Ronald Numbers has written the definitive history of creationism recently published in a new expanded version, The Creationists, 2006, Harvard University Press. He arguably has one of the most even-handed, insightful and informed perspectives on the evolution-creation debate. Numbers cites a very vocal secular atheist minority as contributing to the erosion of science education rather than offering solutions. In a recent interview for Salon.com Numbers says,
"I don't know what the figures are right now, but I bet half of the scientists in America believe in some type of God. So I think Dawkins and Dennett are in a minority of evolutionists in saying that evolution is atheistic. I also think it does a terrible disservice to public policy in the United States." - R. Numbers, January 2, 2007
Understanding of the motivations and beliefs of those who reject evolution is critical in improving science education. As long as the public perceives science as an enterprise hostile towards religous convictions the evolution-creation debate will continue indefinitely.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
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2 comments:
Yeah, but he wasn't the first and won't be the last to make such a connection, or to have it ridiculed by the same vocal minority:
Trapped in the creationist briar patch
Hey thinker! I assume you are talking about Numbers. Yep, I don't think he's the first or last to express concern that folks like Dawkins are the voice of evolutionary biology. At least I hope he won't be the last to point that out as I think it is something more people should be aware of.
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