Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Blinn · 04-10-2003, 07:51 PM

Here's an article for everyone's perusal on the anti-science conservatism present in American politics.

Godot · 04-11-2003, 07:48 AM

I found the writing style of the article to be a bit constipated. Nevertheless, it's sad to see that opponents of evolution find themselves forced to politicise their contentions through action in the judicial system rather than allow them to die a quick death in scientific circles.

RBH · 04-11-2003, 09:57 AM

What I find unfortunate about the article is that it perpetuates a neocreo myth:

Quote:

Critics called this "stealth creationism" - religious dogma masquerading as science - but the ID proponents got their way, thanks partly to wording in President Bush's new education bill. Schools in Atlanta are now theoretically entitled to "teach the controversy" (though officials have urged teachers to stick to evolution for now, sparking a lawsuit) - and textbooks presenting Darwinism as fact have stickers inside, pointing out that it might not be. (Emphasis added)

That's a reference to the so-called Santorum Amendment, which was removed from the bill in Conference Committee and is not part of the law as finally passed and signed by Bush. It gets a couple of sentences worth of mention in the Conference Committee report, which has no legal standing except as it may inform a court's interpretation of the legislative intent of provisions of the law. However, since there is no provision in the law to which those Conference Committee sentences are pertinent, it can help interpret nothing and therefore is legally impotent.

RBH

gcameron · 04-11-2003, 03:21 PM

Quote:

rather than allow them to die a quick death in scientific circles.

But as you know, scientific circles are stacked with "naturalistic-bias" types who won't give them a fair shake. :boohoo:

04-10-2003, 07:51 PM	#1
Blinn Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 1,162	The battle for American science Here's an article for everyone's perusal on the anti-science conservatism present in American politics.

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04-11-2003, 07:48 AM	#2
Godot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,335	I found the writing style of the article to be a bit constipated. Nevertheless, it's sad to see that opponents of evolution find themselves forced to politicise their contentions through action in the judicial system rather than allow them to die a quick death in scientific circles.

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