It is absolutely shameful, and an embarassment beyond words, that Americans are even have to defend evolution, but that is what is having to be done. Even I have found myself defending evolution against the Christians in my family. It seems to me that all the Christians that don't believe in evolution unintentionally prove it by showing the rest of us how far we have evolved beyond them.
Well, Scientific American has put together a list to help all of us explain that evolution is indisputable.
Here is the preface to the list:
" When Charles Darwin introduced the theory of evolution through natural selection 143 years ago, the scientists of the day argued over it fiercely, but the massing evidence from paleontology, genetics, zoology, molecular biology and other fields gradually established evolution's truth beyond reasonable doubt. Today that battle has been won everywhere--except in the public imagination."Embarrassingly, in the 21st century, in the most scientifically advanced nation the world has ever known, creationists can still persuade politicians, judges and ordinary citizens that evolution is a flawed, poorly supported fantasy. They lobby for creationist ideas such as "intelligent design" to be taught as alternatives to evolution in science classrooms. As this article goes to press, the Ohio Board of Education is debating whether to mandate such a change. Some antievolutionists, such as Philip E. Johnson, a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley and author of Darwin on Trial, admit that they intend for intelligent-design theory to serve as a "wedge" for reopening science classrooms to discussions of God.
"Besieged teachers and others may increasingly find themselves on the spot to defend evolution and refute creationism. The arguments that creationists use are typically specious and based on misunderstandings of (or outright lies about) evolution, but the number and diversity of the objections can put even well-informed people at a disadvantage."
I was shocked, but sadly not surprised that the Ohio Board of Education was considering teaching an alternative to evolution. This is particularly sad for me because my kids will soon be of school age and living in Ohio suddenly puts us in a rough spot. Where will we move?
Anyway, if you want to read the list Scientific American has compiled, check it out here.
Posted by Paul Hina at May 27, 2005 07:56 PM