Freethought & Rationalism Archive

zwi · 11-17-2002, 04:52 PM

Quote:

If superintelligent aliens appeared and claimed credit for creating life on earth (or even particular species), the purely evolutionary explanation would be cast in doubt. But no one has yet produced such evidence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Galt, Jr.

And where did the superintelligent aliens come from?

The back files of Scientific American?

Zwi

The Lone Ranger · 11-17-2002, 05:32 PM

For what it's worth, I agree that Creationism doesn't belong in a science class. The only reason I gave the students this exercise was to make it clear to them why.

Since several students had claimed that "Creation Science" was just as well-supported as "Evolution Science," and that I was ignoring the evidence in favor of Creationism, I thought of this as an excellent way to show them why Creationism fails as science. After all, if there was "plenty of evidence" as they were claiming -- one of them quite aggressively -- they shouldn't have too much trouble finding it.

I had already spent a considerable amount of time talking about scientific methodology in the class, and so they had a pretty-good idea of how to present their case. I do feel somewhat sorry for those students who were given the thankless task of actually trying to find evidence for "Creation Science," but I carefully included all of those who had been agitating for "equal time" in the group that was assigned to provide evidence for Creation. After all, I figured, they'd be highly-motivated to look for such evidence.

Normally, I don't waste time in classes discussing Creationism, but it happened to be the case this semester that I had several outspoken and persistent Creationists in the class. I could have simply devoted a lecture to exactly why Creationism fails as science, and in fact, had done so in response to criticisms that I wasn't giving "equal time." This failed to silence the more hardcore Creationists, however, who claimed that I was ignoring the evidence in favor of Creation. So, I decided to make them show me why "Creation Science" was an oxymoron.

I must say, in all honesty, that the project seemed to work very well. The unanimous opinion of the "pro-Creation" group, after they'd completed their research, was that Creationism failed utterly to qualify as science -- and that they were personally disgusted with the duplicity that characterized the Creationist's writings.

Cheers,

Michael

Doubting Didymus · 11-17-2002, 08:19 PM

Practically everyone else has already complimented you on this, kemosabe, but bloody bloody good bloody work.

Camaban · 11-18-2002, 01:59 AM

*applause*

This is what happens when independant thought is mixed with religion....

Religion loses

meaganbrittney · 11-19-2002, 02:44 PM

Hey everyone... thanks for the great ideas. Sorry I did not get a chance to reply sooner, as luck would have it my home computer crashed and was in the shop for a while.

I agree, it seems as though we are having to lie and make up a lot of stuff for our debate. We talked to the teacher, she claims there are TONS of proofs and even PICTURES that support creationism... sure. My group ended up getting together with the group defending evolution, and we basically wrote out how we are going to do it, so it isn't like a real debate but oh well. I don't think any of the topics she handed out have any right being in an anthropology class anyway.

Doubting Didymus · 11-19-2002, 02:49 PM

Warning sirens! Your teacher is a creationist!

Janaya · 11-19-2002, 03:22 PM

My dog used to mow the lawn for me all the time. I can prove it too. I have pictures!

RufusAtticus · 11-19-2002, 03:22 PM

Meagan,

What college are you going to?

RufusAtticus · 11-19-2002, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by meaganbrittney:
<strong>she claims there are TONS of proofs and even PICTURES that support creationism... sure.</strong>

So on what day did God create photography?

Camaban · 11-19-2002, 10:27 PM

thoguht about asking the teacher to give a few examples?

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11-17-2002, 05:32 PM	#52
The Lone Ranger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Eastern U.S. Posts: 1,230	For what it's worth, I agree that Creationism doesn't belong in a science class. The only reason I gave the students this exercise was to make it clear to them why. Since several students had claimed that "Creation Science" was just as well-supported as "Evolution Science," and that I was ignoring the evidence in favor of Creationism, I thought of this as an excellent way to show them why Creationism fails as science. After all, if there was "plenty of evidence" as they were claiming -- one of them quite aggressively -- they shouldn't have too much trouble finding it. I had already spent a considerable amount of time talking about scientific methodology in the class, and so they had a pretty-good idea of how to present their case. I do feel somewhat sorry for those students who were given the thankless task of actually trying to find evidence for "Creation Science," but I carefully included all of those who had been agitating for "equal time" in the group that was assigned to provide evidence for Creation. After all, I figured, they'd be highly-motivated to look for such evidence. Normally, I don't waste time in classes discussing Creationism, but it happened to be the case this semester that I had several outspoken and persistent Creationists in the class. I could have simply devoted a lecture to exactly why Creationism fails as science, and in fact, had done so in response to criticisms that I wasn't giving "equal time." This failed to silence the more hardcore Creationists, however, who claimed that I was ignoring the evidence in favor of Creation. So, I decided to make them show me why "Creation Science" was an oxymoron. I must say, in all honesty, that the project seemed to work very well. The unanimous opinion of the "pro-Creation" group, after they'd completed their research, was that Creationism failed utterly to qualify as science -- and that they were personally disgusted with the duplicity that characterized the Creationist's writings. Cheers, Michael

11-17-2002, 08:19 PM	#53
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	Practically everyone else has already complimented you on this, kemosabe, but bloody bloody good bloody work.

11-18-2002, 01:59 AM	#54
Camaban Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 473	applause This is what happens when independant thought is mixed with religion.... Religion loses

11-19-2002, 02:44 PM	#55
meaganbrittney New Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USA Posts: 2	Hey everyone... thanks for the great ideas. Sorry I did not get a chance to reply sooner, as luck would have it my home computer crashed and was in the shop for a while. I agree, it seems as though we are having to lie and make up a lot of stuff for our debate. We talked to the teacher, she claims there are TONS of proofs and even PICTURES that support creationism... sure. My group ended up getting together with the group defending evolution, and we basically wrote out how we are going to do it, so it isn't like a real debate but oh well. I don't think any of the topics she handed out have any right being in an anthropology class anyway.

11-19-2002, 02:49 PM	#56
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	Warning sirens! Your teacher is a creationist!

11-19-2002, 03:22 PM	#57
Janaya Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 226	My dog used to mow the lawn for me all the time. I can prove it too. I have pictures!

11-19-2002, 03:22 PM	#58
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	Meagan, What college are you going to?

11-19-2002, 10:27 PM	#60
Camaban Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 473	thoguht about asking the teacher to give a few examples?

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