Reading Dispatches from the Culture Wars, I learned of this recent article published by the Telegraph (U.K.): Powerful evangelical churches are pressing Kenya's national museum to sideline its world-famous collection of hominid bones pointing to man's evolution from ape to human. Leaders of the country's six-million-strong Pentecostal congregation want Dr Richard…
This link is to the district court ruling in the Dover, PA trial about so-called Intelligent Design. It is worth reading in full, especially in light of the recent survey publish in Science about our understanding–lack of, actually–of biology. Basically, the judge threw out the claim by the defendants, that evolution is “merely a theory” and that Intelligent Design is somehow legitimate science.
This, of course, settles nothing in the long run. The true believers who pulled this stunt to begin with will not be persuaded, nor will they long shut up. That’s fine, that’s their prerogative, and it’s as should be in this country. My hope is that this will not be the last shot fired in defense of science and reason, against irrationalism and spiritual chicanery.
The critics of Judge Jones’ decision have come out screaming that he has overstepped his authority. He has written a pretty scathing and detailed decision. I can certainly see that he has hopes it will be used in other districts, as a means to settle this–at least legally–where and when it crops up. I personally see his response as fairly restrained, considering the clear frustration behind it. He has invoked the ground state complaint of the conservative–it has been a waste of tax payer money.
The profoundest irony, politically, is that Jones is a George W. Bush appointee. The right-wing Jesus faction of the Republican Party must be seized with apoplexy at this. One of their own–one anointed by their own prophet-in-power–has …
Reporting on the acceptance of evolution in 34 countries, the journal Science found that the United States ranked next to last, ahead of only Turkey. Among the factors contributing to America's low score are poor understanding of biology, especially genetics, the politicization of science and the literal interpretation of the Bible…
I wondered recently, during an idle conversation, whatever became of that monumental media presence Rush Limbaugh. Now I know. He's been upstaged. Check out the following quote: "They're almost always biologists—the "science" with the greatest preponderance of women. The distaff MIT "scientist" who fled the room in response to Larry…
For centuries, of course, people had been praying for God to return to Earth. He came back all right, but it was so very different than most people expected. It happened on October 3, 2009. I remember it like it was yesterday . . .
It had been quite cloudy that day, but the clouds parted to reveal a huge marquee announcing that God would appear within five minutes. During this short wait, pastel patterns swirled across the skies while Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” played lushly from the heavens. Then, God’s image began to appear on thousands of monitors that appeared in the sky. Everyone on the Earth was about see this spectacle simultaneously.
As you might expect with seven billion people, it took awhile to get everyone calmed down. The preachers were especially excited; most of them were wearing big smug smiles as they strutted about. “This is it!” many of them barked.
God cleared his throat and everyone waited, for what seemed to be an eternity, for His first words.
“Hello,” He boomed.
Many of you have referred to me by the name “God” or “Allah” or “The Force.” I don’t really have any sort of body and thus I’ve never had any sort of sex organ. Nonetheless, I’m presenting myself to you in the shape of an old man. I thought this might make this presentation easier for many of you.
The preachers stopped strutting so much, and started to look perplexed.
“You’re probably wondering …