Evolutionists on a Crusade to 'Educate' the Public

The latest work by Richard Dawkins is among books seeking to stem the growth of creationism.

SUMMARY (of a commentary by PZ Myers): Aware of assaults on "science", scientists are reaching out and trying to explain their work to the lay public. A number of books describing evolution theory have recently been published, the latest of which is Richard Dawkins' The Greatest Show on Earth.

While public schools are failing to educate people about biology, it is now easier to pick up basic information and get a good idea of "why evolution has been such a powerful idea in biology."

Solving the problem of creationism isn't as easy as simply handing out copies of Dawkins' book. Most critics of evolution "don’t have the slightest idea of the principles of the theory." Creationists assert there are no transitional fossils, for instance, when there are "a few hundred."

While Richard Dawkins talks about reaching the fence-sitters, Myers thinks committed evolutionists as well as devout creationists should also read these books.

(Photo of Richard Dawkins from Wikimedia Commons .)

To read Myers' entire commentary click on this link to SEED MAGAZINE.

COMMENT: PZ Myers, a biology professor at the U. of Minnesota, and Richard Dawkins are both outspoken defenders of Darwin and harsh critics of conservative Christians and creationists. So, for Myers to defend Dawkins is to be expected. It is a surprise though to see so many half-truths and misrepresentations in one short commentary at the same time as Myers is accusing creationists of distortions and ignorance. Following are a few of his questionable remarks:

Scientists are aware of the assaults on science by the conservative religious right. The religious right, especially creation science, isn't attacking science; it is attacking evolutionary theory. Creationist and Intelligent Design scientists don't consider Darwin's theory to be science.

There are no excuses now for not being informed about the core principles of the socially (but not scientifically!) controversial theory of evolution. While many creationist scientists with advanced degrees denounce evolution theory for both religious and scientific reasons, many scientists, especially those in the Intelligent Design movement, reject evolution for only scientific and common sense reasons. Many aspects of evolutionary theory are controversial within the scientific establishment itself, such as gradualism vs. punctuated equilibrium.

Most of the critics of evolution don’t have the slightest idea of the principles of the theory. Does Myers here include the many ex-evolutionist scientists who have now converted to creationism or the Intelligent Design movement?

I’m always being told that it’s entirely about chance conjuring complex organisms into existence, the old “tornado in a junk yard” canard. The comparison of the chances of life originating by natural means to that of a 747 airplane being constructed by a tornado passing through a junkyard was not originally made by a creationist. It was made by Sir Fred Hoyle, an astronomer who apparently was not even a Christian.

Creationists assert that there are no transitional fossils, for instance, so we have to show them a few hundred. Only a few hundred? Darwin himself wrote, “Why, if species have descended from other species by fine gradations, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms?” (Darwin, C. 1902. On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, 6th Edition. New York: P. F. Collier & Son. 233) The fact of the matter is that the handful of fossils alleged to be transitional fossils, such as Archaeopteryx and Ida, all seem to be controversial within the scientific establishment itself.

“The Cambrian explosion was a sudden event that can only be explained by the work of a designer” This quotation attributed to creation theory is off the mark. Creationists, in general at least, see the Cambrian explosion (the sudden appearance of all types of creatures in the fossil record) as evidence for a worldwide catastrophe (Noah's Flood) that deposited all the different fossils in the ground at about the same time. The Cambrian explosion has nothing to do with design. On the other hand, Darwinists are obligated to explain how all these different types of fossils appear at the same time in the ground fully formed and without transitional fossils.

It is apparent that evolutionists have been stung by polling results showing support for Darwin's theory, in America at least, at less than 50% to as low as 33% or lower. They hope to counter this trend with their new books. I just hope readers who pick up Dawkins' book or one of the other new books will investigate both sides of the story, because truth in the end will win out. Perhaps some of the fence sitters, with God's help, will read the original creationist book, the Holy Bible, through which they might not just become anti-evolutionists, but, more important, will become believers in Jesus Christ as Savior--saved for eternal life in heaven.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

What causes tinnitus (ringing in the ears)?

The most common cause is inner-ear cell damage. The tiny hairs in the inner ear can become bent or broken, leaking electrical impulses to the brain. Other common causes for tinnitus include earwax blocking the ear canal, benign tumors, head or neck injuries, depression, stress, and exposure to loud noises.

Source: Dr. Peter Gott in (Racine) Journal Times (10/4/09)