Hello all and happy new year!
Over the holiday period I took the opportunity to surf around older threads on IIS and found the discussions on ID vs. Evolution interesting (please Mr Moderators hear me out).
I have fought ID concepts for many years being touched by creationism through friends and family members. Also having reasonable knowledge of the bible from my teens and having a scientific background touching on chemistry, geology and astronomy (sorry, biology is my weak area) I’ve always thought I’ve had a reasonable understanding of both sides. In my ‘battles’ I now realise I have made mistakes but gained a few insights, which I would like to share with my fellow IISers.
Rule 1. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER try and convince creationists they are wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes, that’s enough capital letters and too many exclamation marks don’t go astray here either). Reasons:
1) Most creationists I have known have had no background in science or the scientific method. So as far as they are concerned the evolutionists might as well be pushing another religion (eg how successful would a Muslim be trying to convert a devoted Christian to Islam)
2) At the best they will treat your wonderfully thought out arguments (which you are so proud of) as a test of their faith (at the worst they will be think of you as an agent of the devil!). Even if they don’t say so.
3) It has been drilled into them there are too many holes in the Evolution argument to take anything you say as serious (yes, we know there are gaps but does one throw the baby out with the bathwater?).
Rule 2. Many Scientists are apathetic to ID thinking that the followers are as harmless as natives putting pins into voodoo doll. Many refuse to recognise the potential damage this could cause if ID got into mainstream education. I once went to a creationism / evolution debate (never again). The scientist had his facts right but there was something like 3 evolutionists to 200 creationists. There was no interest from the anti ID side to attend and give support. You can guess what happened to the poor scientist – I’m sure if he’d been a lamb he would have been on a spit by the end. We crept out being prepared to do a ‘Peter’ and deign any knowledge of the guy if we were confronted!
Rule 3. The don’t step on someone’s faith toes! (The most difficult one)
I have a lot of interesting discussions with my wife including how misguided astrologers are. However, when it comes to criticising ID she goes quiet. Not because she disagrees with me but she feels I shouldn’t knock someone’s faith. The sensitive reactions, seen on previous threads, attest to this. I think there is a big difference between questioning someone’s belief and personal attacks.
Rule 4. The ID people are cashed up, and live by the line ‘spread the word’. They will use every resource available – even being sneaky. Have you noticed the google add that is on one of the previous threads? Go to:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ht=creationism
And look under the Aust S&T advertisement on the right. Here’s the link anyway.
http://ucg.org.au/offers/ev.asp?gcli...FSLiYAodEEmquQ
There you go, even IIS is pushing the ‘Good News’! (Even if Mike S doesn’t know it)
Rule 5. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem! (I know an old line but appropriate here)
In recent years I have been guilty of saying/doing nothing. After knocking my head against rule 1 in my early years, for too long, I felt all I achieved was getting well meaning but misguided people upset. However, I am now a strong believer in doing a bit of ‘back burning’ in the school system (or in the community as a whole). I suggest (as a start):
* If you know any teachers make them aware of what is going on. I would target those with a science background (If you know any).
* There are science teacher’s magazines.. Well at least one. I have the contact details if anyone wants them. It would be interesting to know their feelings or would PC scare them off?
* Letters to the Federal Education minister, Brendan Nelson, pointing out to him that ID is not science and shouldn’t be taught.
* What are the Australian Skeptics doing about this?
* If you are serious about attacking the ID’ers, the web is full of good sites such as ‘Talk Origins’ for background info. There was a good little book published in 2006 called Evolution vs. Intelligent Design, Why all the fuss? By Peter Cook ($13) which explains both sides in an unbiased fashion. I got it from A&R.
I have deliberately avoided discussing any specific ID vs. Evolution issues here for I think most of the basics have been brought up previously and I feel it doesn’t achieve anything further going over old ground. It’s time to act.
Yours in the name of Science.
Glenn