Louisiana's Latest Assault on Darwin »
Posted By Neophile 3 months, 2 weeks ago in Science & TechnologyIt comes as no surprise that the Louisiana State Legislature has approved a bill that seeks to undercut the teaching of evolution in the public schools. The state has a sorry history as a hotbed of creationists' efforts to inject religious views into science courses. All that stands in the way of this retrograde step is Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Read Full Story at nytimes.com »
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Comments So Far: 109
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HannibalBarca3 months, 1 week ago
Hey thanks, you spelled it right,I'm surprised as it has more than two syllables.
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bigurn3 months, 2 weeks ago
The Times article uses inflammatory language to describe Louisiana's recent legislation. It does this to mock the state, as if the debate is settled.
There is a central precept in science that all theories should withstand rigorous examination until proven correct. Evolution will take millenia to prove, so it will remain "accepted" until enough data are accumulated to "prove" it. Until then, what is wrong with the discussion? We continue to debate the origin of the universe, the age of the Earth, the nature of gravity, all because we don't have a proven model yet. No one gets upset at this; it's merely part of the scientific method.
Further, the legislation allows debate on things like global warning, which is sorely absent in secondary education at this point - the Al Gore position is essentially posited as fact.
The historical cornerstone of American education is our ability to think creatively. I'd like to continue that.
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CRYMTYPHON3 months, 2 weeks ago
"There is a central precept in science that all theories should withstand rigorous examination until proven correct".
Well, not really.
HYPOTHESIS are untested ideas or opinions. A THEORY is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena.
The theories of evolution, relativity, and gravity, are assumed true by scientists, and should be taught as such.
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bigurn3 months, 2 weeks ago
I think we are saying the same thing, but using different words.
Theories are accepted as true, but not proven as true.
Hypotheses are ideas, requiring examination and substantiation.
So, no argument.
My point was that science is strong enough to withstand this, and the value of that debate is to strengthen the creative thinking process for students. Creativity in critical examination of facts is important for success in science, so use this debate to help teach it. Cool?
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chuck-the-canuck3 months, 2 weeks ago
I'll agree that evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. Facts and theories are two different things. Facts are based on observation. Theories explain and interpret the facts. The facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories. Einstein's theory of gravity replaced Newton's, but gravity didn't take a vacation while waiting to hear which theory was going to prove the most popular. That man has evolved from the apes is a fact whether or not the theory that explains it is Darwin's or someone else's
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smithichie3 months, 2 weeks ago
What debate? The only debate Creationists seem to be interested in is which name to call themselves this week. If they wish to debate evolution they need to do so with facts and evidence, something they continue to fail to produce.
We thought we had gravity PROVEN TRUE, until Einstein came along and showed we didn't. But, Einstein presented evidence showing why we didn't know everything and he presented evidence supporting his theory, which we continue to test to this day. Creationists have yet to produce such evidence and without evidence Creationism doesn't belong in Biology anymore than Astrology belongs in an Astronomy course.
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Dicax_Maximus3 months, 2 weeks ago
bigurn - Unless you are someone who has never heard of the "influenza virus" or MRSA (which may or may not include some remote tribes in Papua New Guinea or the deep Amazon jungle), you may be interested to know that these are virus's that mutate (er, you might consider that word as evolves) into something new....
Or maybe God (which-ever one you happen to believe in), placed ALL viruses in "stasis" 6,000 years ago, and releases them when "He" has a hissy fit ???
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sailr3 months, 2 weeks ago
Evolution has been proved over and over again but you religious nuts can't let it go. Science has traced the DNA of species back millions of years. They can see where it started and what it has become. THAT is evolution. Creationism is the least proven precept ever. It is taken TOTALLY on faith based on some made-up story in a book that has been rewritten countless times over the centuries to reflect the current thinking of the Pope, etc. It is no longer God's word, but Man's word.
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AnteUp3 months, 2 weeks ago
bigurn ~
"cornerstone of American education is our ability to think
creatively"
Yeah well, scientific studies can be very creative.
Let them drag the Bible into the classroom - not to study
religion, which would be fine - but as a reference for a
science class? We'd be cutting our own throats!
Did you know Bill Gates and the head of Oracle appeared
before Congress asking them to DOUBLE the number of H1B
visas available? Why? Because they stated that America
wasn't producing enough skilled people to adequately fill
the positions of the 21st century. So, you just keep pushing
this religious agenda and you can kiss your children's
future careers goodbye. Get these political/religious issues
out of the classroom and start putting pressure on our
students and our schools to graduate some brains!
I would celebrate an explosion of homegrown eggheads!!
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smithichie3 months, 2 weeks ago
Ironic isn't it? That we could very well be on the edge of the next Dark Ages during the so called Information Age.
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Destry3 months, 2 weeks ago
I would suggest that Darwinism is on the same level as Creationism to some degree, perhaps neither should be taught in public schools since both are theories according to most of you.
I support Creationism over Darwin's theories. I don't try to force my beliefs through our educational facilities. I don't feel that children should have to be taught the phony theory of Darwin either.
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smithichie3 months, 2 weeks ago
Creationism is a commitment to religious faith.
Creationism is a personal set or institutionalized set of religious attitudes, BELIEFS and practices. Creationism has no supporting facts or evidence, only beliefs which are both personal and insitutionalized.
Creationism is most certainly a set of BELIEFS held with ardor and faith.
Creationism is religion.
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ML2007Comment removed: User banned.16 Replies
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sailr3 months, 2 weeks ago
Just one more reason to vote AGAINST McCain if he is even remotely consider Jindial. We don't need any more religious fanatics in the white house. Look what that has brought us the last 7 years. The most UNCHRISTIAN behavior of any President ever...and the so called Christian base has enabled it. They are not Christians. Christians don't act the way they do.
NO MORE RELIGION IN POLITICS. And NO, our country was NOT founded on Christianity. That is a total myth started and promoted by the fundamentalists. Read the history, don't buy the lies and hype of the Republicans.
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TheRealizer3 months, 2 weeks ago
Folks who support organized religion amuse me, they are willing to support a parasite class with the belief that they will get pie in the sky when they die in exchange for their tiths. Does your god actually require that his/her spokespeople live like the idle rich on money paid to pave your way to heaven??
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