Encouraged by Mare’s last post and Dash 167’s Richard Dawkins-post from last week I felt the need to continue the discussion Dash started. Continue the dialogue, if you will. Thanks for the encouragement, Mare.
Although I (like many of us, I assume) usually shy away from discussions that we can assume will quickly devolve to name calling as we retreat to our respective cultural ghettos and pat ourselves on the back for believing the right things, or knowing the truths others deny. But I am more of a libertarian by nature, which means I am used to being a liberal in conservative company and a conservative in liberal company more often than not. But the continued dialogue is absolutely necessary.
As luck would have it, the stars were aligned and I ended up netflixing the Ben Stein documentary EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED about 24 hours after watching the Dawkin’s documentary. Neither of which are easy to watch if you are of opposing views, by the way.
Full disclosure. I am an artist, not a scientist and I don’t even remember 10th grade biology. But the points brought up by both sides of the argument in these videos seem more philosophic at their core than scientific. Having to do with how the data is interpeted. I am also a Christian, Pauline and reformed in my theology, more or less a Calvinist (as much as I understood from reading The Institutes). And I have never thought that belief in Darwinian evolution threatened my faith in the slightest.
The thing that frightened me so much about Dawkins delivery is that he seems to imply that the government state should practically take children from parents whom have beliefs that he finds offensive. Thats a lot of people to control, and indoctrinate correctly. In no way do I think that the story of Genesis should be taught in science text books. But there is a big gap between the nuts on the religious right and Dawkin’s desire to have a world wide singularly acceptable education for all children, approved by him.
A few counter points to look for are:
-Intelligent Design is NOT the beleif in the literal 6 day Creationism of Genesis.
-Political, scientific and professional freedom are all the main point and necessary to forge forward within the scientific establishment.
-The historic progression of Darwin’s theories eventually lead to organized eugenics that gave the world, class based birth control, and in its extreme, naziism.
Beware the sound of one hand clapping. There are two sides to every story (at least). Stay open to the dialogue. We don’t have to have it all worked out. Lets work it out together.
Critical and diverse discussion welcome. But Trolls will be deleted immediately.
Playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?pi=0&ps=20&sf=&sa=0&sq=&dm=0&p=1577E215AECEA94E
Part 1 of 11:
11/11 - And the Dawkins interview:
Posted by Handselecta on February 24, 2009 at 12:03 AM
