
05 Feb 2006 12:13:13 PM |
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On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 10:32:23 -0700, "DuTcHelMDiSeaSe"
<dutchelmdisease@yahoo.com> wrote:
Desert Pile [sic] better watch out. When Islamists hear about
his rejection of the creation story, they'll issue a Fatwa.
Golly, I sure hope so. Think of the money I could get doing talk
shows and a book!
---
I am L. Ron Hubbard and I approve of this message.
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| User: "Fredric L. Rice" |
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| Title: Re: Creationism and the Utah Legislature |
05 Feb 2006 02:07:18 PM |
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"David Rice, Esq." <desertphile@ hot mail.com> wrote:
On Sun, 5 Feb 2006 10:32:23 -0700, "DuTcHelMDiSeaSe"
<dutchelmdisease@yahoo.com> wrote:
Desert Pile [sic] better watch out. When Islamists hear about
his rejection of the creation story, they'll issue a Fatwa.
Golly, I sure hope so. Think of the money I could get doing talk
shows and a book!
You'll be on Opra!
---
"The power of the Executive to cast a man into prison without formulating
any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgement of
his peers, is in the highest degree odious and is the foundation of all
totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist." -- W. Churchill, Nov
21, 1943 (Or whether Christofascist Republican.)
"When the powers of state, that have been mandated to reach out and protect the
interest of people, begin to usurp the Constitution and undermine our laws,
people must rise up and speak against the regime. If the citizens fail to hear
that call, they should be charged with patriotic treason." -- Theodore Roosevelt,
the 26th President of the United States (1901-1909)
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| User: "Pastor Dave" |
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| Title: Re: Creationism and the Utah Legislature |
07 Feb 2006 05:08:02 AM |
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On 5 Feb 2006 09:20:12 -0800, "Desertphile"
<desertphile@hotmail.com> spake thusly:
Senate Bill 96 is proving that assumption wrong. The bill, which would
require science teachers to offer a disclaimer when introducing lessons
on evolution --- namely, that not all scientists agree on the origins
of life [though some 99.9999% do agree]
There's a lie. Evolutionists love to make that claim.
"I don't think god has an argument with science," said Mr. Urquhart,
who was a biology major in college and now practices law.
No, God doesn't have an argument with science.
Now if only the evolutionists would start doing
some science. (:
--
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass,
till all these things be fulfilled." - Matthew 24:34
The Last Days were in the first century:
"A LITTLE WHILE, and ye shall not see me:
and again, A LITTLE WHILE and ye shall
see me, because I go to the Father."
- John 16:16
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