Interesting letter in local paper

Seele · Post by **Seele** » 2002-12-28 03:17pm

I found this letter to the editor in my local paper today (Dayton Daily News, 12\28\02) it's referring to the recent editorial about the decision of the Ohio Board of Education's decision not to teach "Intelligent Design" in public schools. This board may find this entertaining.

Re the Dec.21 "Other Voices," "A victory for evolution," Human evolution is based on speculation, not firm scientific data, which leaves many questions regarding the evolution of man unanswered.

No explanation has been provided to explain how man developed such a unique brain. How did man acquire the capacity to analyze and solve problems? How was it possible for man to progress from the Stone Age to developing a high level of civilization?

How did the brain acquire the ability to provide man with the knowledge and vision, which resulted in the highest level of technology, which we are enjoying today?

Why is it that when one considers the age of the earth and the creatures that have inhabited, and still inhabit, this planet, man evolved with a brain unique from that possessed by the existing mammals? Man alone was able to acquire such a level of intelligence that enabled us to create language, reading, writing, medical technology, scientific technology, music, and art.

It is obvious that the human brain is not the result of some accident of nature. It is reasonable to conclude that the human brain is the result of intelligent design, which must be included along with evolution education, to show our children man is not a freak of nature, but a creature that has been given unique characteristics and abilities that are not inherited in any other creature on this earth.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-12-28 03:24pm

I also have an article that Louisiana reected Intelligent Design and one about the WCOTC HQ moving too Wyoming. I'll type when I get home.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-12-28 03:40pm

I would hardly deem ignorant blathering like that as "interesting." I've vested greater intellectual interest in my socks.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-12-28 03:45pm

This is why Creationism has a chance in America. People are ignroant about it, and when they do understand it, then they start asking questions like that. I'm sure any educated scientist will be able to explain it to them, and they should.

Seele · Post by **Seele** » 2002-12-28 03:46pm

I would hardly deem ignorant blathering like that as "interesting." I've vested greater intellectual interest in my socks.

True, I just should have used entertaining sicne it's more fitting than "interesting".

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2002-12-28 03:52pm

I've taken more interesting shits than what you just posted.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-12-28 04:40pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:This is why Creationism has a chance in America. People are ignroant about it, and when they do understand it, then they start asking questions like that. I'm sure any educated scientist will be able to explain it to them, and they should.

It's more to do with the fact that people like conspiracy theories. What would creationists' claims require to be true? A giant scientific conspiracy to cover up "the truth." So, lots of people buy into it, thinking that they have the real story and that they're on the inside track. In short, people do it to give themselves an ego boost. They don't even care what scientists have to say, or if they could defend it. In my school paper, some idiot wrote in making the standard creationist claims that evolution "violates the law of cause and effect," and the second law of thermodynamics. The next day in the paper, he was literally torn to shreds by a Ph.D. on the biology staff, a biology major and a chemistry major. Do you think that sitting down and talking with a doctorate-holding biologist would change his mind? That's doubtful, because he's an idiot.

The fact is that most people are so incredibly stupid that they're willing to believe that entire generations of biologists, physicists and chemists have overlooked the "fact" that evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics. If the average scientific laymen actually read "scientific" creationist arguments, I'd put money on his being convinced by them, because the average layman is a complete fucking moron, and these are the same people who think that Star Trek is a realistic science fiction show. Yes, engineers and scientists, who regularly apply this law in their research, don't really know its implications. It took people with no formal scientific education, who probably couldn't even devise an experiment to demonstrate the second law's validity, to show us the way. Sure, that's believable.

Hell, about 90% of America is religious. That shows you that people are more than willing to look to fairy tales and ancient stories written by self-proclaimed "prophets of God" for answers to things they don't understand. That alone should tell you something.

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-12-28 05:48pm

Durandal wrote: Hell, about 90% of America is religious. That shows you that people are more than willing to look to fairy tales and ancient stories written by self-proclaimed "prophets of God" for answers to things they don't understand. That alone should tell you something.

Looking at this comparison you can see a scary trend:

Belief in God:

1st: Philippines = 86.2%
2nd: Poland = 66.3%
3rd: USA = 62.8%

Belief in an Afterlife:

1st: USA = 55.0%
2nd: N. Ireland = 53.5%
3rd: Ireland = 45.9%

Belief in Bible Inerrancy: (The easiest one to disprove)

1st: Philippines = 53.7%
2nd: Poland = 37.4%
3rd: USA = 33.5%

Belief in the Devil:

1st: USA = 45.4%
2nd: N. Ireland = 43.1%
3rd: Philippines = 28.3%

Belief in Hell

1st: USA = 49.6%
2nd: N. Ireland = 47.9%
3rd: Philippines = 29.6%

Belief in Heaven:

1st: N. Ireland = 63.7%
2nd: USA = 63.1%
3rd: Ireland = 51.8%

Belief in Miracles:

1st: USA = 45.6%
2nd: N. Ireland = 44.2%
3rd: Ireland = 36.9%

'Belief' in Evolution:

1st: USA < 35.4%
2nd: Poland = 35.4%
3rd: Russia = 41.4% (Probably has more to do with a poor education system, then a religious background.)

There you have it, eight categories, 5 'wins', 1 second place and 2 thirds. Only the North Ireland (1-4-0), Philipines (2-0-2), Poland (0-3-0), Ireland (0-0-3) and show up more than once in the top 3.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2002-12-28 07:33pm

C.S.Strowbridge wrote: There you have it, eight categories, 5 'wins', 1 second place and 2 thirds.

We're Number One!
We're Number One!

Oh Shit!

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2002-12-28 07:41pm

Which country has highest number of evolutionists on that last list?
Seele the best thing for you to do is to write back to your paper with either explainations or an old school rebuttal, the worst thing possible is to let the ignorant have the last word.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-12-28 07:43pm

Ignorant morons like that will always have the last word, because they make up for their stupidity with sheer zeal. You can't outlast them; you can only demolish their points and hope to convince the people who are not already a lost cause.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2002-12-28 08:02pm

So there's a full 40% of Americans who don't believe in God? That seems a bit high, to be honest. Last I heard, there were around 30 million non-religious Americans, which is roughly 10%.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2002-12-28 08:08pm

That poll might just be nonchristians

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2002-12-28 08:15pm

SyntaxVorlon wrote:That poll might just be nonchristians

Actually, I tihnk by "God", they meant a Biblical God or something.

Seele · Post by **Seele** » 2002-12-28 09:07pm

Seele the best thing for you to do is to write back to your paper with either explainations or an old school rebuttal, the worst thing possible is to let the ignorant have the last word.

Yeah, was planning to write back when I get the time next monday. Just wanted to hear some specific input from the citizens of this board about this. While I know it's pretty much a lost cause but somebody has to do something. I keep everyone up to date if they actully do post my rebuttal letter in the paper.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2002-12-29 12:17am

A good biology text book is all the support you need. But be careful these creation "scientists" like to try and control textbook manu.s and get them to omit evolution stuff.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2002-12-29 10:44am

SyntaxVorlon wrote:A good biology text book is all the support you need. But be careful these creation "scientists" like to try and control textbook manu.s and get them to omit evolution stuff.

Yeah, we call that stuff toilet paper. And a fundy text book on a biology is easily reconisable. It's the Bible with a different cover.

GREAHSIAM · Post by **GREAHSIAM** » 2002-12-29 09:48pm

Gawd-Damn said the preacher man. Gawd-Damn.
I fear for our country and our species.
I have no problem with people who "Believe".
I do have a problem with the people who try to push their particular religion (aka "cult") on me and tell me that I'm going to Hell because I don't follow their belief.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2002-12-30 06:58pm

I remember about 2 easters ago, just afterr the long weekend was over, some nut wrote to the Sunday Telegraph;

"How come there was only one Easter movie on?, where has all the respect for Christians gone in this society"

I wrote a small letter of reply basically saying that she was an idiot and how can one respect Christians etc. It never got printed.

Malachius · Post by **Malachius** » 2002-12-30 07:25pm

So there's a full 40% of Americans who don't believe in God? That seems a bit high, to be honest. Last I heard, there were around 30 million non-religious Americans, which is roughly 10%.

Well there are alot of people who are religous because they were raised that way, but when it comes right down to it don't believe in God. At least, their belief is shakey and they just don't think much about it. So even if they don't believe in God, when asked what their religous beliefs are they will just list the one they were given at birth and grew up with.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-12-30 07:27pm

It depends on how the question is worded. It's very easy to manipulate survey results by careful wording of the question.