Discovery Institute losing scientists?
Meet Bob Davidson, 78 year old Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington, a devout believer in evolution and member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Oh, he's also listed on the Discovery Institute's list of "400 people with scientific degrees...who are said to doubt the 'central tenets of Darwin's theory of evolution.'"
It turns out, Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat contacted Mr. Davidson and asked him about this. Here's what Mr. Davidson has to say:"I'm kind of embarrassed that I ever got involved with this," Davidson says.And reality sets in:
He was shocked, he says, when he saw the Discovery Institute was calling evolution a "theory in crisis."
"It's laughable: There have been millions of experiments over more than a century that support evolution," he says. "There's always questions being asked about parts of the theory, as there are with any theory, but there's no real scientific controversy about it."
"It just clicked with me that this whole movement is wrongheaded on all counts," Davidson said. "It's a misuse of science, and a misuse of religion.Indeed...why can't we?
"Why can't we just keep the two separate?"
posted by switzerblog at
9:40 AM
2 Comments:
The only way to keep religion and science separate is to say that God does not exist.
How sad that so many are cowed by the liberals that they won't even stand up and point out impossibility of evolution, much less how it is a direct attack on religion. Granted everything liberals do is an attack or religion, and of course God. Not that libs will ever admit that, honesty is not their forte.
Well, that's an astonishingly simple-minded way of looking at things, but thanks for stopping by.
Religion and science are separate things. They should be taught separately, just as history, civics, mathematics, all these educational disciplines are separate entities. It really shouldn't be too hard to comprehend. Some scientists choose to believe God created all things, some don't - what a shock, scientists, like the rest of the population, make up their own minds on their private religious beliefs! Evolution doesn't deal with the idea of whether or not God created earth, it just looks for the mechanics of how it happened. Maybe God's behind it, maybe not, science doesn't really care one way or another.
Here's the thing, Mark. Evolution isn't impossible. I know it's hard for you to understand, and I feel a little bad to waste a reply to someone who clearly isn't going to read past Leviticus to see how the world works. But evolution is all around us. Millions of tests and experiments support it. Some raise more questions, but that's true of gravity, light, energy - anything that can be tested will see more questions raised. That's science! When questions are raised, scientists then know what questions to ask and can pursue answers (some of which they may never get, who knows).
More importantly: Evolution is outside religion, not relevant to religion, has no bearing on religion. Darwin was religious, as are most scientists, as are most people on the planet. Stop being such a victim, stop your whining, and embrace the ability we have to discover how our world works (and if you're religious, embrace the fact that God gave us this ability).
On to your bizarre attacks on liberals. Who's cowed by liberals? The media, owned and operated by conservatives? The Congress, in complete control of conservative, frequently evangelical Republicans? The White House, occupied by an evangelical dominionist Republican? The Supreme Court, run by 4 arch conservatives, 4 sorta liberals and 1 swing vote? Who, exactly? Who is cowed by liberals, who possess no power in the United States? Are you so completely unplugged and married to your victimization that you can't realize that your side is running every facet of our country?
Please try to buck up, little camper.
Lastly - everything liberals do is an attack on religion and "of course" God? When we fight for civil rights and equality, that's an attack on religion? When the ACLU defends churches - including Pat Robertson, he of the nutty assassination talk - are they attacking religion? When we try to help the poor get back on their feet, that's an attack on religion? Good Lord, whatever your religion is, it seems to oppose equality, freedom, justice, and deny the goodness of helping those unable to help themselves. Your religion is a little scary.
*sigh* well anyway, thanks for stopping by.
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