UA Library Board member sponsoring creationist talk at UAHS
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In surveys conducted in 2005, people in the United States and 32 European countries were asked whether to respond “true,” “false” or “not sure” to this statement: “Human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animals.” Click for a larger version.
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UA Library Board member sponsoring creationist talk at UAHS
A young earth creationist, intelligent design (ID) advocate and philosophy professor Paul Nelson, will be speaking at Upper Arlington High School on Feb 11th. A UA Library Board of Trustees member, Bryce Kurfees, is listed as the contact on the event's invitiation.
UAPA is concerned about this presentation because:
- Nelson and the ID advocates explicitly aim to change school science curriculum to include the pseudo-science of intelligent design. Ohio religious fundamentatlists groups have a history of trying to inject creationism into the science classroom, using high-ranking elected Republicans to support them.
- the Discovery Institute to which Nelson belongs, is primarily a political lobbying organization, not a scientific research organization
- intelligent design is a disguised form of creationism and legislating it into the science classroom is a direct attack on the scientific method. If ID wants to be in the science classroom, it should follow the path of any scientifically verifiable, testable theory by engaging in the scientific peer journal review process. Non-scientific theories about our origins belong in philosophy or comparative religion classes, not the science classroom.
- pitting evolution vs. intelligent design implicitly tells students wishing to accept the overwhelming evidence for evolution, they must abandon God. This sets up a false dichotomy that undermines both science and religion.
- the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the largest association of scientists is clear:
- "... that the lack of scientific warrant for so-called 'intelligent design theory' makes it improper to include as a part of science education;"
- "... AAAS urges citizens across the nation to oppose the establishment of policies that would permit the teaching of "intelligent design theory" as a part of the science curricula of the public schools;"
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May we suggest....
- YouTube Video: How to Interview a Global Warming Denier
- YouTube Video: Political Reporters Fail To Ask About Climate Change
- ProgressOhio's investigative story of betrayal about how Republican Matt Damschroder was able to pit progressive against progressive to sidetrack Jennifer Brunner's election reform proposal.
