lisarea

It appears that they're using the scientific meaning of 'theory' when they're talking about evolution, and the colloquial meaning when they're talking about creationism.

This is a disturbingly common problem with creationists, in my experience. They have zero familiarity with scientific method at all, so they actually perceive the term 'theory of evolution' to mean that it's just something someone pulled directly out of their ass. It seems as though these people spend more time and resisting knowledge than it would take for them to actually learn something.

Two questions:

1. How do they justify that the members of the Board of Education don't understand a third-grade concept such as scientific method?

2. What's with the guy named "Booty"?

KC

Considering how well they can organize political support for their views, I'd say 'cunning' is a better term.

KC

Abacus

Of course, the general ignorance of the public concerning science in general and evolution in particular makes this task much easier for them.

King Rat

Agreed,

dumb like a fox maybe...

Doubting Didymus

Only when it is put as a formal and falsifiable proposition.

As for biology textbooks that do not address creationism, they should get with the times! A few of MY biology textbooks mention it in all the depth that a scientific text should...

Jobar

Many years ago- from 1978 through 1980- I lived in Blount county. In a nice little town named Maryville.

A lot of the county was rural then, with small bedroom communities for Knoxville (where the U. of Tenn. is located.) I met some very intelligent people there, but it was also a stronghold of Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God. I still have friends there with whom I stay in touch; I may try to find out what local opinion is about this.

beausoleil

I lived in Knox county for a while - isn't Blount where the airport is for Knoxville? The only other time I noticed it was as a source for excellent fresh produce, so I suspect it may still be pretty rural.

It's not just UTK. When you consider it's not that far from Oak Ridge, you realise the USA really is a land of contrasts.

doghouse

I live in Knoxville now. The Maryville schools are far better than the average in this state, primarily because many of the parents are college professors.

Like in the rest of the bible belt, the people that support creationism in schools around here are mostly two types. First are those that really are pretty ignorant about evolution, and for that matter science in general. The second type can be quite well educated, including science. They simply refuse to accept evolution because it is at odds with their religious beliefs (mostly southern Baptists here). Off the top of my head I can think of several friends in this category– an engineer with an MBA, a medical researcher (MD, PhD), and a veterinarian/researcher (DVM, MS). Very intelligent people who are quite objective in their particular field. I just don’t bring up the E word with them.