Wednesday, February 14, 2007
No Crocodile Tears for ID
As expected, the Kansas state Board of Education repealed science guidelines that questioned evolution. More importantly, the board limited the definition of science “to the search for natural explanations of what is observed in the universe.” Bravo! For the next few years (at least until the next Board of Education election and standards review cycle), students in Kansas will actually study science from a scientific perspective (despite the Discovery Institute’s silly, hypocritical claims to the contrary). No appeals to unverifiable authority! No deux ex machina!
In a typical display of the lack of self-awareness on the part of creationists/ID advocates, John Calvert, one of the founders of the Intelligent Design Network, reportedly complained: “What does that model [evolution] put first? The student, or those supplying the preordained ‘natural selection’?”
Well, Mr. Calvert, science isn’t preordained, and you know it, because you also complained that evolution “may be right or wrong.” Well, okay: scientists are always open to the notion, however far-fetched, that an established theory might not adequately explain new evidence – but the emphasis is on new evidence. Scientists embrace uncertainty – which means science isn’t preordained.
That’s in stark contrast to those who, like yourself, argue for creationism/ID: uncertainty can’t be tolerated.
In fact, fundamentalism can be defined as an abject aversion to uncertainty, among other things. Creationism/ID advocates are infected with the same aversion.
To you, the origins answer is found in Genesis (don’t play games by saying the designer is unknown), a very human text created by our superstitious, pre-scientific Iron Age ancestors. You and your icky ilk are putting yourselves and your non-reality-based notions between students and what they need to know. You are responsible for the lack of intellectual integrity that wormed its way into the previous science standards.
Now, you’ve been rejected.
I don’t even have crocodile tears for you!
In a typical display of the lack of self-awareness on the part of creationists/ID advocates, John Calvert, one of the founders of the Intelligent Design Network, reportedly complained: “What does that model [evolution] put first? The student, or those supplying the preordained ‘natural selection’?”
Well, Mr. Calvert, science isn’t preordained, and you know it, because you also complained that evolution “may be right or wrong.” Well, okay: scientists are always open to the notion, however far-fetched, that an established theory might not adequately explain new evidence – but the emphasis is on new evidence. Scientists embrace uncertainty – which means science isn’t preordained.
That’s in stark contrast to those who, like yourself, argue for creationism/ID: uncertainty can’t be tolerated.
In fact, fundamentalism can be defined as an abject aversion to uncertainty, among other things. Creationism/ID advocates are infected with the same aversion.
To you, the origins answer is found in Genesis (don’t play games by saying the designer is unknown), a very human text created by our superstitious, pre-scientific Iron Age ancestors. You and your icky ilk are putting yourselves and your non-reality-based notions between students and what they need to know. You are responsible for the lack of intellectual integrity that wormed its way into the previous science standards.
Now, you’ve been rejected.
I don’t even have crocodile tears for you!
