Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Wounded King · 04-12-2003, 10:18 AM

There is an interesting Science article here about whether Evolution acts as a secular religion.

Zadok001 · 04-12-2003, 11:02 AM

Well, I can't access the article (name/pw lacking), but I'm hoping it's not arguing the pro side...

Toto · 04-12-2003, 12:13 PM

I can access it, and I don't have a paid subscription. The article tells the story of how the theory of evolution went from being a quasi-religion meant to promote progress to a real empirical science.

Here's the summary:

Quote:

First, if the claim is that all contemporary evolutionism is merely an excuse to promote moral and societal norms, this is simply false. Today's professional evolutionism is no more a secular religion than is industrial chemistry. Second, there is indeed a thriving area of more popular evolutionism, where evolution is used to underpin claims about the nature of the universe, the meaning of it all for us humans, and the way we should behave. I am not saying that this area is all bad or that it should be stamped out. I am all in favor of saving the rainforests. I am saying that this popular evolutionism--often an alternative to religion--exists. Third, we who cherish science should be careful to distinguish when we are doing science and when we are extrapolating from it, particularly when we are teaching our students. If it is science that is to be taught, then teach science and nothing more. Leave the other discussions for a more appropriate time.

Wounded King · 04-12-2003, 02:30 PM

Sorry about that Zadok, I didn't realise it was one of the areas you needed a subscription for.

Albion · 04-12-2003, 07:59 PM

It's also in the Essays on Science and Society archive at Science, which I think isn't part of the subscription-only area:

http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/data/150essay.shl

Of course it's going to be a prime source for out-of-context creationist quote mining.

04-12-2003, 10:18 AM	#1
Wounded King Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,211	Evolution as a secular religion There is an interesting Science article here about whether Evolution acts as a secular religion.

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04-12-2003, 11:02 AM	#2
Zadok001 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Two Steps Ahead Posts: 1,124	Well, I can't access the article (name/pw lacking), but I'm hoping it's not arguing the pro side...

04-12-2003, 02:30 PM	#4
Wounded King Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,211	Sorry about that Zadok, I didn't realise it was one of the areas you needed a subscription for.

04-12-2003, 07:59 PM	#5
Albion Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US east coast. And www.theroyalforums.com Posts: 2,829	It's also in the Essays on Science and Society archive at Science, which I think isn't part of the subscription-only area: http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/data/150essay.shl Of course it's going to be a prime source for out-of-context creationist quote mining.

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