Re: [asa] Yes -- the YECs are still winning

Bernie wrote:

> A question: Why not have a position against YEC since this is a
> group of scientists who reject a young earth because it goes
> against science?

Think about this. The Geological Society of America does not require
its members to agree to any statement on science (and that includes
something as fundamental as an ancient Earth). This is entirely
appropriate, because agreeing to any scientific conclusion is not
what should define being a member of the scientific community. There
are YECs who are GSA members and present regularly at national GSA
meetings. Furthermore, there are YECs who have papers published in
respected geology journals. The only criterion for accepted papers
is the quality of the research and the reasonableness of the
interpretations drawn based on the data available.

I think that this should be the same criteria that ASA uses to assess
the work of its members. The ASA has additional criteria that
involve faithfulness to its statement of faith. However, I do not
see why the ASA should have more stringent membership requirements
with regard to science than a professional geological society.

Now, it should be very difficult for an author to publish a paper in
the ASA journal that promotes YEC (because it would fail in both the
substance of its scientific argument as well as likely its
theological argument). But, that does not mean that a YEC could not
be an ASA member or publish in the journal (on a topic other then
advocating YEC).

What you may be suggesting above is a statement on the failure of YEC
as a scientific argument, rather than a statement that would prohibit
membership in the ASA to those who support YEC. Randy has come
fairly close to such a statement in his critique of the Rate Project.

Keith

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Received on Thu Feb 5 19:45:53 2009