Re: [Phys-l] Is evolution something to believe in?

["Robert Cohen" <Robert.Cohen@po-box.esu.edu>]

Alfredo wrote:

> In other words, to make any statement about a scientific theory, you 
> have to know what you're talking about. Creationists always skip this 
> bit, and therefore for them it does come down to what to believe in, 
> because they are not capable of any kind of rigorous thinking. This is

> why the whole "creationism-vs-evolution" quarrel is so sterile. It 
> doesn't lead to anything and it never will. You can lead a 
> creationist to evidence but you can't make him think.

It is for this reason that the "debate" is no longer about whether
creationism, intelligent design, irreducible complexity, or whatever,
reflects good science.  Rather, the debate is now over whether
*evolution* reflects good science.

Ben Stein's movie (Expelled) reflects these lines, arguing that people
are openly ridiculed and ostracized if they challenge evolution.  The
implication is that if evolution was really a strong science,
evolutionists wouldn't need to be so defensive.

As mentioned before, many people believe evolution based upon the
reputation of the scientific community, not because of the evidence.
Destroy that reputation and you weaken the belief.  One needn't argue
that there is a scientific alternative -- all you need to do is question
the reputation of the scientific community responsible for the theory.

----------------------------------------------------------
Robert A. Cohen, Department of Physics, East Stroudsburg University 
570.422.3428   rcohen@po-box.esu.edu    http://www.esu.edu/~bbq