Comment

← MUST WE ALWAYS CATER TO THE FAITHFUL WHEN TEACHING SCIENCE?

As long as I have been a scientist, I have lived with my colleagues' view that one cannot promote the acceptance of evolution in this country without catering to the faithful. This comes from the idea that many religious people who would otherwise accept evolution won't do so if they think it undermines their faith, promoting atheism or immoral behavior. Thus various organizations promoting the teaching of evolution, including the National Academy of Sciences and the National Center for Science Education, have published booklets or websites that explicitly say that faith and science are compatible. In other words, that is their official position.

I wish these scientists would stop pandering to the faithful and say what they believe. If that means the faithful don't accept evolution, then so be it. The NCSE should make it clear that science is based on a naturalistic world view and does not accept anything supernatural. If that means the faithful stop studying science, then it's their choice. But please stand by your principles and what you really believe.

Science is on the right side in this. Why lower its integrity for religion which is not even wrong, but just complete nonsense.

Permalink Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:56:00 UTC | #342436