Evolution versus Creationism Discussion

[Bert Pittman]

If  members of the scientific community ( taxonomists) do not want to
counter the purveyors of this peculiarly American form of mysticism and
anti-intellectualism, who will?

Bert Pittman
> ----------
> From:         John Grehan[SMTP:jrg13 at PSU.EDU]
> Sent:         Wednesday, April 22, 1998 3:17PM
> To:   Multiple recipients of list TAXACOM
> Subject:      Re: Evolution versus Creationism Discussion
>
> Personally I have no problem avoiding the evolution versus creationism
> debate, but I was
> not aware that certain subjects were banned.
>
> The listserver states that the facility  is for " all manner of
> discussion
> about biological systematics, including the science, educational,
> policy
> and political issues that are of concern to systematists".
>
> I don't understand the concern expressed by Jim Bach, but I hope that
> further disucssion of how evolution is presentated, conceptualized,
> taught
> etc is not precluded if such disucssion is of interest to
> participating
> systematists. If it is not, then the subject will fail to take up much
> of
> the traffic.
>
> John Grehan
>
>
> >Hi All:
> >
> >I would like to put a cap on the inevitable debate that would
> otherwise now
> >ensue about evolution versus creationism.  Taxacom is not the best
> place
> >for this.  Thank you.
> >
> >
> >Jim Beach
> >Listowner of Taxacom
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >At 12:30 PM 4/22/98 -0400, you wrote:
> >>Invitation by Peter Rauch to comment on the new National Academy of
> Science
> >>publication
> >>on teaching evolution.
> >>
> >>My comment is that it reads as a garbelled complicated series of
> assertions
> >>and inferences. It would
> >>do nothing to convince me that evolution qualifies as a science.
> There is a
> >>heavy emphasis on
> >>indoctrination about particular theories of how evolution takes
> place (e.g.
> >>natural selection),
> >>and far less on evolution as a scientific methodology (compare with
> the
> >>emphasis on method
> >>in chemistry or physics).
> >>
> >>As far as I am able to discern, evolution is generally taught as a
> doctrine
> >>which focuses on the
> >>assertion that certain things are true, and as such, is a mirror
> image to
> >>the Creationists who apply
> >>the same strategy.
> >>
> >>I realize my view is a minority (perhaps of one), but it is there
> >>nonetheless. With the way
> >>evolution is taught, I'm hardly surprised that teachers stay away
> from it.
> >>I wouldn't blame
> >>them in the slightest.
> >>
> >>John Grehan
> >>
> >>
> >
> >_________________________________________
> >
> >James H. Beach
> >National Biological Information Infrastructure
> >U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division
> >Tel: (703) 319-1173, Fax: same as Telephone
> >E-mail:  jhbeach at ibm.net
>