Teach the controversy: Grand Canyon created by Noah's flood?
This was on Daily Kos a few days ago, so maybe some of you saw it. According to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the National Park Service is under orders from Bush appointees to not discuss the age of the Grand Canyon. Religious fundamentalists believe it was created by Noah's flood, and, who knows, they could probably find dozens of scientists to agree.
According to PEER...
pinche over at Kos probably said it best:
Andy in H-burg
According to PEER...
"In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "It is disconcerting that the official position of a national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is 'no comment.'"
pinche over at Kos probably said it best:
Seriously, it is time for the adults to take charge of our country before we start blowing up ancient Buddhas off of mountain sides.
Andy in H-burg
Labels: religious liberty, science
posted by ACLU of Pennsylvania at 1/01/2007 10:05:00 PM
7 Comments:
I think one of the most overused and abused phrases in our overly pc culture is "You have to respect others' beliefs."
Actually, no you don't. If the belief directly contradicts facts, I don't have to respect it.
If someone wants to believe the earth is 6000 years old, fine. They can remain ignorant and I won't care.
But when they try to teach *my* kid that the world is 6000 years because anything else would contradict their bible, then I have a problem.
The article mentioned the same argument that ID was using: We have to present the other side of the argument.
But as the Dover trial wonderfully illustrated, creationism ISN'T the "other side" of anything. It's not science, doesn't belong in science, and needs to be kept out of science.
As Bucky the cat said in "Get Fuzzy": I'm not close-minded. You're just wrong!
The American Association of Zoos and Aquaria has a goal (for its member institutions) to "not offend people with traditional belief sets". That's probably why zoo staff (and signage at zoos) rarely mention an old earth or that species evolve over time. I.e., it's not just the National Park Service.
I'd love to hear from PA parks on this issue.
"Atheism quotes" hits the nail on the head. Individuals in American society can believe anything they want, no matter how hairbrained, but the minute those believers want to teach those ideas to children or adults under the auspices of the government, be it in schools, the NPS or some other agency, they should be shown the door. Nonsense is nonsense and should be disseminated only via private avenues, not at public expense.
And Colin Purrington makes a good point. Zoos should stick to science and avoid religion. Evolution and the accurate age of the Earth, when appropriate, belong on every sign in every zoo in this country. To post anything else is either dishonest or religious proselytizing.
There are a lot of problems with this story. My investigation turned up a lot. Don't believe everything you read.
http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html
GRC sells books, not the NPS. GRC is a private, non-profit group. They also sell American Indian books with creation myths. The book in question is in the "inspirational" section. Most of PEER's claims are wildly unsubstantiated.
I am still waiting for a monkey to turn into a human...
Guess I will still keep waiting.
What do you believe will happen when you take you last breathe of air?
it doesn´t matter how old we are - respect is universal
Reg Marv
Whoops!
http://timblair.net/ee/index.php/weblog/comments/lane_offline/#207076
You are such a moron.
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