| Who created god? Some of us believe that indeed the universe "was not designed and has no purpose" and that the question "why is there anything?" is interesting, but at present beyond the ability of anyone to answer convincingly. Some of us also believe that "we humans are the product of [evolutionary] processes that care nothing about us." And many of us who believe these things use the current best scientific understanding of the universe and evolution as part of the basis for why we believe like this. But others who do not believe these same things also point to the lack of answers to why is there anything and to the gaps in our knowledge about many things in physics and evolution and infer the existence of some creator. Some creationists do not have any difficulty with the fact of evolution. Some do. All but the most rabid creationists recognize "micro-evolution," extinction, mutation, and many other aspects that are explained by evolutionary concepts. The rhetoric about what the other actually believes tends to be about what is going on at the other's polar extreme. And the press tends to grab the poles rather than anything even 10 degrees from the pole because it makes better copy. So where should the state be in all of this? Let science texts and scientists teach science. Then have their courses about philosophy and religion. But that isn't acceptable to many in the creationist and literalist Christian faction -- most liberals I know -- like many people (liberals and others) who have posted on this issue on this list -- would be fine with having science taught as science and philosophy and religion taught about. Not all, but many. The spin put on Bush's remarks by his science advisor sit well with most of us -- but not those on the Christian right. Steve On Aug 3, 2005, at 11:37 AM, Rick Duncan wrote:
-- Prof. Steven D. Jamar vox: 202-806-8017 Howard University School of Law fax: 202-806-8567 2900 Van Ness Street NW mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Washington, DC 20008 http://www.law.howard.edu/faculty/pages/jamar/ "If we are to receive full service from government, the universities must give us trained [people]. That means a constant reorientation of university instruction and research not for the mere purpose of increasing technical proficiency but for the purpose of keeping abreast with social and economic change. . . . Government is no better than its [people]." William O. Douglas |
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