Anti-science forces are now linking global warming with evolution

[steven johnson]

Conservative evangelical christians are trying to link evolution and global warming as a legal strategy to sidestep court rulings condidering the teaching of creationism in the public schools to be a violation of the separation of church and state. Drawing global warming into the debate is thought to allow the camel's nose under the tent by claiming academic freedom in general and for these two topics specifically.

Public opinion polls report that 23 percent of evangelical christians and 36 percent of the American population as a whole believe in global warming. Since only 39% of Americans believe in evolution and 58% of republicans doubt Obama was born in the US, there is a reality disconnect with conservatives.

Critics of the teaching of evolution in the nation’s classrooms are gaining ground in some states by linking the issue to global warming, arguing that dissenting views on both scientific subjects should be taught in public schools.

“Our kids are being presented theories as though they are facts,” said State Representative Tim Moore of Kentucky.

In Kentucky, a bill recently introduced in the Legislature would encourage teachers to discuss “the advantages and disadvantages of scientific theories,” including “evolution, the origins of life, global warming and human cloning.”

The bill, which has yet to be voted on, is patterned on even more aggressive efforts in other states to fuse such issues. In Louisiana, a law passed in 2008 says the state board of education may assist teachers in promoting “critical thinking” on all of those subjects.

Last year, the Texas Board of Education adopted language requiring that teachers present all sides of the evidence on evolution and global warming.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/science/earth/04climate.html?em">Darwin Foes Add Warming to Targets

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Back to the Stone Age...as fast as possible.

To these guys, "The Flintstones" was a documentary..

[sui generis]

2. I'd really really really like to add unicorns and mermaids to creationism

Maybe if we stop protesting creationism and merely overwhelm it with fantastical assertions, facts, assumptions, and conclusions, Thuh Theory of Creationism can be taught as it should be - in the sci-fi fantasy section of your local school library, and as literature, not science, and certainly and not in your local school science curriculum.

[TZ]

3. I'm not surprised

There seems to be a school of denial that has the exact same mindset. I just encountered a person who rebutted a story about how climate change is going to make infectious diseases like malaria worse and the rebuttal was a quote from Buddha! Nothing agaisnt Buddha but umm using a religious quote to debate a scientific point kinda makes you look like a fool