[IP] more on Science is for Pansies - REAL Men believe in Genesis!

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jim Huggins <jhuggins@kettering.edu>
Date: August 6, 2005 12:58:55 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
Cc: Ip Ip <ip@v2.listbox.com>, kobrins@wharton.upenn.edu
Subject: Re: more on Science is for Pansies - REAL Men believe in  
Genesis!


> From: "Kobrin, Steve" <kobrins@wharton.upenn.edu>


> More importantly, where have we failed as educators?

When we generalize and ridicule those who disagree with us instead of
seeking to educate and inform.  Forgive me, but I'm going to pick on
something you said a little later in your message:


> Most of these people have had science in high school or college.
> However, if someone tells them that it is all nonsense and the  
> world was
> created 5000 years ago, they believe it.  One has to wonder about the
> quality of science education in this country.

This lumps all the "intelligent design" and "literal creationists" into
the same boat.  There are *plenty* of people who believe in a Creator  
who
also believe that the world is millions of years old.  The two  
beliefs are
compatible.  But you wouldn't know that from the way this so-called
"debate" is actually conducted in the public sphere.  All we hear about
are the extremes.

If, as educators, you really believe that intelligent design is bunk,
then use the tools of education to fight that battle.  Ignorance is
curable.  But dismissing your opponents as uneducatable and unlearned by
making dismissive remarks about the quality of their teachers serves no
useful purpose.  Show the folly in your opponents' arguments.  But  
then be
prepared to have your arguments examined with the same scrutiny.

Come ... let us reason together ...

--Jim Huggins



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