Evolution is a scientific fact, and every organisation whose research depends on it should explain why.
The event that has stimulated this editorial is the publication by the US National Academy of Sciences of an updated version of its booklet Science, Evolution, and Creationism. We encourage the readers of this blog to download and read the entire booklet.
We at Truth in Science are totally committed to the ongoing debate over the scientific validity of claims made for the Darwinian hypothesis. We welcome and positively encourage a critical examination of the evidence. For too long the assertion has been made that there is overwhelming support for the theory of evolution.
Yes, let’s look more closely at the fossil record, the occurrence of molecular and skeletal homology. Let’s talk about the “Peppered Moth” and “Darwin’s Finches”. Let us reconsider the amazing complexity to be found in molecular nanomachinery. Let us discuss the nature of biological information and consider genetic mutation and what it can actually accomplish. Let’s have an open discussion. Evolution is a word with so many shades of meaning. But just how strong is the evidence for everything that is claimed for the theory? If evolution is so persuasive, why should there be an attempt to silence scientific objections? Science thrives on debate and even controversy.
One of the ploys of the scientific establishment is to dismiss valid scientific objections as being “Creationism” in disguise, just another attempt to impose religious beliefs on the unsuspecting. Surely, the teaching of evolution as undisputed fact carries its own assumptions and ideological bias which are being imposed by stealth.
It does appear that the distribution of the DVD “Unlocking the Mystery of Life” by Truth in Science to schools and colleges in the UK is one of the reasons why there has been the publication of new guidelines to teachers. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has passed its resolution.
The paranoia expressed in this document is particularly found in section 13:
The war on the theory of evolution and on its proponents most often originates in forms of religious extremism closely linked to extreme right-wing political movements. The creationist movements possess real political power. The fact of the matter, and this has been exposed on several occasions, is that some advocates of strict creationism are out to replace democracy by theocracy.
Did we have a theocracy in the days of Faraday, Maxwell, Kepler, and Simpson? What strange logic to frighten people with visions of repression. The reality is that today’s naturalistic dogmatism is fast crushing legitimate scientific debate. Inevitably, science and education will be the poorer for it.
Jumping on this bandwagon, the current issue of New Scientist carries the editorial “It’s Evolution, stupid.” It concludes as follows:
… if Americans do not have a basic scientific literacy, which must include evolution, the nation will not be able to compete in the global knowledge economy. That is unlikley to be enough to convince Huckabee, a Southern Baptist minister. But at least making the link will help to highlight the idiocy of a political position that calls for America to lead the world while denying one of the foundation stones of scientific progress.
We very much look forward to the release of the film "Expelled" which should be released in time for the Darwin bicenntenial. The production will effectively blow the lid on the attempts by the establishment to suppress open scientific discussion.
The scientific establishment is adopting a religious zeal in its efforts to suppress opposition. This, of course, is reflected in the writings of Professors Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett. This is also reflected in the editorial in Nature.
“Spread the Word” is its evangelistic clarion call. The editorial concludes as follows:
Between now and the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth on 12 February 2009, every science academy and society with a stake in the credibility of evolution should summarize evidence for it on their website and take every opportunity to promote it.We really welcome this initiative. Yes, let’s look critically at the evidence. We say “bring it on”.