Well Guy, see that's the problem. (If you are somewhat sensitive about religion, skip to the 4th paragraph) From my own personal observations and experiences during my mere 40 years of life thus far, most religions don't want kids exposed to both sides and then stand back and see what evolves, because there is a chance they (the religion) might lose out. They want the kids to be blind sheep and just accept what the religion says without question, they really don't want people thinking for themselves. Some religions superficially say that they do want people to look at everything objectively and then decide for themselves, but everything else the religions say and do contradicts that. I do know a very few people who have actually really stepped back and took a serious look at what the religion they were brought up in teaches, compared it to other religions, pure science and then decided that they still believe in their chosen religion, and you know, I really respect that. But the majority of people I know in various religions are just blind sheep who never question what they've been taught from birth and think that it is bad to ever question. I know that is not how many religions actually started out but it seems that is what they have evolved into. The jury is still out for me as to whether there may be some type of Supreme Being(s) or not, but as for organized religion, Michael is right IMHO. Organized religion is more about gaining control and authority over people and their money than it is anything else. They are all corrupt in one way or another. IMHO, organized religion exists to capitalize on most people's social and psychological needs. If there is some kind of ID behind life, I don't see how it would preclude or negate Evolution at all or how Evolution necessarily negates some type of ID. Like Michael says, the theory of Evolution is pretty solid for people who really know the science. A lot of people misunderstand and misuse the word "theory" however. In scientific terms, theory means "A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena. A systematically organized body of knowledge applicable in a relatively wide variety of circumstances, especially a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure devised to analyze, predict, or otherwise explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena." But for most lay people the word theory means "An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture." I think the problem a lot of the scientific community has with these religious opponents of Evolution is that these religious opponents purposely misconstrue the meaning of the word theory as it is used in the phrase "Theory of Evolution" and they try to put their ID "guess" on the same level as the scientific theory of Evolution. From everything I've been reading over the years, this is one of the basic problems. There might be some type of ID, but right now the evidence is not there to elevate it to a level of the scientific defintion of theory. diveboss@xmission.com wrote: How does one generate and promote thought in todays kids, if they are not presented both sides. Subject the kids to both views, and then stand back and see what evolves... Quoting Jon Christensen :
Faith can not be proven, and schools are not the place to use as a battleground for idealistic crusades.
~Jon
From: Patrick Wiggins
Reply-To: Utah Astronomy To: utah astronomy listserve Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Scientists Boycott Evolution Hearings Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 22:56:13 -0600
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/ap_050509_scientists_boycot.html
Patrick
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com --------------------------------- Yahoo! Mail Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone.