101
blackshadowcouk
Understanding the Real World
30/04/2005 00:07:00
Gregory Tingey recently sent me the following interesting e-mail &
given permission for it to be reproduced here.
Understanding the Real World
Creationism isn't affecting only the biology subjects that leads to a
fundamental (no pun intended) misunderstanding of science and the
world around us. This very dangerous creed needs to be stopped at
all points, and by rationalists against any believers, not just
Christian ones. We need to remember that "true" Muslims deny
Evolution (mankind was created from clots of blood), as do Hare
Krishna, and some Marxists (remember the fate of Vavilov and others
under Stalin, when they opposed Lysenko).
If one denies evolution, and proposes any from of creationism as a
supposed alternative explanation, then huge chunks of science (and
the technology built on that science) must be wrong. And yet the
technology works, and the science continues. This set of
interlocking values and results needs to be stressed. It gets even
more extreme, if the proponents of creationism are those of a "young
Earth" variety.
If creationism is true, then all molecular Biology is wrong, even
though Crick and Watson did their work in the 1950's - everything
they did, and everything built on that since is wrong. But it isn't.
If creationism is true, then all nuclear Physics is wrong, even
though work has been don on radioactive decay since the Curies' in
the 1910's - everything they did, and everything built on that since
is wrong. But it isn't. If we have a "young Earth" could someone
please explain radio-dating, and how and why both nuclear power and
nuclear weapons work as predicted, according to theory - which
assumes an old Earth. If creationism is true, then all Astronomy is
wrong, but it isn't. If creationism is true, then all the
professional plant-breeders and Botanists and Entomologists and
Palaeontologists and Archaeologists are wrong, but they are not.
The question is, how are we to get this message across to an
ignorant, and largely uncaring population? Here in Britain, we are
currently having a General Election, where there is far too much
religion in the polling, and not enough serious discussion. Far too
many people still think the religious beliefs of the candidates don'
t matter (!) and even some political activists either don't know who
Hyaaan Hirsan Ali is, or don't think that it matters to us. And
this is after nice Mr B liar (Blair) has said that the teachings of
the creationist academies are just a matter of opinion.
I would have thought that telling deliberate lies to children, as a
teacher, is professional misconduct. But no-one seems to care.
Greg. Tingey.
102
Adam Tjaavk
Evolutionary war
01/05/2005 12:37:00
Evolutionary war
In the ongoing struggle between evolution
and creationism, says philosopher of science
Michael Ruse, Darwinians may be their own
worst enemy |Peter Dizikes |Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/20
05/05/01/evolutionary_war/
=
http://tinyurl.com/a7ftj
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103
Adam Tjaavk
Evolution on trial
03/05/2005 14:20:00
Evolution on trial as Kansas
debates Adam versus Darwin
Carey Gillam |Reuters, Yahoo!
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050502/us_nm/life_evolution_dc
=
http://tinyurl.com/8pm8h
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104
Adam Tjaavk
Intelligent Design? - Special Report
03/05/2005 16:42:00
Special Report
Intelligent Design?
The theory of evolution by natural selection,
proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel
Wallace to account for the diversity of species
on Earth, has been refined and expanded during
nearly a century and half of research into
genetics and other biological sciences.
Nevertheless, the teaching of evolution remains
a source of contention in the United States,
where it conflicts with certain religious views.
In recent years, some opponents of Darwinism
have championed "Intelligent Design" as an
alternative scientific theory. Because this
remains a hot political issue, we reproduce
here a special report that Natural History
first published in April 2002.
http://nhmag.com/darwinanddesign.html
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105
blackshadowmeuk
King''s Academy.
04/05/2005 00:35:00
The following is a record of an ongoing exchange between Marc Draco
from Middlesbrough & the Academies Division, one that is yet
complete as Marc is not happy with the replies. My opinion is at the
bottom with a few comments yet to be added.
http://www.blackshadow.me.uk/html/letter.html
Marc's website is at:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/midnight.diamond/
Alan.
106
Adam Tjaavk
Fighting the creationist challenge
05/05/2005 20:38:00
Fighting the creationist challenge
Teachers, Scientists Vow to
Fight Challenge to Evolution
Creationists Seek Curriculum Change;
Kansas Education Hearings Open Today
Peter Slevin |Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/05/04/AR2005050402022.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/bbx7j
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107
Adam Tjaavk
Darwin in Kansas
06/05/2005 12:27:00
In Kansas,
Darwinism Goes on Trial Once More
Jodi Wilgoren |New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/06/education/06evolution.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/98f88
In Kansas, A Sharp Debate on Evolution
Educators Consider Intelligent Design
Peter Slevin |Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/05/05/AR2005050501927.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/br2qe
Evolution Isn't a Natural Selection Here
Kansas looks again at whether teachers should
be allowed to present non-scientific theories
P.J. Huffstutter |Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-
na-evolution6may06.story
=
http://tinyurl.com/8ezjl
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108
Adam Tjaavk
Kansas Evolves Back
08/05/2005 12:14:00
Editorial
Kansas Evolves Back
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/05/07/AR2005050700943.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/8pvrl
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109
Adam Tjaavk
Darwin on trial in Topeka
08/05/2005 13:52:00
Darwin on trial in Topeka
Fundamental questions:
America debates the place
of Darwin and God in schools
Knowledge goes on trial this week at a series
of special hearings by a Mid-West education
board to determine how science is taught in
its schools. |Andrew Gumbel |The Independent
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=636310
=
http://tinyurl.com/be8vg
Scientist puts faith in evolution debate
Professor in Kansas resists 'design' idea
Nina Easton |Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/05
/08/scientist_puts_faith_in_evolution_debate/
=
http://tinyurl.com/8lkuy
Kansas Board Holding Evolution Hearings
John Hanna |AP, Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/05/07/AR2005050700606.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/cyldy
Reframed arguments rekindle Darwin debate
Clarence Page |Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-
0505080348may08,1,4516175.column?coll=chi-news-col&ctrack=2&cset=true
=
http://tinyurl.com/csmku
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110
Adam Tjaavk
Intelligent Design |Sunday |BBC R4
08/05/2005 15:17:00
Intelligent Design |Sunday |BBC R4
Intelligent Design
Science, Religion and Politics have collided
in a fight over how evolution should be taught
in the classrooms of the American State of
Kansas. Critics of evolution say it is a dogma,
which has no place in science, and should not
be taught uncritically. Supporters of the
theory say their opponents are purveyors of
junk science, creationists who are trying to
replace Darwinism with a religious theory under
a new name, Intelligent Design. Much could be
at stake. The decision of the Kansas State
Board of Education may set a precedent for
how evolution is taught throughout the United
States. Interviewed earlier were Harry
McDonald, President of Kansas Citizens for
Science who are defending Darwinism, and to
Doctor William Harris, a medical academic
who is attacking the theory. |5m 27s
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/realmedia/sunday/s20050508g.ram
=
http://tinyurl.com/7qxrk
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111
blackshadowcouk
Talkreason updates
08/05/2005 15:36:00
Mustafa Akyol and Friends in Kansas
By Tony Ortega
http://www.talkreason.org/articles/?http://www.pitch.com/issues/2005-
05-05/news/feature_1.html
In this article in the Kansas newswpaper The Pitch, columnist Tony
Ortega discusses the "trial of the century" in Kansas, where a group
of creationists on a Board of Education held a kangaroo
court "hearing" aimed at changing the school curriculum by inserting
into it anti-evolution "arguments." (Off-site link.)
----------------------------------
Dino Blood Redux
By Gary S. Hurd Ph.D.
http://www.talkreason.org/articles/DinoBlood.cfm
Over a decade ago Mary Higby Schweitzer began her research career by
announcing that she and professor Jack Horner had discovered
evidence of blood residues in a Tyrannosaur rex femur. There
followed many years of creationists' distortion of those findings
which they presented as support for a young Earth (see G. Hurd, Dino
Blood and the Young Earth). In April of this year, Schweitzer and
Horner were again at the center of a media circus prompted by their
announcement that this time they had discovered blood vessels and
identifiable cells. The creationist reaction was immediate. Hurd
reviews these new discoveries, their presentation in the popular
media, and the sadly predictable creationist responses.
112
Adam Tjaavk
Only a theory
12/05/2005 11:49:00
Only a theory
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octoTerpsichorean impetus >8<
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113
MB
Re: Only a theory
12/05/2005 14:29:00
Thanks for this, it's a good one!
Regards,
MB
On Thu, 12 May 2005, Adam Tjaavk wrote:
> Only a theory
>
>
>
>
114
Adam Tjaavk
Creationists'' new design
14/05/2005 13:27:00
Creationists' new design
Ellen Goodman |Boston Globe
http://tinyurl.com/cdw96
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115
Adam Tjaavk
Doubting Rationalist
15/05/2005 16:08:00
Doubting Rationalist
Intelligent Design Proponent Phillip
Johnson, and How He Came to Be
Michael Powell |Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/05/14/AR2005051401222.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/893kx
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116
blackshadowcouk
Filkin on IDC
16/05/2005 23:48:00
Here are two interesting exchanges recorded in the Lords Hansard.
The first in January 05
Lord Taverne asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the national curriculum will exclude the teaching of
creationism in schools.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds05
/text/50131-01.htm
http://tinyurl.com/8rm2d
And a subsequent exchange in February 05
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by the Lord Filkin on 31 January (Official
Report, cols. 35), whether the scientific theory of intelligent
design could be taught in United Kingdom schools. [HL1165]
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds05
/text/50221w09.htm
http://tinyurl.com/dhsxe
Alan
117
Adam Tjaavk
The Evolution of Creationism
17/05/2005 14:39:00
The Evolution of Creationism
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/opinion/17tues2.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/d8kr4
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118
Adam Tjaavk
City Academy expansion
19/05/2005 17:52:00
City Academy expansion
Lib Dem's Paul Holmes and Labour's Jonathan
Shaw on the expansion of city academies.
Today |BBC R4 | 10m 3s
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/
today3_cityacademies_20050519.ram
=
http://tinyurl.com/8kguu
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119
Adam Tjaavk
ID & Humanist Network News
19/05/2005 18:19:00
ID & Ten Commandments in NYS
Two bills calling for equal time for
"intelligent design" in public schools
and allowing for the posting of the Ten
Commandments on government property were
introduced to the New York State Assembly
on May 3 |Duncan Crary |Humanist Network News
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=192&lid=1681#n1
=
http://tinyurl.com/bebfl
The debate about debating intelligent design
In his column, IHS Public Policy Director
tackles the specious arguments made for
"intelligent design." He also shares some
of the comments news editors sent him after
the IHS sent a press release on its position
regarding "intelligent design."
Tim Gordinier |Humanist Network News
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/index.html?id=192&lid=1677#n2
=
http://tinyurl.com/8v9cc
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120
Adam Tjaavk
Turkish creationist thuggery
19/05/2005 18:49:00
Creationist Thugs in Turkey,
Allied with American Creationists
Creationism is primarily an American
phenomenon, but it isn't exclusively
American. Islamic creationism has grown
in popularity and it has incorporated
aspects of both American creationism
and Islamic extremism, resulting in
a volatile mixture |Austin Cline
About: Agnosticism/Atheism
http://atheism.about.com/b/a/168403.htm?nl=1
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121
Adam Tjaavk
ID vacuity
19/05/2005 19:22:00
ID vacuity: Boston Globe letter
sums it up completely |ATj
Vacuousness of intelligent design
John Bergstrom |Boston Globe
http://tinyurl.com/8lmun
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122
Adam Tjaavk
What controversy?
20/05/2005 18:10:00
School Boards want to
Teach the Controversy
- what controversy?
Lawrence Krauss
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/17/science/17comm.html
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123
Adam Tjaavk
Creating a controversy
20/05/2005 18:30:00
Creating a Controversy
Today's anti-evolutionists don't
want to abolish science - they just
want to render it irrelevant.
Chris Mooney |The American Prospect
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&n
ame=ViewWeb&articleId=9671
=
http://tinyurl.com/7b2h3
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124
Adam Tjaavk
God''s gift to the ignorant
21/05/2005 12:28:00
Creationism: God's gift to the ignorant
As the Religious Right tries to ban the
teaching of evolution in Kansas, Richard
Dawkins speaks up for scientific logic
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1619264,00.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/c5dy9
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125
blackshadowcouk
TalkReason updates
22/05/2005 19:34:00
TalkReason updates
Note to meteorologists: You're next
By Nicholas Matzke
http://www.talkreason.org/articles/?http://www.pandasthumb.org/pt-
archives/001046.html
http://tinyurl.com/dfunn
In this essay, the author suggests that creationists have singled
out evolutionary biology for denial for no objective reasons, as
similar (usually fallacious) arguments can be suggested against any
other science.
As an example, Matzke disusses meteorology, whose concepts are
plainly contrary to the Bible's many assertions of God directly
causing meteorological phenomena such as rains, floods, and the
like. Matzke suggests reasons for creationists's leaving
meteorology alone while feverishly assaulting evolutionary biology.
This essay has invoked an inordinately prolonged and heated
discussion (several hundreds comments posted to
the thread on Pandas's Thumb weblog). (Off-site link)
ID for faithful, evolution for scientists
By Sanjai Tripathi
http://www.talkreason.org/articles/?
http://barometer.orst.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/05/12/428385ad0100
b
http://tinyurl.com/bz67u
In this brief essay Sanjay Tripathy, a graduate student in
microbiology, has expressed his view of the "intelligent design vs.
evolutionary biology" clash. As long as there are students who think
so clearly and who are capable of presenting the pro-evolution
argument in such a succinct and logical way, there are sufficient
grounds to look at the future with optimism and expect that the
nonsense propagated by the ID advocates will ultimately wind up in
the dustbin of history, joining there all previous pseudo-scientific
drivel like Blondlot's N-rays, the theory of phlogiston, and the
like. (Off-site link)
126
blackshadowcouk
Leicester Creation Conference
22/05/2005 20:44:00
George J. a member of the NSS Yahoo group has given me permission to
pass on a recent post of his:
Creationism is not just a problem in Kansas.
I spent last Friday evening and most of Saturday attending
the "Leicester Creation Conference" organised by 40 cal evangelical
churches and featuring presentations by university Professors Andy
McIntosh and Stuart Burgess and others.
Free copies of "Origins" the glossy journal of the Biblical Creation
Society (based in nearby Rugby) were handed out.
http://www.biblicalcreation.org
Leicester also has the headquarters of the UK and Europe branch
of "Answers in Genesis" whose speakers have a programme of talks to
evangelical churches.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/searchResults.aspx?
SubmitCountry=1&HomeStateRegion=United%20Kingdom
I put a report of the meeting on the Brights forums in the thread
that discusses Prof. Burgess's book "Origin of Man".
----------
See:
http://www.the-brights.net/forums/index.php?showto
pic=2677&view=findpost&p=43705
=
http://tinyurl.com/9s7uu for George's report (post 10)
Further information/discussion on Burgess & Co can be found here:
http://www.the-brights.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2665&st=0
http://tinyurl.com/98o9m
& here
http://www.the-brights.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=2654&st=0
http://tinyurl.com/8l78s
I thought the American creationists were bad enough, but this lot
appear to be even worse. Take this for example:
The question of origins is crucially important because it determines
whether humans are just animals or spiritual beings with an immortal
soul. There is every reason to believe that the origins debate is
the latest stage in the war between Satan and God. History shows
that Satan has tried to manipulate the beliefs of man from the
beginning of the world.6 In the Garden of Eden Satan encouraged Eve
to disbelieve God's warning about the forbidden fruit and to rebel
against God. The theory of evolution is the latest ploy that Satan
is using to encourage man to rebel against God.
The glorious design of man presents a serious challenge to those who
do not believe in a Creator. Many people use the theory of evolution
as an excuse not to believe in the Bible. However, there is
overwhelming evidence that man has been created. On the Day of
Judgment, there will be no excuse for unbelief (Romans 1:20). I
would urge the reader to consider the evidence for a Creator God and
the need to be reconciled to him. Burgess.
Alan.
127
blackshadowcouk
More on Burgess.
22/05/2005 20:55:00
Further to my previous post, I have reproduced this Press report on
Burgess so that I can pick it up with Furl.
Bristol Evening Post September 27, 2003
SECTION: Features
LENGTH: 1205 words
HEADLINE: Designed For Life
Tom Henry meets up with Dr Stuart Burgess, a Bristol scientist who
is convinced that God is behind every great design in nature, from
the iridescent patterns on a peacock feather to the features of the
camel which allow it to survive in the most extreme climates Talking
to Dr Stuart Burgess, Reader in Engineering Design at Bristol
University, a little song pops into my head, one that I haven't
heard for many years. The tune is "All Things Bright and Beautiful",
and although I struggle to remember the verse clearly, I can recall
something about God making "glowing colours" and "tiny wings".
The hymn is something I used to sing at school, until someone told
me about Charles Darwin and how we didn't actually arrive on earth
fully formed, but evolved over millennia. After that, I guess we
still sang it in assembly but by then it was just a nice tune with
words that no-one really took very seriously at all.
Stuart Burgess does, however, take those words seriously. So
seriously, in fact, that he's written a book which argues that God
is behind every great design in nature, from the iridescent patterns
on a peacock feather to the features of the camel which allow it to
survive in the most extreme climates. Dr Burgess is convinced that
the coming together of such design is beyond mere coincidence - or
evolution, for that matter.
The 40-year-old evangelical Christian, who previously created
award-winning rocket and satellite systems for the European Space
Agency, is convinced that great and beautiful design must be the
work of a "designer", and whether you agree with him or not, his
argument is a fascinating and thought-provoking one.
However, to a generation of people raised on the belief that while
Adam and Eve is a nice story, the one about the monkeys is far more
convincing, his arguments may take some swallowing "I believe that
when you look at design in nature, you can see evidence for a
designer behind it, and not from random or chance events, " he
said. "There is also another strand to this in that I want to show
there is evidence of a designer and also that he cares for us
because he put beauty in the world." In the book, Dr Burgess argues
that the sophistication in the genetic code which makes up all
living forms could only have been put there by God, so complicated
is it. That which we, as humans, have spent years discovering is
commonplace in the natural world, he says, and it is too
sophisticated to have evolved through a series of random
coincidences or genetic mistakes.
Take, for example, the glow worm. Dr Burgess notes that it produces
luminescence which is made in special cells by an extremely
complicated chemical reaction involving the oxidation of an organic
compound. "In the case of the shrimp, " he writes, "there is even a
reflecting layer behind the light emitting cells and a special lens
to concentrate the light. It is very difficult to explain how a
creature could evolve luminescence because the whole chemistry for
it has to be in place for it to be of any use." One of Dr Burgess's
central images in the book is that of the peacock feather. "I teach
biominetics at the university, " he said, "which is the study of
design in nature and how we as engineers can learn optimum
design. If you look at human bones you will find great mechanical
structures, and the most beautiful example is the peacock feather.
"Charles Darwin (the father of the theory of evolution) said that
when he saw a peacock feather he felt sick, because it was so hard
to explain the subtleties of design in something like a feather by
evolution.
A peacock's feather does not help it to fly; it's only function is
one of beauty for attracting the peahen.Modern science cannot
explain why it should be so beautiful." Dr Burgess says that the
colours in the feather are not pigment colours but structural
colours produced by an optical effect called thin-film interference.
This means that you see different patterns on the feather depending
on how light shines on it.
The thin material which helps to create this effect is classed as
"sub-micron" and when you consider that one micron is one thousandth
of a millimetre that's very thin indeed.
"The design in these feathers is so precise that it cannot be copied
by human production methods, " said Dr Burgess, who goes to state
how 'absurd' it is to believe that such precise design and subtle
aesthetic qualities could evolve by a series of genetic mistakes.
"I believe God created all the species at the beginning of
Creation, " he added, "and while man can breed different types of
horses, for example, he cannot turn a horse into another creature.
Things do change in nature, but it is a process of degradation." Dr
Burgess says there are many fellow scientists and engineers who
share the same viewpoint as him.One of the first was William Paley,
who purported the theory of a universal designer as early as 1802,
sparking a hotlycontested debate which continues unabated 200 years
later.
However, there are those who violently disagree with the
Creationists. Among the most famous is Richard Dawkins, the British
scientist and academic who dismisses all thoughts of religion as an
explanation for who were are and how we got here. Dawkins argues
that life on earth has evolved from a genetic crawl, "going round
the back of Mount Improbable and crawling up the gentle slopes, inch
by millionyear inch.Only God would essay the mad task of leaping up
the precipice in a single bound. And if we postulate him as our
cosmic designer we are left in exactly the same position as when we
started. Any designer capable of constructing the dazzling array of
living things would have to be intelligent and complicated beyond
all imagining. And complicated is just another word for improbable -
and therefore demanding of explanation." ("Climbing Mount
Improbable", 1996) None of which appears to phase Dr Burgess. "I
believe you actually need more faith, not less, to believe in
evolution because you have to believe that great design in nature
came about by accident. I teach design in nature, and although I
don't explicitly present my arguments to my students, because I
think that would be biased, I welcome discussions with them on a
personal basis.
"I would say there is an openness about the students who want to
hear my arguments, but you also see that they have been influenced
quite a lot by atheistic teaching in primary and secondary schools
and they are often surprised when they discuss theory of design with
me." The father-of-five and member of Zetland Evangelical Church in
St Andrew's, Bristol, says that his Christianity also makes him
responsible for a kind of custodianship of what he believes God has
designed. "We should be good stewards of the earth, and I think that
in engineering we're seeing more and more examples of good
stewardship, especially in terms of recycling.
Having Christian principles means you are more cautious about
tampering with what has been created - the GM food debate for
example - because you believe it has been designed by someone
infinitely wise." "Hallmarks of Design", by Stuart Burgess, is
published by Day One Publications.
128
Adam Tjaavk
Re: God''s gift to the ignorant
24/05/2005 17:49:00
Re: God's gift to the ignorant
Creationism: God's gift to the ignorant
Full version from the BHA of Richard Dawkins's
article originally published in The Times
http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/newsarticleview.asp?article=1990
=
http://tinyurl.com/78xjm
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129
Adam Tjaavk
MEGA!!! - microcerebral megacephaly
24/05/2005 18:25:00
MEGA!!! - microcerebral megacephaly
http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/megaconference/
=
http://tinyurl.com/96n3f
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130
George Jelliss
Harun Yahya
26/05/2005 19:36:00
It's not just christian evangelicals who are against Darwin.
The muslims are not keen on him either.
http://www.harunyahya.com/evolution_specialpreface.php
131
Peter Foster
Evolution meets Judaism
26/05/2005 21:09:00
From "The Scientist"
It's been hard to miss the recent antagonism between elements in the
religious and scientific communities over issues such as evolution
and the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. The public acrimony
over those issues has often arisen from conflict between scientific
practice and the beliefs of Christians. But for some Jewish thinkers,
modern science is thoroughly compatible with strongly held religious
views.
Rabbi Natan Slifkin, who goes by the name of the Zoo Rabbi, is one
prominent figure who is making a career out of reconciling evolution
with classical Jewish thought. "Intelligent design usually involves
arguing that there are structures in living creatures which cannot be
explained by naturalistic processes," he writes via E-mail. "I think
that this is a potentially problematic approach, certainly from a
Jewish perspective. Judaism has always focused on seeing God in the
design of the laws of nature, not in creating phenomena that can't be
explained by natural laws yet."
132
Adam Tjaavk
reDiscovery Institute
27/05/2005 02:48:00
reDiscovery Institute
Our goals are to
Teach the Controversies,
all of them, each and every one
http://www.re-discovery.org/
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133
Adam Tjaavk
Mixing Faith & Science
27/05/2005 10:15:00
Mixing Faith & Science
Morton Rubinger
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/05/26/AR2005052601393.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/bns7j
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134
Adam Tjaavk
ID film at Smithsonian
30/05/2005 19:24:00
ID film at Smithsonian
Smithsonian to screen a movie
that makes a case against evolution
John Schwartz |New York Times
Fossils at the Smithsonian Institution's
National Museum of Natural History have been
used to prove the theory of evolution. Next
month the museum will play host to a film
intended to undercut evolution.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/28/national/28smithsonian.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/akxl5
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135
Adam Tjaavk
Re: ID film at Smithsonian
02/06/2005 12:51:00
Re: ID film at Smithsonian
Smithsonian distances
itself from controversial film
Tommy Nguyen |Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
le/2005/06/01/AR2005060101986.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/a2vxd
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136
Adam Tjaavk
Master Planned: Why ID isnt
03/06/2005 01:49:00
Master Planned
Why intelligent design isn't
H. Allen Orr |The New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050530fa_fact
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137
Adam Tjaavk
The origin of the species
14/06/2005 08:04:00
The origin of the species:
opening statements in the debate
Commentary: Phil Uebergang
Sydney Morning Herald
http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/phil_uebergang/001149.html
=
http://tinyurl.com/cpqv6
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138
Adam Tjaavk
Tulsa Zoo creationism
15/06/2005 07:56:00
Tulsa Zoo creationism
Biblical account of creation to go
on display at Tulsa Zoo |USA Today
TULSA (AP) The Tulsa Zoo will add a display
featuring the biblical account of creation
following complaints to a city board about
other displays with religious significance,
including a Hindu elephant statue.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-06-09-tulsa-zoo-genesis_x.htm
=
http://tinyurl.com/aupel
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139
Mikey Brass
AOM website changes
21/06/2005 13:28:00
Please note the following changes to the Antiquity of Man website:
1. The wording on the front page has been altered :
http://www.antiquityofman.com
2. The two archaeology courses being offered online - on hominin
evolution and Ancient Egypt - are beginning on 17th July. The cost is
£30: http://www.antiquityofman.com/courses.html
3. Further details on publications I have for sale are at:
http://www.antiquityofman.com/publicationsales.html
Regards,
Mike Brass
140
blackshadowcouk
Academy plan: It''s blackmail
21/06/2005 15:30:00
Academy plan: It's blackmail Jun 17 2005
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100loc
alnews/tm_objectid=15642971%26method=full%26siteid
=50003-name_page.html
http://tinyurl.com/brnnx
By Lucy Lynch, Education Reporter
TEACHERS today accused the government of blackmailing Coventry City
Council to create controversial city academies.
Unions said Tony Blair had made the £25 million flagship academies
the only way to get cash for much needed new school buildings.
The Evening Telegraph exclusively revealed yesterday that education
bosses want to turn Woodway Park School in to a city academy sponsored
by millionaire Christian businessman Bob Edmiston.
There are also proposals to merge Barr's Hill School in Radford and
Sidney Stringer School in Hillfields to create a second city academy.
Jane Nellist, joint divisional secretary of the National Union of
Teachers, said: "This will be a devastating-blow for education in this
city. The government is blackmailing education authorities to
establish academies.
"It is holding back money to build new schools unless they toe the
line and accept academies. They are not accountable to their local
communities-Despite spending millions of pounds of taxpayers' money,
only their sponsors and the Department for Education and Skills can
have a say in the way that they are run.
"No matter what spin anyone tries to put on them, what is absolutely
clear is that academies do not offer better education.
"The NUT is totally opposed to city academies and we will campaign
against them. We have not yet got all the details of what is being
proposed but we know that three out of our 19 secondary schools will
be affected.
"We will need to look very carefully at what the impact of these
proposals will have on our members in terms of jobs, pay and
conditions of service."
The council says the academies are the quickest and best way to get
cash for new buildings.
141
blackshadowcouk
Academies the only way forward Jun 17 2005
21/06/2005 15:39:00
Academies the only way forward Jun 17 2005
By Lucy Lynch And Dean Valler, Evening Telegraph
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100loc
alnews/tm_objectid=15642978%26method=full%26siteid
=50003-name_page.html
http://tinyurl.com/bv4hl
THREE secondary schools are at the centre of a remarkable plan to
bring the government's flagship academies to Coventry.
One of them - Woodway Park School - would be taken over, rebuilt and
run independently by a controversial millionaire Christian
businessman.
Another two schools - Sidney Stringer and Barr's Hill - are set to
merge to become the second city academy in Coventry.
It would be built as part of the massive Swanswell redevelopment.
The Evening Telegraph has learned that education bosses at Coventry
City Council plan to do a deal with Christian businessman and
philanthropist Robert Edmiston, who runs West Midlands-based IM group.
He would sponsor Woodway Park in Wigston Road, Woodway Park, to create
the first city academy by 2008. It would be the first academy in the
Coventry and Warwickshire area.
The controversial academies are independent from local councils and
backed by a sponsor. The idea is to turn around failing schools with a
massive cash injection.
Sponsors generally contribute £2 million while the rest of the
cost of setting up the school, usually £23 million, comes from the
government.
Woodway Park School is not identified as failing but it is in need of
a new building which it would get if it became a city academy.
The city council claimed the academies were the best and quickest way
to get new school buildings.
Education chiefs at Coventry City Council claim the only difference
parents and pupils will see is better buildings and better equipment.
The buildings at Woodway Park in Wigston Road are nearly 40 years old
and in desperate need of replacement.
The council's head of children's services finance Chris West says the
quickest way to get the new building is by creating a city academy -
£23 million of government money and £2 million of sponsorship
money would become available.
And head of services for schools Ruth Snow was confident results would
improve.
Robert Edmiston, a car import entrepreneur, founded the evangelical
charity Christian Vision.
He has denied he is creating faith schools or that they would attempt
to convert children. He is behind another £25 million academy in
the Solihull area.
But he has been criticised for promoting creationism instead of
evolution.
Teachers accused the government of blackmailing the city council. Jane
Nellist, joint divisional-secretary of the National Union of Teachers,
said: "This will be a devastating blow for education in this city.
"The government is blackmailing education authorities in to
establishing academies.
"It is holding back money to build new schools unless they toe the
line and accept academies. They are not accountable to their local
communities despite spending millions of pounds of taxpayers money
only their sponsors and the Department for Education and Skills can
have a say in the way that they are run."
Cllr George Duggins (Lab, Longford), former Coventry City Council
cabinet member for education said: "In the Labour group we accept
academies in principal but we are attracted by the findings of the
Labour dominated select committee that there should be a halt and a
proper evaluation of the programme."
142
blackshadowcouk
Ex-Lord Mayor hits out at Academy plan
21/06/2005 15:47:00
Ex-Lord Mayor hits out at Academy plan Jun 20 2005
By Duncan Gibbons
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100loc
alnews/tm_objectid=15648833%26method=full%26siteid
=50003-name_page.html
http://tinyurl.com/7egsj
A former Coventry lord mayor and councillor has threatened to quit the
Labour Party after more than 50 years if plans are approved for a
£25million Christian-run academy in the city.
Dave Edwards hit out against plans by millionaire Robert Edmiston to
rebuild and run Woodway Park School in Coventry.
Mr Edwards, a chairman of the council's education committee in the
90s, said: "If it goes through it will be the end of my Labour Party
membership after 52 years.
"I have always defended the party but this would cause me an immense
amount of unhappiness." Mr Edmiston, whose Midlands-based car
importing business has netted him a personal fortune of around
£350million, is a committed Christian.
He has been reported as saying that Harry Potter books promote
witchcraft and is against Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
The Evening Telegraph revealed last week that he would use
£2million of his own money to sponsor the first of Tony Blair's
academies in Coventry with the remaining £23million coming from the
government, and is already opening a similar academy in Solihull next
year.
Mr Edwards said: "It's the American 'bible belt' influence.
"It will give this guy control of a whole bunch of kids to be
indoctrinated. It's nothing to do with education - it's to do with
this man's religious vent in life.
"Our kids should be taken through all religions in an academic
learning sense but not a fundamentalist sense."
Mr Edwards claimed the academy issue would be "the most damaging and
divisive" issue in Coventry for decades.
"It will be THE major political storm in Coventry since the 60s," he
said.
"I am steamed up about this. It needs to be opposed in the most
organised way. I shall be calling a meeting to discuss the matter.
"I will be calling on the Labour group to oppose this root and branch.
Hopefully the Tories and the Lib Dems will see the danger of this too.
We need to present a united front."
143
blackshadowcouk
Bob Edmiston £340m
21/06/2005 15:52:00
Bob Edmiston £340m
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/feature
s/midlandrichlist/page.cfm?objectid=12269965&method=full&siteid=50002
http://tinyurl.com/b62yw
Rich List Position: No.10
Car Sales
It is a case of pennies from heaven for born-again Bob who puts his
success down to his devout Christian faith.
His West Bromwich-based car sales company, the IM Group, made profits
of £24.8m in 2000 and is worth £250m.
Mr Edmiston's other business, IM Properties has net assets of £80m.
The evangelical Christian gives away vast sums of money, donating
£30m to the collection plates of his Christian Vision charity in
the past few years.
Among the projects he has funded was the setting up of a Christian
radio station in Zambia and a Cliff Richard-backed religious radio
station in the UK.
Mr Edmiston, 55, a former finance director at Jensen, used his
£6,000 redundancy pay when the sports car manufacturer went bust in
1974 to set up International Motors.
The company started off as the world's only distributor for Jensen
parts but branched out by acquiring the franchise for Japanese Subaru
and Isuzu cars.
A former school truant, Mr Edmiston runs the largest private motor
importer in the UK. The father-of-four lives in a seven-bedroom
mansion in Warwickshire.
Last year £340m. No 9
144
blackshadowcouk
Quotes from Bob Edmiston.
21/06/2005 16:06:00
Another group, Christian Vision, is planning to sponsor three city
academies in England. Founder Bob Edmiston dismisses evolution as a
theory that "came from one guy called Darwin" and says his
teachers must subscribe to "Christian values". He also
insists his schools will not stock JK Rowling books.
"Harry Potter is about witchcraft and sorcery. Clearly we
don't want to be teaching that in our academies," he said.
Edmiston said he too would be happy to talk with McConnell.
http://www.sundayherald.com/print44562
145
blackshadowcouk
Other Edmiston school
21/06/2005 16:15:00
Solihull
It is proposed to establish Grace Academy to replace Whitesmore School
in North Solihull. The Academy will be sponsored by Bob Edmiston,
Chairman and Chief Executive of IM Group Limited, who is contributing
sponsorship towards capital costs. The Academy will serve pupils aged
11-18 and will have a business and enterprise specialism. The Academy
is scheduled to open in September 2006.
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies/project
s/development/?version=1
http://tinyurl.com/bbdrm
146
blackshadowcouk
Academy received encouraging report.
21/06/2005 16:21:00
Goole - Howden Thorne Courier June 16 2005
Viewpoint - (Letters page)
Academy received encouraging report.
TRINITY Academy, part of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation family of
schools will open in Thorne in September.
Another school sponsored by the Foundation, The King's Academy in
South Middlesbrough, recently received a very encouraging report by
Ofsted inspectors.
The school is not to be confused with Unity City Academy, also in
Middlesbrough.
Unity has been placed into special measures by Ofsted as a result of
its inspection and has been the subject of much media coverage.
I wish to make it clear that Unity City Academy is not sponsored by
Emmanuel Schools Foundation and has no connection with The King,
Academy.
With the Academy due to open soon, Thorne & Moorends may be interested
to hear what Ofsted found at Trinity's sister school.
They concluded there had been "very good" progress in
establishing The King's Academy and "satisfactory"
progress in implementing plans and raising attainment.
The report noted the Academy has improved standards with the GCSE pass
rate higher than the school it replaced.
The Academy, which caters for 100 children with specific learning
challenges was credited for having achieved an "inclusive,
harmonious and orderly community".
The inspectors praised pupils as showing "self respect, tolerance
towards others and fairness" and for being considerate to others
and particularly courteous to visitors".
The building is described as well designed and attractive and there is
praise for the charity work and firm stance against bullying.
Ian Brew
Principal
Trinity Academy
Thorne.
147
Adam Tjaavk
Staying away
22/06/2005 05:27:00
Staying away
Opting Out in the
Debate on Evolution
Cornelia Dean
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/21/science/21evo.html
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148
Adam Tjaavk
Raging IDiots
23/06/2005 08:19:00
Raging IDiots
US radicals blow their tops over volcano
movie as Darwinism debate rages |AFP |Yahoo!
Culture wars raging in the United States are
reaping new victims as monster-screen IMAX
cinemas and top museums are dragged into
the fierce debate over the origin of life.
http://tinyurl.com/93f6j
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149
blackshadowcouk
Tony Brookes responds
27/06/2005 09:15:00
Goole - Howden Thorne Courier June 23 - 2005
Viewpoint - (Letters page)
Parents toughest school "inspectors"
Ian Brew principle of Thorne's soon to be opened Trinity
Academy is clearly concerned about the reputation of city
academies (viewpoint June 16)
I am amazed that he needs to publicly distance his academy from
Unity Academy, Middlesbrough which recently failed an Ofsted
Inspection.
I have not noticed headteachers of Doncaster secondary schools
distancing themselves from local comprehensive schools which failed
inspections let alone those 100 miles away.
Your readers should be aware that Trinity's sister King's
Academy has not had a full demanding Ofsted inspection like Unity
Academy. Ofsted has only issued an interim report on King's.
It is not totally positive criticising weak day-to-day planning and
a narrow range of teaching methods which left pupils bored in some
lessons.
What is of more concern is that King's Academy permanently
excluded (expelled) 28 pupils in its first year of operation, more
than ten times the average for English secondary schools.
In contrast Thorne Grammar School's latest Ofsted report (2003)
stated that permanent exclusions was only imposed for "entirely
appropriate reasons after working intensively with the individuals
concerned and their families".
Support from parents was not high during the public consultation
about the academy to replace Thorne Grammar School with only 18
parents expressing an opinion in favour.
Parents have not been consulted about the religious ethos of the
academy, the curriculum, the dress code and the draconian sanctions
policy (expulsion for smoking twice etc).
All of these have been imposed from outside by the sponsors the
Emmanuel Schools Foundation along with the unnecessary removal
of Thorne Youth Centre from the academy site.
Mr Brew should realise that Thorne/Moorends is a long way from
Middlesbrough and that he and his academy will be judged by the
pupils and parents of Thorne/Moorends long before Ofsted inspectors
darken his doors.
Tony Brookes
(Headmaster Thorne Grammar School 1987 2002)
Fieldside
Thorne.
150
Adam Tjaavk
Gawd! me back!
27/06/2005 09:26:00
Gawd! me back!
Does God Have Back Problems Too?
The illogic behind 'intelligent design.'
David Barash |Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-barash27
jun27,0,2758320.story
=
http://tinyurl.com/9b6n3
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perspicacious & preposterous
