Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!mcvax!ukc!cs.tcd.ie!tcdmath!mlloyd
From: mlloyd@maths.tcd.ie (Michael Lloyd)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Creationism in our schools and the Anti-Dogma statement
Summary: Compromise, etc.
Message-ID: <209@maths.tcd.ie>
Date: 11 Jan 89 17:13:35 GMT
References: <8558@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> <2630002@hpcilzb.HP.COM> <13338@cup.portal.com> <206@maths.tcd.ie>
Reply-To: mlloyd@maths.tcd.ie (Michael Lloyd)
Organization: Maths Dept., Trinity College, Dublin
Lines: 44

In article <206@maths.tcd.ie> ftoomey@maths.tcd.ie (Fergal Toomey) writes:
>
>The way I see it, the difference between Creationism and Darwinism is
>essentially the difference between pseudo-science and science.
>   [some lines deleted]
>However, in my opinion, this doesnt mean that Creationism should be taught
>as science. The proper place for Creationism is in a religion class. If you
>insist that Creationism is science, then why not call religion classes
>'alternative science' classes? I don't see how anyone could obbject to that.
>
>                          Fergal Toomey, TCD.

First, I wouldn`t try talking about Darwinism too much - the views of
Darwin himself are hardly still current.  His continuum of evolution
has little experimental support - the records are a little too `broken`
for that.  I believe (any corrections, folks?) that the field now runs
at three main theories for a mechanism of evolution.  So try talking
about Evolution in general rather than the views of Darwin.

Secondly, _of course_ some people will object to the classification of
Creationism as `alternative science` - primarily the Creation Scientists.
They do not see their ideas as `alternative` at all - rather, they
(as divinely revealed theory) stand as the Truth, the Whole Truth,
and Nothing But the Truth (sorry- their ideas, not the CSs).

People who take such a view will _never_ be satisfied with any
`second place`.  If they believe it that strongly, they are not going
to acknowledge that you should promulgate any alternatives.

I don`t really mean to flame Creat. Scientists too hard - it`s just
that I find their intolerance and self-projection embarassing as a
co-religionist.  I really don`t feel that such groups will be happy
with anything that opposes them, so I think the relevent government
can only legislate them down in favour of `proper` education, and
lose the associated votes.  Life`s like that, you know?

Mike.


-- 
Mike Lloyd, Dept of Statistics, |"Does anyone understand what is happening? ..
Trinity College, Dublin,        |  They tell me this is living -
Ireland.                        |   They tell me this is LIFE!"
(mlloyd@uunet.uu.net)           | - Michael Been, of "The Call"