Re: the `body language' of a threatened `priesthood'? (was More fiction from Stephen)

From: Chris Cogan (ccogan@telepath.com)
Date: Mon Aug 21 2000 - 01:35:13 EDT

  • Next message: Chris Cogan: "Re: the `body language' of a threatened `priesthood'? (was More fiction from Stephen)"

    >From: Stephen E. Jones <sejones@iinet.net.au>
    >
    > > "In the final analysis, it is not any specific scientific evidence that
    > > convinces me that Darwinism is a pseudoscience that will collapse
    > > once it becomes possible for critics to get a fair hearing. It is the
    > > way the Darwinists argue their case that makes it apparent that they
    > > are afraid to encounter the best arguments against their theory. A
    > > real science does not employ propaganda and legal barriers to
    > > prevent relevant questions from being asked, nor does it rely upon
    > > enforcing rules of reasoning that allow no alternative to the official
    > > story. If the Darwinists had a good case to make, they would
    > > welcome the critics to an academic forum for open debate, and they
    > > would want to confront the best critical arguments rather than to
    > > caricature them as straw men. Instead they have chosen to rely
    > > upon the dishonorable methods of power politics." (Johnson P.E.,
    > > "The Wedge of Truth: Splitting the Foundations of Naturalism,"
    > > InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove IL., 2000, p.141)
    >
    >Johnson implicitly admits that his case against Darwinism is not based on
    >scientific evidence (which as just as well, as he doesn't have any), but is
    >based on the tone of the Darwinian arguments--rather like Bertvan, who bases
    >her position on the politeness of the arguments, and Stephen Jones who is
    >now emphasising "body language" and "attitude".
    >
    >Accusations of "propaganda" are easy to make, and are made by both sides. In
    >the final analysis, what *should* count are the scientific arguments. If
    >decisions are based on the scientific arguments, then evolutionists have
    >nothing to fear. Unfortunately, however, the ID movement is very clever in
    >its use of propaganda. (The evolutionist propaganda, as Johnson describes
    >it, seems quite clumsy in comparison.) If only IDers could apply their
    >cleverness to a genuine attempt at understanding the scientific arguments,
    >then the issue could be quickly resolved.

    Chris
    I doubt it, because, even if they *understood* the scientific arguments,
    they'd still be bound by religious preconceptions to reject them. Their
    religious beliefs are, for them, more important than cognitive contact with
    the facts involved.



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