Posted by Robert on August 24, 1999 at 10:33:31:
In Reply to: Einstein v. Darwin: Einstein 1, Darwin 0 posted by blue on August 23, 1999 at 20:48:23:
It seems that one tactic of creationists is to label creationism as a science, and so to conclude that it than must be presented in the public schools as an alternative scientific approach.
Two interesting articles which adress this contention can be found at http://www.natcenscied.org/DEMERE.HTM , "FACTS, FAITH AND FAIRNESS: Creationism Clouds Scientific Literacy" by Thomas A. Demere and Steve Walsh
and http://astrosun.tn.cornell.edu/students/kornreich/lfg/science.html , which contains a table contrasting the characteristics of Scientific Theories with the characteristics of Creationism
When this tact has failed, the creationists rely on the statement that science (or evolution) is a religion, and therefore evolution either should be removed from the classroom, or creation should be given equal time since the claim is that both are religion.
An interesting article for this can be found at http://www.infidels.org/org/aha/publications/humanist/dawkins.html , "Is science a religion?" by Richard Dawkins
I usually have no problem with those who wish to believe in biblical creationism. It is their right to follow any religion they choose. But it is also my right to not have these religious beliefs, of which I strongly disagree with, be forced fed to my son in the public school system. I have no objection to the creationists teaching this creationism in their own church schools, although I have the deepest of sympathy for the many students there who will ultimately have their science education diminished.
You mentioned that you cannot actually prove something that you cannot repeat. Actually nothing is proved 100% in science. However, one can find ample evidence that the concepts of literal Genesis do not match the physical reality. This does not say, though, that science disproves the existance of God. That is never science's purpose. Many mainstream christians (especially the Roman Catholics) have not experienced the difficulties that the fundamentalist sects (literal Genesis believers, which are the most boisterous creationists) have had in reconciling their religious beliefs and faiths with known physical reality. Why the fundamentalists possess such weak faith that they feel that various branches of science and scientific findings threaten their faith so is a mystery to me, when I observe the majority of christians not possessing this same antimosity towards evolution.