Darwin's Poisoned Tree: Atheistic Advocacy and the Constitutionality

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Darwin's Poisoned Tree: Atheistic Advocacy and the Constitutionality Darwin’s Poisoned Tree: Atheistic Advocacy and the Constitutionality of Teaching Evolution in Public Schools By Casey Luskin M.S., J.D., ESQ Trinity Law Review Fall, 2015 Volume 21, Issue 1, Pp. 130-233 Published by Trinity Law School lawschool.tiu.edu '$5:,1¶632,621('75(($7+(,67,& $'92&$&<$1'7+(&2167,787,21$/,7<2) 7($&+,1*(92/87,21,138%/,&6&+22/6 &$6(</86.,1 ,QWURGXFWLRQ 7KHWHDFKLQJRIELRORJLFDORULJLQVLQSXEOLFVFKRROVLVDFRQWHQWLRXV DQGKLJKO\GHEDWHGDUHDRIWKHODZ,IWKHUHLVDQ\IL[HGVWDURIWKLVHYROYLQJ OHJDO ILHOG LW LV WKH 86 6XSUHPH &RXUW¶V KROGLQJ LQ Epperson v. ArkansasWKDW³>W@KH)LUVW$PHQGPHQWPDQGDWHVJRYHUQPHQWDOQHXWUDOLW\ EHWZHHQUHOLJLRQDQGUHOLJLRQDQGEHWZHHQUHOLJLRQDQGQRQUHOLJLRQ´ )ROORZLQJWKLVPDQGDWHIRUVWDWHQHXWUDOLW\LQHYROXWLRQHGXFDWLRQ YDULRXVFRXUWVDQGOHJDOVFKRODUVKDYHRSSRVHGWKHWHDFKLQJRIDOWHUQDWLYHV WR HYROXWLRQ E\ FLWLQJ DQ KLVWRULFDO FRQQHFWLRQ EHWZHHQ RSSRVLWLRQ WR HYROXWLRQ DQG WKH DGYRFDF\ RI ³IXQGDPHQWDOLVW´ UHOLJLRQ 2QH DXWKRU FRQWHQGVWKDWDWWHPSWVWRWHDFKQRQHYROXWLRQDU\YLHZSRLQWVRIELRORJLFDO RULJLQV DUHXQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO EHFDXVH VXFK YLHZSRLQWVDUH DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK UHOLJLRQ PDNLQJ WKHP ³>I@UXLW RI WKH SRLVRQ WUHH´ $QRWKHU VFKRODU VLPLODUO\VXJJHVWVWKDWVRPHHGXFDWLRQDOSROLFLHVWKDWVDQFWLRQFULWLTXHRI HYROXWLRQ HQWDLO ³JRYHUQPHQW PHDVXUHVWKDW DULVH IURP D FRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\ SUREOHPDWLFKLVWRU\´DQGDUHWKHUHIRUH³WDLQWHGIUXLWRIWKHSRLVRQRXV WUHH´ .ULVWL / %RZPDQ ZDUQV WKDW XQGHU FXUUHQW ODZ WKH ³UHOLJLRXV $WWRUQH\DW/DZ5HVHDUFK&RRUGLQDWRU'LVFRYHU\,QVWLWXWH6HDWWOH:$%6 8QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLD6DQ'LHJR068QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLD6DQ'LHJR-' 8QLYHUVLW\RI6DQ'LHJR7KHDXWKRUWKDQNV$QLND6PLWK'DYLG'H:ROI6DUDK&KDIIHH DQG-RKQ:HVWIRUWKHLULQSXWDQGDGYLFHRQWKLVDUWLFOH+HPD\EHFRQWDFWHGDW FOXVNLQ#GLVFRYHU\RUJ (SSHUVRQY$UNDQVDV86 FLWDWLRQVRPLWWHG See.LW]PLOOHUY'RYHU$UHD6FK'LVW.)6XSSG 0'3D 6HOPDQY&REE&W\6FK'LVW)6XSSG 1'*D vacated )G WK&LU -RQ'0LOOHU(XJHQLH&6FRWW 6KLQML 2NDPRWRPublic Acceptance of Evolution6&, 7RGG52OLQ1RWHFruit of the Poison Tree: A First Amendment Analysis of the History and Character of Intelligent Design Education0,11/5(9 $VPD78GGLQEvolution Toward Neutrality: Evolution Disclaimers, Establishment Jurisprudence Confusions, and a Proposal of Untainted Fruits of a Poisonous Tree, 587*(56-/ 5(/,*,21 FLWDWLRQVRPLWWHG PRWLYDWLRQ RI PDQ\ LQYROYHG LQ WKH LQWHOOLJHQW GHVLJQ PRYHPHQW´ PLJKW WDLQWDQ\DQDO\VLVLQWRWKHJRYHUQPHQWSXUSRVHEHKLQGSROLFLHVVXSSRUWLQJ WKH WHDFKLQJ RI LQWHOOLJHQW GHVLJQ UHQGHULQJ WKHP XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO 0XOWLSOHFDVHVKDYHFRQVLGHUHGWKHKLVWRULFDOFRQQHFWLRQEHWZHHQUHOLJLRQ DQGRSSRVLWLRQWRHYROXWLRQZKHQVWULNLQJGRZQHGXFDWLRQDOSROLFLHVWKDW FKDOOHQJHGHYROXWLRQ 7KHVHFDVHVDUHGLVFXVVHGLQ3DUW$RIWKLVDUWLFOH $VWKLVDUWLFOHZLOOVKRZVXFKUHDVRQLQJLIDSSOLHGIDLUO\DQGFRQVLVWHQWO\ FRXOG DOVR WKUHDWHQ WKH FRQVWLWXWLRQDOLW\ RI WHDFKLQJ HYROXWLRQ LWVHOI²DQ RXWFRPHWKDWLVQHLWKHUSHGDJRJLFDOO\GHVLUDEOHQRUOHJDOO\QHFHVVDU\ 7KHHIIHFWSURQJRIWKHLemon WHVWUHTXLUHVWKDWWKHSULPDU\HIIHFW RI D JRYHUQPHQW SROLF\ QHLWKHU ³DGYDQFH>@´ nor ³inhibit>@´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eeing Government Purpose Through the Objective Observer’s Eyes: The Evolution-Intelligent Design Debates,+$59-/ 38%32/¶< %RZPDQQRWHVWKDWWKLVVRUWRIDQDO\VLVLVSUHFLVHO\ZKDWUHQGHUHGWKHSROLF\ XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDOLQ6HOPDQY&REE&RXQW\ See also3KLOLS6SDUU1RWHSpecial “Effects”: Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, 400 F. Supp. 2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005), and the Fate of Intelligent Design in our Public Schools1(%/5(9 ³%\H[KDXVWLYHO\WUDFLQJ,'¶VKHULWDJHWRFUHDWLRQLVPDQGFUHDWLRQVFLHQFHWKH FRXUWHIIHFWLYHO\IRUHFORVHGWKHTXHVWLRQVRI,'¶VVFLHQWLILFOHJLWLPDF\XQGHUDSXUSRVHRU HIIHFWVSURQJDQDO\VLV´ /HPRQY.XUW]PDQ86 HPSKDVLVDGGHG See-DQD50F&UHDU\This Is the Trap the Courts Built: Dealing with the Entanglement of Religion and the Origin of Life in American Public Schools6:8 /5(9 ³7KHVFKRROGLVWULFWVWKDWKDYHVXFKSROLFLHVLQSODFHDUHQRW VKRZLQJQHXWUDOLW\²WKRVHZKRDJUHHZLWKWKHUHOLJLRXVGRJPDUHSUHVHQWHGE\HYROXWLRQ IHHOOLNHIDYRUHGPHPEHUVRIWKHFRPPXQLW\ZKLOHWKRVHZKRGLVDJUHHIHHOOLNH RXWVLGHUV´ UHOLJLRXVRUJDQL]DWLRQVRIILFLDOO\VXSSRUWFRPSDWLELOLW\EHWZHHQHYROXWLRQ DQG UHOLJLRQ ZLGHO\ NQRZQ DQWLUHOLJLRXV DFWLYLVP DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK HYROXWLRQFRXOGDOVR³SRLVRQWKHWUHH´IURPZKLFKHYROXWLRQHGXFDWLRQIDOOV 7KHSDVWWHQ\HDUVKDYHVHHQWKHULVHRIDYRFDOJURXSRI³QHZDWKHLVWV´ZKR YHKHPHQWO\ PDLQWDLQ WKDW HYROXWLRQ UHIXWHV UHOLJLRXV EHOLHI %XW WKH DUJXPHQWVRI³QHZDWKHLVWV´DUHKDUGO\QHZ²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t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aving evolution declared unconstitutional to teach in public schools is neither my desire nor the necessary result of my argument.7KRXJK,DPDVFLHQWLILFVNHSWLFRIQHR 'DUZLQLDQHYROXWLRQ,ILUPO\EHOLHYHWKDWLWFDQEHIRUPXODWHGDVDVFLHQWLILF WKHRU\ DQG WKDW WHDFKLQJ HYROXWLRQ LQ SXEOLF VFKRRO VFLHQFH FODVVURRPV should remain constitutional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i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¶V OHDGLQJSUR'DUZLQOREE\LVWRUJDQL]DWLRQWKH1DWLRQDO&HQWHUIRU6FLHQFH (GXFDWLRQ 1&6( FRXQVHOHGKLVIHOORZ'DUZLQDGYRFDWHVWKDW³:HGRQ¶W QHHGWKHDQWLFUHDWLRQLVWVJRLQJDQGPL[LQJWKHLUYLHZVRQUHOLJLRQLQWRWKHLU VFLHQFH,QIDFWWKLVLVSUREDEO\WKHVXUHVWSDWKWRGLVDVWHUSROLWLFDOO\DQGLQ WKHFRXUWV´5HQRZQHG8QLYHUVLW\RI:LVFRQVLQ0DGLVRQKLVWRULDQRIWKH HYROXWLRQGHEDWH5RQDOG1XPEHUVOLNHZLVHREVHUYHVWKDWHYROXWLRQ¶VWLHV
Recommended publications
  • Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals
    UNDERSTANDING THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN CREATIONIST MOVEMENT: ITS TRUE NATURE AND GOALS A POSITION PAPER FROM THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY AUTHOR: BARBARA FORREST, Ph.D. Reviewing Committee: Paul Kurtz, Ph.D.; Austin Dacey, Ph.D.; Stuart D. Jordan, Ph.D.; Ronald A. Lindsay, J. D., Ph.D.; John Shook, Ph.D.; Toni Van Pelt DATED: MAY 2007 ( AMENDED JULY 2007) Copyright © 2007 Center for Inquiry, Inc. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for noncommercial, educational purposes, provided that this notice appears on the reproduced materials, the full authoritative version is retained, and copies are not altered. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the Center for Inquiry, Inc. Table of Contents Section I. Introduction: What is at stake in the dispute over intelligent design?.................. 1 Section II. What is the intelligent design creationist movement? ........................................ 2 Section III. The historical and legal background of intelligent design creationism ................ 6 Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) ............................................................................ 6 McLean v. Arkansas (1982) .............................................................................. 6 Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) ............................................................................. 7 Section IV. The ID movement’s aims and strategy .............................................................. 9 The “Wedge Strategy” .....................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Is It Possible to Intelligently Design and Then Deny the Inte
    Is It Possible to Intelligently Design and then Deny the Intelligent Desig... http://www.uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/is-it-possible-to-int... Home About Resources Search Uncommon Descent holds that... Materialistic ideology has subverted the study of biological and cosmological origins so that the actual content of these sciences has become corrupted. The problem, therefore, is not merely that science is being used illegitimately to promote a materialistic worldview, but that this worldview is actively undermining scientific inquiry, leading to incorrect and unsupported conclusions about biological and cosmological origins. At the same time, intelligent design (ID) offers a promising scientific alternative to materialistic theories of biological and cosmological evolution -- an alternative that is finding increasing theoretical and empirical support. Hence, ID needs to be vigorously developed as a scientific, intellectual, and cultural project. read more... Additional Descent Swarm Intelligence vs. Real Intelligence . Can all intelligence be reduced to the local, rule-governed interaction of unintelligent agents? Dawkins reviews Behe in the NYTimes . How many ad hominems can you count? $100,000,000 anonymous gift to University of Chicago … for 800 full scholarships per year to lower-income students. Bravo! THE EDGE OF EVOLUTION: THE SEARCH FOR THE LIMITS OF DARWINISM at Amazon.com … Michael Behe’s newest book is now available at booksellers. programmed by evolution to see design where there really isn’t any … and thus do evolutionary psychologists explain the resurgence of design Charles Colson weighs in on the Gonzalez tenure case Dawkins’s CV One colleague recently claimed that Dawkins’s record of peer-reviewed publications leaves something to be desired.
    [Show full text]
  • The New Answers Book 3
    First printing: February 2010 Copyright © 2009 by Answers in Genesis. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. For information write: Master Books®, P.O. Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638 ISBN-13: 978-0-89051-579-2 ISBN-10: 0-89051-579-4 Library of Congress Number: 2008903202 Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible. Printed in the United States of America Please visit our website for other great titles: www.masterbooks.net For information regarding author interviews, please contact the publicity department at (870) 438-5288. ® ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND SPECIAL THANKS Acknowledgments and special thanks for reviewing or editing chapters: Steve Fazekas (theology, AiG), Frost Smith (biology, editor, AiG), Mike Matthews (editor, AiG), Gary Vaterlaus (science education, editor, AiG), Tim Chaffey (theology, Midwest Apologetics), Dr. John Whitcomb (theology, presi- dent of Whitcomb Ministries), Dr. Larry Vardiman (atmospheric science, chair- man of the department of astro-geophysics at the Institute for Creation Research), Ken Ham (biology, president and CEO of Answers in Genesis), Donna O’Daniel (biology, AiG), Dr. Tim Clarey (geology), Christine Fidler (CEO of Image in the UK), Mark Looy (editor, AiG), Dr. Terry Mortenson (history of geology, AiG), John Upchurch (editor, AiG), Dr. Jason Lisle (astrophysics, AiG), Dr. John Morris (geological engineering, president of the Institute for Creation Research), Dr. Andrew Snelling (geology, director of research at AiG), Dr. David Menton (retired, cell biology, former associate professor of anatomy at Washington Uni- versity School of Medicine, now AiG), Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • A Contextual Examination of Three Historical Stages of Atheism and the Legality of an American Freedom from Religion
    ABSTRACT Rejecting the Definitive: A Contextual Examination of Three Historical Stages of Atheism and the Legality of an American Freedom from Religion Ethan Gjerset Quillen, B.A., M.A., M.A. Mentor: T. Michael Parrish, Ph.D. The trouble with “definitions” is they leave no room for evolution. When a word is concretely defined, it is done so in a particular time and place. Contextual interpretations permit a better understanding of certain heavy words; Atheism as a prime example. In the post-modern world Atheism has become more accepted and popular, especially as a reaction to global terrorism. However, the current definition of Atheism is terribly inaccurate. It cannot be stated properly that pagan Atheism is the same as New Atheism. By interpreting the Atheisms from four stages in the term‟s history a clearer picture of its meaning will come out, hopefully alleviating the stereotypical biases weighed upon it. In the interpretation of the Atheisms from Pagan Antiquity, the Enlightenment, the New Atheist Movement, and the American Judicial and Civil Religious system, a defense of the theory of elastic contextual interpretations, rather than concrete definitions, shall be made. Rejecting the Definitive: A Contextual Examination of Three Historical Stages of Atheism and the Legality of an American Freedom from Religion by Ethan Gjerset Quillen, B.A., M.A. A Thesis Approved by the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies ___________________________________ Robyn L. Driskell, Ph.D., Interim Chairperson Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Baylor University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Approved by the Thesis Committee ___________________________________ T.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 15: Resources This Is by No Means an Exhaustive List. It's Just
    Chapter 15: Resources This is by no means an exhaustive list. It's just meant to get you started. ORGANIZATIONS African Americans for Humanism Supports skeptics, doubters, humanists, and atheists in the African American community, provides forums for communication and education, and facilitates coordinated action to achieve shared objectives. <a href="http://aahumanism.net">aahumanism.net</a> American Atheists The premier organization laboring for the civil liberties of atheists and the total, absolute separation of government and religion. <a href="http://atheists.org">atheists.org</a> American Humanist Association Advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers. <a href="http://americanhumanist.org">americanhumanist.org</a> Americans United for Separation of Church and State A nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving church-state separation to ensure religious freedom for all Americans. <a href="http://au.org">au.org</a> Atheist Alliance International A global federation of atheist and freethought groups and individuals, committed to educating its members and the public about atheism, secularism and related issues. <a href="http://atheistalliance.org">atheistalliance.org</a> Atheist Alliance of America The umbrella organization of atheist groups and individuals around the world committed to promoting and defending reason and the atheist worldview. <a href="http://atheistallianceamerica.org">atheistallianceamerica.org< /a> Atheist Ireland Building a rational, ethical and secular society free from superstition and supernaturalism. <a href="http://atheist.ie">atheist.ie</a> Black Atheists of America Dedicated to bridging the gap between atheism and the black community. <a href="http://blackatheistsofamerica.org">blackatheistsofamerica.org </a> The Brights' Net A bright is a person who has a naturalistic worldview.
    [Show full text]
  • Creation, Design and Evolution: Can Science Discover Or Eliminate God?
    University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy Volume 4 Issue 1 Fall 2009 Article 5 January 2009 Creation, Design and Evolution: Can Science Discover or Eliminate God? Peter M.J. Hess Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.stthomas.edu/ustjlpp Part of the First Amendment Commons, Law and Philosophy Commons, and the Religion Law Commons Recommended Citation Peter M. Hess, Creation, Design and Evolution: Can Science Discover or Eliminate God?, 4 U. ST. THOMAS J.L. & PUB. POL'Y 102 (2009). Available at: https://ir.stthomas.edu/ustjlpp/vol4/iss1/5 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by UST Research Online and the University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy. For more information, please contact the Editor-in-Chief at [email protected]. CREATION, DESIGN AND EVOLUTION: CAN SCIENCE DISCOVER OR ELIMINATE GOD? PETER M. J. HESS, PH.D.* NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth his handiwork." Psalms 19:1 INTRODUCTION: THE PLAYING OUT OF THE DESIGN ARGUMENT IN THE WEST Every culture has its views about the universe, about the human person, and about the great metaphysical questions that confront us. How ought we to think about the relationship between cosmology, anthropology, and theology? This may be a challenge for us in our increasingly secular post- modem culture, but for most of human history it was not an issue. In the Judeo-Christian tradition these areas of human reflection were naturally bound up together, as in the Hebrew psalmist's proto-statement of the argument from design: "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows forth his handiwork."' The scholastic university culture of the High Middle Ages held as its ideal the "unity of knowledge," or unitas scientiae, approaching the study of the universe as a coherent and knowable whole.
    [Show full text]
  • The God Hypothesis
    CHAPTER 2 The God Hypothesis The religion of one age is the literary entertainment of the next. RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE GOD HYPOTHESIS 31 The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, fili- cidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. Those of us schooled from infancy in his ways can become desensitized to their horror. A naif blessed with the perspective of innocence has a clearer perception. Winston Churchill's son Randolph somehow contrived to remain ignorant of scripture until Evelyn Waugh and a brother officer, in a vain attempt to keep Churchill quiet when they were posted together during the war, bet him he couldn't read the entire Bible in a fort- night: 'Unhappily it has not had the result we hoped. He has never read any of it before and is hideously excited; keeps reading quotations aloud "I say I bet you didn't know this came in the Bible ..." or merely slapping his side & chortling "God, isn't God a shit!"'16 Thomas Jefferson - better read - was of a similar opinion: 'The Christian God is a being of terrific character - cruel, vindictive, capricious and unjust.' It is unfair to attack such an easy target. The God Hypothesis should not stand or fall with its most unlovely instantiation, Yahweh, nor his insipidly opposite Christian face, 'Gentle Jesus meek and mild'. (To be fair, this milksop persona owes more to his Victorian followers than to Jesus himself.
    [Show full text]
  • Darwins-Corrosive-Idea.Pdf
    This report was prepared and published by Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, a non-profit, non-partisan educational and research organization. The Center’s mission is to advance the understanding that human beings and nature are the result of intelligent design rather than a blind and undirected process. We seek long-term scientific and cultural change through cutting-edge scientific research and scholarship; education and training of young leaders; communication to the general public; and advocacy of academic freedom and free speech for scientists, teachers, and students. For more information about the Center, visit www.discovery.org/id. FOR FREE RESOURCES ABOUT SCIENCE AND FAITH, VISIT WWW.SCIENCEANDGOD.ORG/RESOURCES. PUBLISHED NOVEMBER, 2016. © 2016 BY DISCOVERY INSTITUTE. DARWIN’S CORROSIVE IDEA The Impact of Evolution on Attitudes about Faith, Ethics, and Human Uniqueness John G. West, PhD* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In his influential book Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, have asked about the impact of science on a person’s philosopher Daniel Dennett praised Darwinian religious faith typically have not explored the evolution for being a “universal acid” that dissolves impact of specific scientific ideas such as Darwinian traditional religious and moral beliefs.1 Evolution- evolution.5 ary biologist Richard Dawkins has similarly praised In order to gain insights into the impact of Darwin for making “it possible to be an intellect- specific scientific ideas on popular beliefs about ually fulfilled atheist.”2 Although numerous studies God and ethics, Discovery Institute conducted a have documented the influence of Darwinian nationwide survey of a representative sample of theory and other scientific ideas on the views of 3,664 American adults.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution Exposed (Hebron, KY: Answers in Genesis, 2006), P
    footnotes from THE LIE We thank you for listening to the audiobook presentation of the 25th an- niversary special edition of The Lie by author Ken Ham. This download contains footnote details as well as other information related to the printed book, includ- ing more about the author and a timeline of his ministry work. For more infor- mation on other books available from Master Books, the world’s leading creation science publisher, visit our website at www.masterbooks.net. To learn more about author Ken Ham, and the Answers in Genesis Ministry, visit www.answersingen- esis.org. Chapter 1 Endnotes 1. Ken Ham and Britt Beemer, Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit the Church and What You Can Do to Stop It, with Todd Hillard (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2009), p. 170. 2. “August 10, 2009, What I learned from the Creation Museum,” posted by a member of the Secular Student Alliance, http://pnrj.xanga.com/709441435/ what-i-learned-from-the-creation-museum/. 3. Vickie Aldous, “Nudity Issue Sparks More City Council Debate,” Ashland Daily Tidings, http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091118/ NEWS02/911180316. 4. For more information on observational science and historical science, see Roger Patterson, Evolution Exposed (Hebron, KY: Answers in Genesis, 2006), p. 24–26, http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/ee/what-is-science. 5. For more information on Noah’s ark and the Flood, see Ken Ham and Tim Lovett, “Was There Really a Noah’s Ark and Flood?” inThe New Answers Book ,1 Ken Ham, editor (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2006).
    [Show full text]
  • U Ottawa L'universite Canadienne Canada's University FACULTE DES ETUDES SUPERIEURES 1^=1 FACULTY of GRADUATE and ET POSTOCTORALES U Ottawa POSDOCTORAL STUDIES
    nm u Ottawa L'Universite canadienne Canada's university FACULTE DES ETUDES SUPERIEURES 1^=1 FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND ET POSTOCTORALES U Ottawa POSDOCTORAL STUDIES L'Universitc canadienne Canada's university Steven Tomlins M.A. (Religious Studies) _._„„__„„„._ Department of Religious Studies In Science we Trust: Dissecting the Chimera of New Atheism TITRE DE LA THESE / TITLE OF THESIS Lori Beaman Peter Beyer Anne Vallely Gary W. Slater Le Doyen de la Faculte des etudes superieures et postdoctorales / Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies IN SCIENCE WE TRUST: DISSECTING THE CHIMERA OF NEW ATHEISM Steven Tomlins Student Number: 5345726 Degree sought: Master of Arts, Religious Studies University of Ottawa Thesis Director: Lori G. Beaman © Steven Tomlins, Ottawa, Canada, 2010 Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-73876-4 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-73876-4 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Nnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciaies ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Beyond the Flying Spaghetti Monster
    1 Beyond the Flying Spaghetti Monster; finding a meta-ethic to save the human species (1200 wds., File: PPRI Spaghetti….4_6_17) William A. McConochie, Ph.D. Political Psychology Research, Inc. A recent article in the Atlantic magazine (Nov. 2016, p.23) presents a brief review of a spoof religion based on a fanciful deity, the "Flying Spaghetti Monster", that caught on especially in Europe. While a spoof in some respects, the followers point out that nothing is inherently sacred and that sacredness is simply whatever a group of people choose to deem sacred. Religion has traditionally been centered on belief in a powerful supernatural being which is turned to by believers for answers to difficult questions about the purpose of life and for support and good fortune in major endeavors, such as war. However, Christianity has been on the wane for decades in the U.S. and Europe (religionnews.com/2014/01/27/great-deline-religion-united-states-one-graph/; www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/05 christians-remain-worlds- ...). Theologian John Shelby Spong has challenged Christians, in order to revive their faith, to redefine God in non-theistic terms, not as a human-like being but as an abstract concept around which to focus one's life. If citizens in the U.S. and Europe can’t embrace a supernatural being as a source for united, cooperative behavior, we can hope they do better than making fun of life by pretending a “Flying Spaghetti Monster” is a good guide. But perhaps they can define an abstract principle of sacred value.
    [Show full text]
  • Signature of Controversy
    I n “In this volume Granville Sewell provides “As the debate over intelligent design grows T delightful and wide-ranging commentary on increasingly heated... it is refreshing to find a HE the origins debate and intelligent design... discussion of the topic that is calm, thoughtful, Sewell provides much needed clarity on topics and far-ranging, with no sense of having to B e ignature f that are too often misunderstood. His discussion advance an agenda or decimate the opposition. G I S o of the commonly confused problem of entropy In this regard, Granville Sewell’s In the NNI is a must read.” Beginning succeeds brilliantly.” Cornelius G. Hunter, Ph.D. William A. Dembski, Ph.D. N author of The Design Inference author of Science’s Blind Spot G ontroversy A N c In this wide-ranging collection of essays on origins, mathematician Granville Sewell looks at the D big bang, the fine-tuning of the laws of physics, and the evolution of life. He concludes that while O there is much in the history of life that seems to suggest natural causes, there is nothing to support THER Responses to critics of signature in the cEll Charles Darwin’s idea that natural selection of random variations can explain major evolutionary E S advances (“easily the dumbest idea ever taken seriously by science,” he calls it). Sewell explains S A Y why evolution is a fundamentally different and much more difficult problem than others solved s ON by science, and why increasing numbers of scientists are now recognizing what has long been I obvious to the layman, that there is no explanation possible without design.
    [Show full text]