Freethought & Rationalism Archive

theyeti · 10-10-2002, 05:32 PM

I'm copying this from a list I'm on:

Quote:

October 10, 2002
Press Conference Statement of
Professor Joseph F Koonce
Chair, Dept of Biology
Case Western Reserve University
jfk7@po.cwru.edu
216-368-3561

Many claims have been made in recent months as to what Ohio scientists think about intelligent design "theory." However, until now, no data existed on this issue. My colleagues and I set about to collect the data so that the public may gain an accurate impression of what Ohio's scientists think. The results are gratifying and unequivocal.

Nine out of ten Ohio scientists from Ohio public, private (including both secular and religious) universities say that intelligent design is primarily a religious view and is simply not part of science.

We designed and conducted this survey with the Internet Public Opinion Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati. We sent out email messages around the state to faculty in departments of astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physics and other natural sciences, inviting them to answer a set of questions and to give their thoughts about the evolution-intelligent design debate. The survey ran between September 26 and October 9.

Prior to polling the scientists, the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati included questions on the September Ohio Poll (conducted September 4 through 15, 2002) asking the general public to respond to two questions about intelligent design. Like the scientists, a clear majority of Ohio residents found intelligent design to be religious, and not a scientific view.

Next Monday and Tuesday the Ohio Board of Education will vote on whether to include intelligent design or other forms of anti-evolutionism in the new K-12 science standards. Intelligent design advocates claim life is too complex to have developed without the intervention of a supernatural being or force, and they claim their view is scientific. Clearly Ohio's citizens are not convinced that this argument should be taught as science.

I want to make clear that I am a religious person myself. As a Roman Catholic, I do believe in God and in concurrence with teachings of the Catholic Church, I have never found these beliefs in conflict with Evolutionary Theory. Science addresses the nature of the physical universe, not the supernatural or the eternal. Like me, 84% of my colleagues also report that they find evolutionary theory compatible with belief in God.

I wish this would lay to rest the destructive notion that science and religion are at war in America. There is no such inherent conflict. Science and religion can promote and enhance each other without having to pretend we know less than we actually do about how the world is constructed and how it functions.

Most all of Ohio's science professors (92%) thought "Ohio high school students should be tested on their understanding of the basic principles of the theory of evolution in order to graduate." When asked if such students should also be tested on their knowledge of the concept of "Intelligent Design" in order to graduate, 90% said "no." Only 2% said that intelligent design was strongly supported by scientific evidence.

The survey also explored scientists' views on antievolutionism beyond the intelligent design movement. Some critics of evolution claim evidence against the theory of evolution has caused it to fall out of favor among scientists. This is clearly not the case in Ohio where the vast majority (93%) of science professors said they were not aware of "any scientifically valid evidence or an alternate scientific theory that challenges the fundamental principles of the theory of evolution."

We are extremely pleased with the response. Nearly 500 scientists responded, a rate of 31%. The survey had an error of plus or minus 4.5 percent. Equally pleasing was the outpouring of gratitude for providing the opportunity to express their concern with the erosion of scientific literacy in the developing K-12 standards for Ohio.

Cool.

theyeti

10-11-2002, 03:00 PM

Quote:

I want to make clear that I am a religious person myself. As a Roman Catholic, I do believe in God and in concurrence with teachings of the Catholic Church, I have never found these beliefs in conflict with Evolutionary Theory. Science addresses the nature of the physical universe, not the supernatural or the eternal. Like me, 84% of my colleagues also report that they find evolutionary theory compatible with belief in God.

theyeti · 10-11-2002, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atheist_in_foxhole:
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Whether or not you care for religious people in general, liberal Christians are our allies in maintaining the intergrity of our educational system, just as they're our allies in protecting church/state separation. We should be thankful they're out there, and also thankful that they deflate the "all evolutionists are atheists" rhetoric from the dishonest creos.

theyeti

10-11-2002, 03:43 PM

I know, but it just annoys me to always hear scientists talk about their "belief in God" when they defend evolution.

Liquidrage · 10-11-2002, 03:45 PM

This is my favorite

Intelligent design advocates claim life is too complex to have developed without the intervention of a supernatural being or force

And yet these same people believe that the supernatural being or force needs no such development.

Albion · 10-11-2002, 04:17 PM

Quote:

I know, but it just annoys me to always hear scientists talk about their "belief in God" when they defend evolution.

Why? Evolution doesn't have anything to do with religious belief.

butswana · 10-12-2002, 08:06 AM

evolution makes christianity meaninless.
If evolution is true:
no Adam
no Fall
no need for Redemption
no Jesus
NO SHIT!
That is why they fight it.

Albion · 10-12-2002, 09:29 AM

If evolution is true, none of the rest of that list follows. It's just those bloody fundies who are trying to knock science out of its place as a major explanatory tool and replace it with Bible study.

theyeti · 10-12-2002, 02:58 PM

Here is the press release:

Quote:

CWRU FACULTY REPORT FINDINGS ON EVOLUTION, INTELLIGENT DESIGN POLL OF OHIO'S SCIENTISTS

CLEVELAND--Nine out 10 Ohio scientists from secular and religious colleges and universities responding to a survey say that intelligent design is primarily a religious view and not part of science. �Case Western Reserve University faculty reported on the findings of the Internet poll during a news conference Thursday, October 10. "This is the first time we have hard data on what Ohio's scientists think about the issue of intelligent design versus evolution," says Joseph Koonce, CWRU chair and professor of biology.

Koonce designed the Internet survey with the Internet Public Opinion Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati. �He sent out e-mail messages around the state to faculty in departments of astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physics and other natural sciences, urging them to answer a set of questions and to give their thoughts about the evolution-intelligent design debate. �The survey was conducted between September 26 and October 9.

�Prior to polling the scientists, the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati included questions on the September Ohio Poll (conducted September 4-15) about intelligent design, asking the general public to respond to a similar Internet poll on their views of intelligent design and evolution. �Like the scientists, a clear majority of Ohio residents found intelligent design to be religious, and not a scientific view.

Findings from the polls, come days before the State Board of Education faces the issue at its meeting on next Monday on whether to include intelligent design or other forms of anti-evolutionism in the new K-12 science standards. Intelligent design advocates claim life is too complex to have developed without the intervention of a supernatural being or force, and they claim their view is scientific.

Most all of Ohio's science professors (92%) thought "Ohio high school students should be tested on their understanding of the basic principles of the theory of evolution in order to graduate." �Scientist responded negatively (90%) to the testing about the knowledge of "intelligent design" as a requirement to graduate.

The survey also explored scientists' views on antievolutionism beyond the intelligent design movement. �Some critics of evolution claim evidence against the theory of evolution has caused it to fall out of favor among scientists. This is clearly not the case in Ohio where the vast majority (93%) of science professors said they were not award of "any scientifically valid evidence or an alternative scientific theory that challenges the fundamental principles of the theory of evolution."

Finally, the survey investigated the popular theme of a war between science and religion in America and found no such conflict. �The great majority of Ohio science professors (84%) thought that accepting the theory of evolution was "consistent with believing in God." �Only nine percent thought it was not; and the rest (7%) �were not sure. �Most critics of teaching evolution in Ohio's schools commonly assume it is inconsistent with believing in God. �Evidently, most of Ohio's science professors-those who understand the theory of evolution best-do not share that view.

Among the survey's findings were:

- Nine out of 10 scientists (91%) felt the concept of intelligent design was unscientific and the same number responded that it was a religious view

- A vast majority (93%) of the scientists were not aware of "any scientifically valid evidence or an alternate scientific theory that challenges the fundamental principles of the theory of evolution"

-Almost all scientists (97%) said they did not use the intelligent design concept in their research

- Ninety percent of the responding scientists stated that they felt no scientific evidence supports intelligent design, while 2% were unsure

- Approximately 7% felt that intelligent design had some support from scientific evidence

-Some 84% felt acceptance of the evolution theory was "consistent with believing in God"

A total of 460 professors responded or a rate of 31%. �The survey had an error of plus or minus 4.5%. �"We are extremely pleased with the response," says Koonce

And here is the poll data itself:

Quote:

Internet Public Opinion Laboratory (IPOL): Methodology

An e-mail invitation to participate in this web-based survey was sent to all professors (approximately 1500) currently on the faculty in four-year, public and private colleges and universities in Ohio for the following fields: Astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and other natural sciences. Their e-mail addresses were identified through a combination of listings on the various college and departmental websites, supplemented by further examination of other university information sources. Four hundred and sixty (460) professors responded to the e-mail invitation, a response rate of 31%. The sampling error for a sample size of 460 cases is approximately plus or minus 4.5%. As in any other survey, in addition to sampling error, other sources of error such as non-response and the wording and context of the questions asked can affect the results and conclusions of the study. The results reported here for the Internet survey of Ohio science professors were based on the following questions (Note: Percentages Rounded)

1. Are you aware of any scientifically valid evidence or an alternate scientific theory that challenges the fundamental principles of the theory of evolution?

a. � � �Yes � � � � � � �4%
b. � � �No � � � � � � �93
c. � � �Not Sure � � � � 2

2. The concept of "Intelligent Design" is that life and the universe are too complex to have developed without the intervention of a purposeful being or force to guide the development of life. Which of the following do you think best describes "Intelligent Design"?

a. � � �It is strongly supported by scientific evidence �2%
b. � � �It is partly supported by scientific evidence � �5
c. � � �It is not supported at all by scientific evidence � � 90
d. � � �Not Sure � 3

3. Do you think the concept of "Intelligent Design" is primarily a religious view?"

a. � � �Yes � � � � � � 91%
b. � � �No � � � � � � � 5
c. � � �Not Sure � � 4

4. �Do you think Ohio high school students should be tested on their understanding of the basic principles of the theory of evolution in order to
graduate?

a. � � �Yes � � � � � � 92%
b. � � �No � � � � � � � �4
c. � � �Not Sure � � �3

5. Do you think Ohio high school students should be tested on their knowledge of the concept of "Intelligent Design" in order to graduate?

a. � � �Yes � � � � � � � 6%
b. � � �No � � � � � � � 90
c. � � �Not Sure � � � �4

6. Do you use the concept of Intelligent Design in your research?

a. � � �Yes � � � � � � � 2%
b. � � �No � � � � � � � 97
c. � � �Not Sure � � � �1

7. Do you think accepting the theory of evolution is consistent with believing
in God?

a. � � �Yes � � � � � � 84%
b. � � �No � � � � � � � �9
c. � � �Not Sure � � � 7

Some more info, including a few other press releases, can be found <a href="http://www.antievolution.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=3da8990c306effff;act=ST;f=1;t=6" target="_blank">here</a>

theyeti

[ October 12, 2002: Message edited by: theyeti ]</p>

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10-11-2002, 03:43 PM	#4
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	I know, but it just annoys me to always hear scientists talk about their "belief in God" when they defend evolution.

10-11-2002, 03:45 PM	#5
Liquidrage Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,301	This is my favorite Intelligent design advocates claim life is too complex to have developed without the intervention of a supernatural being or force And yet these same people believe that the supernatural being or force needs no such development.

10-12-2002, 08:06 AM	#7
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	evolution makes christianity meaninless. If evolution is true: no Adam no Fall no need for Redemption no Jesus NO SHIT! That is why they fight it.

10-12-2002, 09:29 AM	#8
Albion Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: US east coast. And www.theroyalforums.com Posts: 2,829	If evolution is true, none of the rest of that list follows. It's just those bloody fundies who are trying to knock science out of its place as a major explanatory tool and replace it with Bible study.

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