Re: Dawkins speaks for Science? (was How should Christians

Stephen Jones (sjones@iinet.net.au)
Sun, 07 Jan 96 08:36:11 EST

Bill

On Thu, 4 Jan 1996 09:32:15 -0500 you wrote:

SJ>IMHO Dawkins is the mirror image of the extreme YEC fundamentalist.
>Unfortunately, he is the type of person who the naturalistic science
>establishment has chosen to represent its views to the non-scientific
>public:
>
>"Among modern Darwinists, Dawkins has achieved enormous acclaim for
>presenting orthodox neo-Darwinism persuasively....he does so with the
>wholehearted support of the scientific establishment of his nation."
>(Johnson P.E., "Reason in the Balance", p76)

BH>I wonder if Dawkins really enjoys the widespread support Phil is
>claiming here. I have some vague recollections of quotations from
>other scientists which are critical of Dawkins for mixing his
>metaphysics with what he labels as science in his books, and for
>preaching a certainty about his conclusions that is not justified.
>Unfortunately I don't remember where these quotations appeared. Does
>anyone else?

I think Phil's point is not that *all scientists* agree with Dawkins,
but that *the scientific establishment* agrees with his metaphysical
naturalism and shows this by honouring him (along with Sagan) as
one of their few publicly acclaimed spokesmen.

Dawkins may not speak for *scientists* but, in the perception of the
media and the general public, he certainly does speak for *science*.

God bless.

Stephen

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