Kreationism in Kansas (the land of Oz)

[donsu]

http://www.counterpunch.com/cox07252005.html


Sometime later this year, Kansas public school students will become subject to new science standards that have a distinctly creationist spin. And that's fine with a majority of their parents, who, according to a recent poll, want creationist views taught in the state's biology classes.

The gutting of Kansas's evolution curriculum is inevitable, because the religious right controls a majority on the state Board of Education. But the Board is prolonging the agony with an extended process of "study" and "public comment".

A key event was a three-day hearing in Topeka in early May that showcased theories promoted by the Intelligent Design Network of Shawnee Mission, Kansas. ("Intelligent design" is a mutant form of creationism that attempts to mimic biological research.)

The enemies of evolution are on the march. They may not have any decent science to back them up, but, sadly, it's not good science that settles an issue like this. The decisive battlegrounds are religion, politics, and economics, and there, the creationists have a big edge in firepower.
-snip-
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whose on your school board?

[atommom]

1. It does pay to be vigilant about who gets on your own school board.

The RW is attempting the same thing in many different states, and they can be quite cagey about their beliefs while running for office. I expect the usual onslaught of anti-Kansas posts here, but remember that our state is not at all unique. Chances are that RWers in your own state would love to do the same thing, so keep your eyes open!

[hobbit709]

5. Mark Twain said it best

"First God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards."

[annabanana]

2. Jeez! they'll have to import ALL their doctors..

what a stupid thing to do
(Kansas, I feel very sorry for you)

[lawladyprof]

24. Not exactly

My former doctor (deep in the heart of Dixie here) was a creationist. I know 'cause she wrote letters to the editor of the local paper.

[K-W]

27. Yah, they teach them to compartmentalize.

So they can hold the dissidant views that medical science is correct, ut evolutionary science is wrong, even though the two are tied together.

[formerrepuke]

3. Will Kansas high school grads have completed the science requirements

for college entrance requirements? More to the point, will students who want to pursue science degrees be able to do so?

[wtbymark]

11. probably not

and when the content of their curriculum reaches the north east universities, the incoming students (if any are accepted) will have to take all those classes over again - with the correct content. Well, they can stay in kansas and become bible teachers. I wonder if the U of kansas will even accept them without demotion.

[hobbit709]

4. Wait until they start on mathematics

After all, in the Bible the value of pi is 3. Reference being in the cauldron that King Solomon received that was 9 cubits in circumference and 3 cubits in diameter. Nobody ever accused the ancient Hebrews of being mathematicians. For that you had to talk to the Egyptians, the Babylonians, the Greeks. But itinerant sheep-herders didn't need complex math.

[fujiyama]

7. Egyptians, and Babylonians

I dunt want dem der skuls teecing dat der ayrab mat.

[XemaSab]

26. algebra's one a them ayrab words.

and them numbers they got are ayrab too.

If Roman numbers are good enough for Jesus and football, they're good enough for me!

[wli]

18. this is a somewhat overstated claim

The Greeks didn't invent pi (in fact, the name of the constant is due to Euler in the 18th century), it was pervasively known even in antiquity. The use of approximate measurements and approximate characterizations of shapes was not claiming the value of pi is 3.

There isn't a whole lot of direct evidence along this front, except what appears to be circumstantial evidence of the use of trigonometry in navigation, geodesy, and astronomy in antiquity and even prehistoric times. The fact they got "right answers" attests to this.

[hobbit709]

29. Maybe they didn't invent it

but they knew that the circumference divided by the diameter was 3 and a fraction, not 3 even.

[Ian David]

6. Dumb Dumb Dorothy

Dumb Dumb Dorothy
By Brenda Sutton
© 2000

I've clicked my heels so many times. I was a fool to grieve
For Flatland and the monochromes I now desire to leave
I want my eyes to match my gown, to float the bubble tram
And be where I know simply who I am

Summon all the Gods of Air and let the wild wind howl
I'll pitch my porch to the gray-green sky and ply the witch's trowel
Put Kansas to my backside, and bid a swift farewell
To the dust and the hogs and the prairie corn sage smell

Chorus:
I want to go where nothing's as it seems
I want to sing and fight and laugh and dream
I want my answers to be "Just because
That's the way in the merry old land of OZ."

<snip>

Kansas is all right, yet it is not my only home
I may visit now and then, but will always roam
How ya gonna keep me down on the farm, after all I've seen?
Please let OZ be real and Kansas be the dream

More:
http://www.threeweirdsisters.com/lyrics_dumbdorothy.htm

[ComerPerro]

8. I assure you, a majority DOES NOT support creationism

The creationists freaks here just manipulate opinion polls and have become really good at spinning things to their twisted world-view.

They dress it up as being "open minded". They use bullshit like "All views should be taught".

But its an obvious lie. Creationists don't sincerely believe that "all views" should be taught. Hell, they don't even want evolution taught unless you say that its "just a theory, and is unproven".

Interestingly enough, they don't requre that people teaching creationism say that its "just something that only appears in one book and can never be proven".

[DFWdem]

9. Belief in creationism in and of itself isn't a bad thing

It's the people who believe creationism and evolution are mutually exclusive that are the problem. I believe in a creator, but I believe it in the context that the creator got the ball rolling and then nature took over via evolution, free will, etc. I must add, though, that I don't think the earth was created 6,000 or 7,000 years ago, or however old the nutcases think it is. Not all people who believe in creationism are blind. After all, the Founding Fathers believed in creationism; to wit - "All men are created equal", "All men are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights", etc.

[meganmonkey]

10. It's also teaching it as SCIENCE that crosses a serious line

A scientific theory is much different than a theological one....

[DFWdem]

13. Well, true

If they want it taught in science class it could be done rather quickly. Teacher: "That sums up evolution. However, some people do not believe in evolution. Rather, they believe all people and things were created by god. Okay, our next topic is...". That would cover it.

[Sparkman]

15. One Dr. Gene Scott allows Gods"appearance" of millions of evolution yrs.

While technically, miraculously adhereing to the scriptural 3000-7000 year age of the planet & universe.

[DFWdem]

16. Whatever floats his boat, i guess

But in my opinion he falls into the category of nutcases. I guess we (Mr. Scott and I) won't know who's right until we're both dead and in the ground.

[Sparkman]

19. DOCTOR Scott, beat you to the punch. Died this year. Truly a GREAT 1

Sorry for any provocation, but Dr. Scott had a PHD from Stanford, fought the government on a dozen fronts, created KDOC TV, as it's pioneer, used by secular public television broadcasters, a cigar smoking intelect with a working knowledge of ancient languages as well as an end-times scholar without pier. A real non-conformist from a full gospel pentacostal background, intolerant of government interference into our private lives, putting it simply, personal responsablity takes precidence over conformity.

[Sparkman]

12. Dr. Gene Scott, intelectual bible scholar had an interesting evolution...

position. If God chose to make his creation APPEAR to have evolved over millions, not thousands of years, so be it. Scott didn't try to deny the science, but emphasized faith.
I hope there's room for evangelists, fundamentalists and clergy in our future. It's impossible to prove or disprove divinity, few concepts are so characterized. So in keeping with my liberal philosophy, proof of diety and the creation would remove the CHOICE parameter from spititual faith, and force worship or opposition of God, if God were to be obvious and demonstrate in your face presence.
The motive for allegiance to God would then be a selfish, join-the-winning-all-powerful team. AND that mean's agnostic, athiest, humanist and worshiper should have equal access in a society claiming LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT O HAPPY TIMES, here on planet earth.
PERSONAL CHOICE, with responability.
The problem in our present state seems to be a lack of tolerance by those in power, and their indebtedness to show religious conformity.
For a Judeo/Christian adherent that abuses "earthly" power, that is hypocracy and heresy. Jesus was renowned for his rebellious teachings against the Jewish pharisees and saducees, and their alliance with nation-states? Whatever status one ascribes to Jesus,
most disciples died horribly upholding their faith. sorry 4 diatribe

[Walt Starr]

14. Flying Spaghetti Monsterism in Kansas

OPEN LETTER TO KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD

I am writing you with much concern after having read of your hearing to decide whether the alternative theory of Intelligent Design should be taught along with the theory of Evolution. I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

Let us remember that there are multiple theories of Intelligent Design. I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was He who created all that we see and all that we feel. We feel strongly that the overwhelming scientific evidence pointing towards evolutionary processes is nothing but a coincidence, put in place by Him.

It is for this reason that I’m writing you today, to formally request that this alternative theory be taught in your schools, along with the other two theories. In fact, I will go so far as to say, if you do not agree to do this, we will be forced to proceed with legal action. I’m sure you see where we are coming from. If the Intelligent Design theory is not based on faith, but instead another scientific theory, as is claimed, then you must also allow our theory to be taught, as it is also based on science, not on faith.

Some find that hard to believe, so it may be helpful to tell you a little more about our beliefs. We have evidence that a Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe. None of us, of course, were around to see it, but we have written accounts of it. We have several lengthy volumes explaining all details of His power. Also, you may be surprised to hear that there are over 10 million of us, and growing. We tend to be very secretive, as many people claim our beliefs are not substantiated by observable evidence. What these people don’t understand is that He built the world to make us think the earth is older than it really is. For example, a scientist may perform a carbon-dating process on an artifact. He finds that approximately 75% of the Carbon-14 has decayed by electron emission to Nitrogen-14, and infers that this artifact is approximately 10,000 years old, as the half-life of Carbon-14 appears to be 5,730 years. But what our scientist does not realize is that every time he makes a measurement, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is there changing the results with His Noodly Appendage. We have numerous texts that describe in detail how this can be possible and the reasons why He does this. He is of course invisible and can pass through normal matter with ease.

I’m sure you now realize how important it is that your students are taught this alternate theory. It is absolutely imperative that they realize that observable evidence is at the discretion of a Flying Spaghetti Monster. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to teach our beliefs without wearing His chosen outfit, which of course is full pirate regalia. I cannot stress the importance of this, and unfortunately cannot describe in detail why this must be done as I fear this letter is already becoming too long. The concise explanation is that He becomes angry if we don’t.

You may be interested to know that global warming, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking numbers of Pirates since the 1800s. For your interest, I have included a graph of the approximate number of pirates versus the average global temperature over the last 200 years. As you can see, there is a statistically significant inverse relationship between pirates and global temperature.



In conclusion, thank you for taking the time to hear our views and beliefs. I hope I was able to convey the importance of teaching this theory to your students. We will of course be able to train the teachers in this alternate theory. I am eagerly awaiting your response, and hope dearly that no legal action will need to be taken. I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.

Sincerely Yours,

Bobby Henderson, concerned citizen.

P.S. I have included an artistic drawing of Him creating a mountain, trees, and a midget. Remember, we are all His creatures.



http://www.venganza.org/

Note to mods: This guy wants this spread far and wide.

[oldcoot]

30. LOL

This guy is very creative and funny.

[rlev1223]

17. Great Mencken link -- Scopes trial reporting.

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/menk.htm

[wtmusic]

20. Yeah, except Mencken was a racist anti-Semite

:hi:

[rlev1223]

21. And a eugenicist too

Well, no one is perfect, but he wrote that way.

[DBoon]

22. Most modern medicine is based on evolutionary biology

If they don't like evolution, then the next time they need medical care, they should refuse treatment and rely on prayer alone.

Another "faith based initiative" in the making!

[yukie]

23. just curious

What modern medical treatment is based upon evolution? I wasn't aware that either anti-biotics or organ replacement surgery was related to evolution. Do you have a link?

[DBoon]

25. Genetic differences based on evolution...

are used when testing drugs and other therapies.

No link, but shouldn't be hard to find.

Evolutionary biology predicts that genetic differences between species are proportional to how far apart they are in terms of having evolved from common ancestors. Using this allows some confidence in applying the results of animal tests to humans.

On edit: that and evolution (as a rich, complex theory of life) is so integrally tied in with modern biology that doing medicine without it would like trying to do a space shot without Newton's theory of gravity.

[K-W]

28. I dont think surgery is a modern development.

As far as antibiotics, it depends on your definition of modern.

I would use the term Recent Medical science myself, which has in a large part been related to evolutionary biology.