It’s not a hierarchy, law is not greater than theory, theory does not become law. Animals don’t evolve into “higher” forms, they adapt to their environment. This is not about communism, it is about people who have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to evolution trying to drag others down to their level of ignorance.

What is a scientific theory?

What is a scientific theory?

Chief,

Please don’t answer the question. You don’t know, and as a Christian, I don’t need the embarrassment.

You still have a mean streak, Commissar.

Commie, it seems to me that this topic, theory vs fact, has come up before. Don’t people ever learn?

P.S. I’m a Christian.

Oh, yeh… Merry Christmas to all, even those who are offended. Actually, especially those who are offended. Ho, Ho, ho…

(from this atheistic guy of Christian heritage)

BTW — John, Dorkafork, Michael, Grim, (and yeah, you too, Chief), I am quite touched that you would still read and even comment on my not-only-small, but largely suspended, blog. Thanks!

However, I thought this statement somewhat strange.

“Maybe because I live in a country where we aren’t having religious fundamentalism shoved down our throats, I can afford to be a bit more relaxed about it.”

I think you might be a victim of misinformation. Religious (Christian) Fundamentalism isn’t being forced down anyone’s throat here in the U.S. The amusing part is if you talk to the religious right crowd they will tell you “Secular Fundamentalism” is being pushed on the American People by our secular humanist elite and media. Who’s right? Depends on who you’re rooting for and what your ideology is (the ACLU and the Christian Coalition have very different opinions on the matter).

At any rate, Christmas is a wonderful time of year not only for celebrating Jesus Christ but for enjoying good times with all, Atheist or otherwise.

Oh, yeh, back to the topic. Evelution is still good science and supported by an overwhelming collection of evidence. The Creationist need to give it up and stop making Christians look bad. Which reminds me; relax Chief the ACLU has grounded its Black Helicopters for the “Winter Holiday”.

Many moons ago I worked for Kennesaw State U (while it was Kennesaw State College heh) and the rub then was Cobb county was refusing to host an Olympic event due to the sexual preference of one of the Players.

Some folks just don’t learn, and they’re some of’em

I think you might be a victim of seeing what you want to see. Read comment #8 again, more slowly this time.

Joli,
Perhaps it is you who needs to review their reading skills. My point is valid. Both sides accuse the other of pushing their agendas on the rest of us. However, since you lack a broader grasp of the U.S. let me make things a little more explicit. For every creationist sticker in a biology text book there is a removal of a Christmas display, or refusal to acknowledge this country’s Judeo-Christian heritage and culture, or an assault on horrible organizations like the Boy Scouts and so on, and so on. So, you see sweetie it is just a case of what matters to you. In closing maybe you should read # 9 a little more slowly, try wearing you glasses if that helps.

Saw this on Balloon Juice. Park Guides at the Grand Canyon are no longer allowed to tell visitors the geological age of the canyon for fear of upsetting biblical literalists.
The Judeo-Christian heritage thing doesn’t wash with me. I hear the same thing from my relatives up here. Our countries were founded on principles of freedom and tolerance, not on living up to the 10 commandments. That’s why atheism and blasphemy are not against the law.
If you want to set up a creche or a cross on your lawn, I have no problem with that. If you want me to pay with my tax dollars for a publicly funded creche, I’ll be pissed; taking my tax money to lie to my children. I’d be just as pissed if my money was used to teach my kids in science class that evolution was no better a theory than intelligent design, or that NASA can’t talk about the big bang, or that the Grand Canyon was created by Noah’s Flood. I support your right to believe whatever you like, whether it’s Jesus, Buddha, Spiderman or ET, but if you’re going to call it science and teach my children, you need more than a book of myths for evidence.

Now to be fair the Founding Fathers were heavily influenced by the philosophy of the “Enlightment” and to a large degree by John Locke’s 2nd Treatise on Civil Government & A Letter Concerning Toleration. These works were largely secular in their outlook and consequences. However, the main justification in both is that our rights are the gift of our creator, the Christian God, and can not be justly usurped by men.

Fortunately for us (US) religious tolerance and belief are both cornerstones of our society. Weather you buy into it or not is irrelevant.

“If you want me to pay with my tax dollars for a publicly funded creche, I’ll be pissed”

You need to develope a thicker skin. I don’t like paying taxes for many things that I think are wrong on principle. Get over it.

“I’d be just as pissed if my money was used to teach my kids in science class that evolution was no better a theory than intelligent design, or that NASA can’t talk about the big bang, or that the Grand Canyon was created by Noah’s Flood.”

I share your outrage respecting the above though. God, Jesus Christ, to the best of my knowledge does not compell me to disregard reality or Science. Those who advocate such nonsense are doing immense harm to themselves and those who they influence.

The problem I see between “Secular Humanist” and “Fundementalist Christians” is a disregard by both for Secular and Christian principles of “Tolerance”. To tolerate does not require agreement or acceptance but just live and let live. Like you I resent others forcing their morality on my children. Creationism (or ID if you like) is not science. However, some hippie grade school teacher telling my kids that God does not exist is equally abhorrent. In closing I’d say if both poles of this argument practiced real tolerance there would be no argument.

I am sure that there are some Creationists pushing such nonsense in the Bush admin, NASA, and the Park Service.

I am equally sure that this particular claim is exaggerated (by the good people at PEER who are anxious to sound the alarm). First, read the PEER link carefully. The read your comment again. You drew the inference that “Park Guides at the Grand Canyon are no longer allowed to tell visitors the geological age of the canyon.”

When you read the carefully written statement, you’ll see there is an inflammatory lead sentence that is “almost’ saying that, but then the rest of it is largely about the sale of some stupid Creationist book at the Park bookstore.

Next, check this link from the official NPS Grand Canyon website, which specifically mentions 1800 million year old formations.

So, at a minimum, the Creationists havent purged the website yet.

In sum: good concern, let’s keep the Creationist nonsense out of our Parks and official bookstores. But in this case, someone is exaggerating.

Also, the Christian God is referred to in our Founding Document, Declaration of Indepence, as well as the Federalist Papers.

Really? The only reference to any gods I can find in the Declaration of Indepence is to “Nature’s God”, hardly the Christian God - this is not surprising given the fact that many of the founding fathers were not strictly speaking Christians (rather they were Deists).

Just for giggles. Our most important founding Father, George Washington, was No Deist, but a confirmed Christian (Anglican).

Out of curiousity, besides Thomas Jefferson, can you name any of these many Deist? No, sarcasm. I’m honestly curious.

1. Well, because the people that came here were a perhaps Christians? However, the U.S. has never been a Country where the Church lays down the rules.

2. The Declaration and Constituion were/are not dealing with religious questions. But the Declaration mentions God in the begining and the Constitution talks about Blessings in its begining. So, it would seem that there was consideration of the Almighty’s view point.

“Judeo-Christianity has certainly had a tremendous influence on the US”

The above acknowledgement is true, but it is also true that we have a secular government. My problem stems from the observation that most can’t seem to understand this.