sonofskeptish
It is what it is
As creationists in the USA join forces to make one last stand against science and rational thinking, and as creationist chatter increases on RF, this 2002 story from the UK is as relevant today as it was then.
In short, back in 2002, UK clerics and scientists joined forces to appeal to non-believers and believers alike to protect evolution from the faith-fueled attacks of desperate creationists trying to undermine evolution as a scientific fact, and trying to get creation onto school curricula. Here's a bit more on the story, including the UK clerics and scientists joint letter to then Prime Minister Tony Blair...
BBC - h2g2 - Creationism in the UK
I became aware of this incident when I recently read Richard Dawkins new book "The Greatest Show on Earth", which was originally to be titled "Only a Theory". He does a great job in the opening chapter of explaining how creationists manipulate the term "theory" to imply evolution is somehow less of a fact than any other in science.
He writes that polls show than 40 per cent of Americans deny that we evolved from other animals, and think that we were created by God within the last 10,000 years.
So here's my question... for those of us who do not deny history in this manner, how should we deal with creationists who are actually proud of their ignorance and who are actively spreading lies about evolution? Do we remain quiet and let them "spew", or do we actively speak out against them?
The alarming thing is that creationists seem to be "winning the battle" by more than one poll which suggesting that while creationist beliefs are declining elsewhere in the world, they are on the rise in the USA.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
In short, back in 2002, UK clerics and scientists joined forces to appeal to non-believers and believers alike to protect evolution from the faith-fueled attacks of desperate creationists trying to undermine evolution as a scientific fact, and trying to get creation onto school curricula. Here's a bit more on the story, including the UK clerics and scientists joint letter to then Prime Minister Tony Blair...
BBC - h2g2 - Creationism in the UK
I became aware of this incident when I recently read Richard Dawkins new book "The Greatest Show on Earth", which was originally to be titled "Only a Theory". He does a great job in the opening chapter of explaining how creationists manipulate the term "theory" to imply evolution is somehow less of a fact than any other in science.
He writes that polls show than 40 per cent of Americans deny that we evolved from other animals, and think that we were created by God within the last 10,000 years.
So here's my question... for those of us who do not deny history in this manner, how should we deal with creationists who are actually proud of their ignorance and who are actively spreading lies about evolution? Do we remain quiet and let them "spew", or do we actively speak out against them?
The alarming thing is that creationists seem to be "winning the battle" by more than one poll which suggesting that while creationist beliefs are declining elsewhere in the world, they are on the rise in the USA.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
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