Freethought & Rationalism Archive

12-23-2002, 09:49 AM

Quote:

If you can't imagine how an ultra-conservative California savings and loan heir could be linked to the shaping of Ohio's new science standards, you probably have never heard of Howard Fieldstead Ahmanson.

For years, the reclusive philanthropist and evangelical Christian has channeled millions from his family's fortune to a variety of causes designed to discredit and defeat Darwin's evolution theory that living things share common ancestors but have changed over time.

<a href="http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1040639430179810.xml" target="_blank">Article</a>

KC · 12-23-2002, 09:56 AM

Ahmanson also, for a time, was behind the Christian Reconstruction movement, which is interested in replacing the government of the United States with a theocracy. And Philip Johnson dedicated his book The Wedge of Truth to Ahmanson and his wife, for knowing what 'The Wedge' actually meant. Whatever THAT means

KC

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: KC ]

bluefugue · 12-23-2002, 09:56 AM

Quote:

He also said evolutionists have put Discovery in a classic catch-22: The institute is frozen out from publicly funded research grants and excluded from science publications, and then criticized for its lack of "serious" research in peer-reviewed journals.

So Discovery fellows have followed the lead of an unlikely role model who also drew heat for publishing his findings in a book rather than scientific journals.

"They criticized Charles Darwin for the same thing," Chapman said.

This is the standard rejoinder to the "no peer-reviewed literature" claim. It has a certain intuitive appeal. We'll be hearing that cry a lot in the future. What will be interesting, of course, is to see what actual research the DI publishes on its own, and how that will stack up. If they don't like being frozen out, they should start their own journal and dazzle us all with their amazing discoveries.

As for the Darwin quip, that seems inaccurate to me. Did he not present his theory (along with Wallace's) in a joint paper before the Royal Society before publishing "Origin of Species"?

Shadownought · 12-23-2002, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Some believe Discovery scored its biggest victory earlier this month when Ohio adopted science standards that require students to examine criticisms of biological evolution.

And what, pray tell, might those be? "Half an eye is useless?"

Don't you like how this person is donating his fortune to creation "science," instead of libraries and cancer research?

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Shadownought ]

RufusAtticus · 12-23-2002, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Some believe Discovery scored its biggest victory earlier this month when Ohio adopted science standards that require students to examine criticisms of biological evolution. The Ohio Board of Education explicitly stated it wasn't pushing intelligent design, but Discovery fellows hailed the new standards as a historic victory, a triumph of democracy and academic freedom over the rigid edicts of the science establishment.

So the idea to examine the validity of science trumps the rigid edics of science. Right.... Someone needs to have paid attention in high school.

Note: the new standards do not require critisms to be taught, but rather that students learn how scientists test scientific theories.

Toto · 12-23-2002, 11:04 AM

"Often derided as stealth creationism" ?

It's still being derided as stealth creationism, because it is stealth creationism.

Ahmanson is a billionaire. $2.5 million for the Discovery Institute will not drain his fortune, unfortunately.

The right wing is doing well these days because liberal or left-leaning foundations have been spending their money on things like poverty and medical research. The right wing foundations have been spending their money on building up a cadre of ideologues, providing cushy jobs for people like Ann Coulter so they can influence the public discourse with right wing spin.

Butters · 12-23-2002, 11:14 AM

Does anyone have any info on the debates that were mentioned in the article?

bluefugue · 12-23-2002, 12:48 PM

Quote:

The right wing is doing well these days because liberal or left-leaning foundations have been spending their money on things like poverty and medical research.

Didn't Paul Allen finance the PBS "Evolution" miniseries?

Maybe someone should hit up Bill Gates to devote some of his copious dough (and his generous philanthropy) toward the cause...

Xeluan · 12-23-2002, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shadownought:
[qb]
Don't you like how this person is donating his fortune to creation "science," instead of libraries and cancer research?

Well it is well known that libraries contains books other than the Bible which have ideas which may lead to the horrors of independant and critical thinking.

Also, as evolution causes cancer getting rid of evoltution will make the world a better place and solve that problem.

Simple.

Xeluan

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Xeluan ]

Grumpy · 12-23-2002, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Discovery fellows have followed the lead of an unlikely role model who also drew heat for publishing his findings in a book rather than scientific journals.

"They criticized Charles Darwin for the same thing," Chapman said.

Did Darwin also trick legislators into getting his theory taught in public schools (such as they were) instead of conducting an actual research program?

12-23-2002, 09:56 AM	#2
KC Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Narcisco, RRR Posts: 527	Ahmanson also, for a time, was behind the Christian Reconstruction movement, which is interested in replacing the government of the United States with a theocracy. And Philip Johnson dedicated his book The Wedge of Truth to Ahmanson and his wife, for knowing what 'The Wedge' actually meant. Whatever THAT means KC [ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: KC ]</p>

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12-23-2002, 11:04 AM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	"Often derided as stealth creationism" ? It's still being derided as stealth creationism, because it is stealth creationism. Ahmanson is a billionaire. $2.5 million for the Discovery Institute will not drain his fortune, unfortunately. The right wing is doing well these days because liberal or left-leaning foundations have been spending their money on things like poverty and medical research. The right wing foundations have been spending their money on building up a cadre of ideologues, providing cushy jobs for people like Ann Coulter so they can influence the public discourse with right wing spin.

12-23-2002, 11:14 AM	#7
Butters Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 444	Does anyone have any info on the debates that were mentioned in the article?

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