| Subject: note from NCSE |
| From: Robert Luhn <luhn@ncseweb.org> |
| Date: 11/2/09, 15:23 |
Sir: A bit of news, FYI. Certainly, grist for your mill! Read on:
FYI....the evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design battle
continues. (Surprise!). This time on hundreds of college campuses, with
the distribution of a "special" edition of Darwin's "On the Origin of
Species". Scary stuff. Read on:
RAY COMFORT IS BANANAS
NCSE challenges creationist's "special" edition of Darwin's Origin
OAKLAND, CA November 2, 2009
Executive Director Eugenie Scott takes aim at creationist Ray Comfort's
distorted views on evolution in a debate taking place on the U.S. News &
World Report site. The debate centers on Comfort's 54 page introduction
to a "special" edition of Darwin's On the Origin of Species that will be
given away on college campuses across America starting November 19th.
In her post responding to Comfort, "How Creationist 'Origin' Distorts
Darwin", Dr. Scott urges students to take the free copy of Origin that
Comfort is offering, but to not waste time reading Comfort's
introduction--especially the middle section.
"[It's] a hopeless mess of long-ago-refuted creationist arguments," says
Dr. Scott, "Teeming with misinformation about the science of evolution,
populated by legions of strawmen, and exhibiting what can be charitably
described as muddled thinking."
For example, says Dr. Scott, Comfort's treatment of the human fossil
record is painfully superficial, out of date, and erroneous.
"Piltdown Man and Nebraska Man--one a forgery, the other a
misidentification, both rejected by science more than 50 years agoare
trotted out for scorn, as if they somehow negate the remaining huge
volume of human fossils," says Dr. Scott. "There are more specimens of
"Ardi" (the newly described Ardipithecus ramidus) than there are of
Tyrannosaurusand any 8-year-old aspiring paleontologist will be
delighted to tell you how much we know about the T. rex!"
It's no surprise that creationists are trying to piggyback on the 150th
anniversary of the publication of Origin, says Dr. Scott. "But I have
faith that college students are sharp enough to realize that Comfort's
take on Darwin and evolution is simply bananas."
Post #1: Ray Comfort, "Why I Published a New Origin"
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/10/29/exclusive-ray-comfort-defends-his-creationist-edition-of-on-the-origin-of-species.html
Post #2: Dr. Eugenie Scott responds, "How Creationist 'Origin' Distorts
Darwin"
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/10/30/how-creationist-origin-distorts-darwin.html
Two more posts will appear later this week.
VIDEO EXTRA: Ray Comfort goes bananas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z-OLG0KyR4
CONTACT: Robert Luhn of the NCSE, 510-601-7203,
luhn@ncseweb.org
Web site:
www.ncseweb.org
The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is a not-for-profit,
membership organization that defends and promotes the teaching of
evolution in the public schools. The NCSE provides information and
resources to schools, parents, and concerned citizens working to keep
evolution in public school science education. We educate the press and
public about the scientific, educational, and legal aspects of the
creation and evolution controversy, and supply needed information and
advice to defend good science education at local, state, and national
levels. Our 4000 members are scientists, teachers, clergy, and citizens
with diverse religious affiliations.