Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS][RELIGION] Few Biologists but Many Evangelicals Sign Anti-Evolution Petition

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006, Rick Buford wrote:

> Sorry, I hit send too soon...
>
> "Another signer is Dr. Gregory J. Brewer, a professor of cell biology at 
> the Southern Illinois University medical school. Like other skeptics, he 
> readily accepts what he calls "microevolution," the ability of species 
> to adapt to changing conditions in their environment. But he holds to 
> the opinion that science has not convincingly shown that one species can 
> evolve into another."
>
> If they agree that micro-evolution occurs, then how can big-E evolution 
> even be in doubt? i.e., if m-e (micro-evolution) occurs, and takes 
> hundreds of generations to do so, then doesn't that obliterate the 
> "world is 6000 years old" theory?

People can always believe whatever they want despite all data.  For 
example, we could start a new religion and say that there are no such 
things as atoms.  Atoms?  Ridiculous!  Prove it!  Then we could just 
chuckle at every scientist who tried to show us why we were wrong.  After 
he left the room we'd look at each other and smile and say "he just 
doesn't get it."  Secure in our self-congratulation and self-righteous 
certainty we would live out the rest of our lives believing that the 
atomic theory of matter was a hoax and that the scientists were all wrong.


> "Dr. Salthe, who describes himself as an atheist, said that when he 
> signed the petition he had no idea what the Discovery Institute was. 
> Rather, he said, "I signed it in irritation."
>
> He said evolutionary biologists were unfairly suppressing any competing 
> ideas. "They deserve to be prodded, as it were," Dr. Salthe said. "It 
> was my way of thumbing my nose at them."

Umm, who is suppressing what competing idea?  I'm not impressed with this 
guy because I don't think it's true that there is any suppression going 
on.

Mike

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