From: Michael Roberts (michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk)
Date: Sat Oct 11 2003 - 16:08:37 EDT
Why is Discovery Institute distributing such a bad book as Icons of
Evolution?
I will admit that I was very hostile to ID when I first came across it and
in my review of Behe and S&CB in 1997. During 2000 when I went to the ID
conference in Concoria Wisconsin began to change my mind and began to feel
that I was too harsh to begin with. I was impressed with Dembski but had
grave doubts about such as Nelson.
What finished me was two things
1. the refusal of IDers to come clean over the age of the earth and their
keenness to share toothbrushes with YEC. (Though I still prefer the ribald
way I expressed that a month or two back).
2. the publication of Icons with its largely false accusations of dishonesty
by evolutionists. I do not want to share my toothbrush with someone who so
easily makes those type of accusations - those made about the peppered moth
are offensive in the extreme. That on the Cambrian Explosion makes me
explode.
That in combination that ID always seems to fall back on to God of the Gaps
means that I regard it as a false trail and one which by its very comprises
will become more and more YEC - and may even be a Trojan horse for YEC.
Sorry to be so critical Pattle but it is not through lack of serious study
and Howard will say "I told you so"!
Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pattle Pak Toe Pun" <Pattle.P.Pun@wheaton.edu>
To: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 1:06 AM
Subject: Texas debates handling of evolution in textbooks (fwd)
TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONSIDERS HOW EVOLUTION SHOULD BE PRESENTED
IN TEXTBOOKS
Next month the Texas State Board of Education will make a decision on
whether to apply a Texas state law which requires teaching both strengths
and weaknesses of scientific theories to how evolution is presented in high
school biology textbooks. This decision will have enormous national impact
because Texas is the second largest purchaser of textbooks in the country.
Discovery Institute has presented the board with information including:
a Zogby poll that shows overwhelming support from Texans on teaching
students about both the weaknesses as well as the strengths of Darwin's
theory;
three detailed analyses of the eleven textbooks under review, highlighting
their errors and inaccuracies;
five binders of excerpts from peer-reviewed science journals documenting
textbook problems relating to origin of life research, embryology, the
Cambrian Explosion, the distinction between microevolution and
macroevolution, and peppered moth research;
a letter from the United States Congress clarifying the Santorum language in
the conference report of the No Child Left Behind Act which endorses
teaching both strengths and weaknesses of scientific theories; and,
complementary copies of the book and video Icons of Evolution.
http://postsnet.com/r.html?c=241032&r=240583&t=215051658&l=1&d=84868826&u=ht
tp://www.discovery.org/csc/texas/&g=0&f=84868840
ICONS OF EVOLUTION
Are students learning the whole truth about Darwin's theory of evolution?
According to a growing number of scientists, the surprising answer is no.
They claim that many of the most famous "Icons of Evolution"- including
Darwin's "Tree of Life", finches from the Galapagos Islands, and embryos
that look remarkably similar-are based on outdated research and sloppy
logic. They say that students are being hurt by the failure to present both
sides of an emerging scientific debate over Darwin's theory.
Icons explores this fascinating new conflict over evolution in the
classroom-a conflict based on science, not religion. Learn about the
controversy that engulfs one town when a teacher actually tries to tell the
students that some scientists disagree with Darwin.
http://postsnet.com/r.html?c=241032&r=240583&t=215051658&l=1&d=84868828&u=ht
tp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0972043306/qid%3D1065546476/sr%3D11-1/r
ef%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-3060654-7048650&g=0&f=84868840
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