OOC: Edited slightly to reflect a comment below.
Pharyngula::Bush endorses Intelligent Design creationism
Via many places, including the link above to Pharyngula (which I have linked to before, good science stuff).
Cronyism, incompetence, possibly treasonous behavior on the part of his administration are bad enough. Stepping into the muck of Intelligent Design is even worse.
In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with a small group of reporters, Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's schools.
Once again, to quote Carl Sagan: Evolution is a FACT, not a theory. The Theory is Evolution by Natural Selection. Evolution is an observed process, no matter how many times Creationists bleat about gaps in the fossil record.
It's a robust theory. Is it being improved all the time. (c.f. Punctuated Equilbrium). It is not in crisis, and teaching Intelligent Design provides zero educational value to students.
ZERO.
Young Earth, Literal Bible Creationism is a lie. The only way that sort of Creationism is true is that the entire material world we see around is a complete and fictitious fraud. And once you go down that road, you wind up with the brain in a bottle problem.
It's bad enough education is getting shafted with underfunded programs and over-testing. Throwing Judeo-Christian Creationism into a Science classroom is too much.
Mr. Bush, SHUT UP.
"Creationism is a lie. The only way that Creationism is true is that the entire material world we see around is a complete and fictitious fraud."
Hmmm. I think I see the point you're making (and I agree with the point), but "Creationism is a lie" is a pretty blanket statement. There are lots of us out here who believe in God, believe God created the universe, and yet aren't completely nimwits who discount actual, honest science. Some of us believe that God created the universe within the bounds of science, and if there is scientific data that proves the evolution process, then God must have used evolution to create modern man. Christians aren't all nutjobs like our President.
As an aside, keep the book reviews coming. I just finished reading "Warchild" based on the recommendation here at your blog. I enjoyed it, and am now debating whether to start in on "Burndive" or try out something else.
Posted by: Jeff at August 3, 2005 2:05 PMThe quote isn't "Creationism is a lie." The full quote is "Young Earth, Literal Bible Creationism is a lie."
Actually the bible (KJV) doesn't specifically say how old the Earth is. Only a narrow minded group of people interpret it that way. Nothing in the bible specifically preculded Noah's Ark from being a parable or at best a localized event, either.
And when hard core Fundies start useing pseudo-science to back that claim, that is when problems arise.
Posted by: Greg'Sneakel"Weimer at August 4, 2005 6:35 AMGreg - the original statement (pre-edit) was "Creationism is a lie." It was edited after I made my comment. I completely agree with your comment in full.
Posted by: Jeff at August 4, 2005 9:48 AM