Re: [asa] a challenge to engage Steve Meyer's ideas

Ted,

BTW, I read a little bit of the blogger responses on that site and here is a
classic argument that comes up again and again in the world:

[quote]
tiredofignorance: “I spend CONSIDERABLE amounts of time reading
peer-reviewed biological and chemical science research articles and I have
never encountered any evidence of intelligent design.”
[unquote]

This is the James Curtsinger (prof EEB, U of Minnesota, board member
Minnesota Citizens for Science) argument where Curtsinger claims to have
done exhaustive literature searches for design and found no literature -
therefore (he says) the topic of design isn't science.

And this is then believed without critical questioning and repeated around
the world.

Ted, I believe you and others have pointed out on the ASA list recently in
your debate with Cameron, it doesn't make sense to come to any conclusion.
(I wish I could post a URL to that discussion, but a URL to my in box doesnt
make sense). I myself have been saying that when science hasnt examined a
topic then its not possible to reach a scientific conclusion and
therefore by default one reaches whats left: a religious conclusion.
(remember - Curtsinger's point is about whether non-humans could have
designed anything). Therefore Curtsinger by default presents religious
motivated conclusions, not scientific ones. Where's the secular purpose in
that?

Let me try to be more clear. A scientific conclusion has a primary effect.
The religious implications are a secondary effect. Curtsinger took
scientists out of the picture by declaring that science has not examined the
question (as proven by the 100% lack of literature). Therefore whats left
over is the residual secondary effect. Which is religious.
Therefore, when Minnesota Citizens go to school boards in Minnesota they are
presenting a religious conclusion, not a scientific conclusion.

How can I be any more clear? Curtsinger (rightly or wrongly) eliminated
science from any impact on the conclusion which he presents about design.
The evaluation of design is therefore determined soley by its religious
impact.

-Dave C

On Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 2:57 PM, Ted Davis <TDavis@messiah.edu> wrote:

> The following challenge may interest some. If anyone active here decides
> to do this, please let us know -- and put a copy of your comments here.
>
> Ted
>
>
> http://blog.beliefnet.com/kingdomofpriests/2009/07/a-challenge-to-intelligent-design-bashing-regulars-on-this-blog.html
>
>
>
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Received on Thu Jul 23 11:57:40 2009