Anticreation
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
A poll published by Newsweek March 31, 2007 found that about 91% of the population in the United States believes in God, and 48% believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years.[1] Despite these high numbers, we find the views of creationists are mocked by the media and actively discriminated against in public schools.
A number of organizations and even the National Academy of Sciences (a US national government agency) actively oppose creationism and lobby to keep these views from being taught in public schools.[2] Most, if not all, such groups are motivated by a philosophical opposition to biblical creationism, and counter with arguments derived from naturalistic scientific research.
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Anticreation in media
- Main Article: Anticreation in Media
The belief in Biblical creationism, and in particular that the earth is 6000-10,000 years old, is ridiculed by the news, educational programming, and in popular culture.
Examples of popular culture anticreation can be found in shows like "The Simpsons", "Sopranos", "Family Guy", "South Park" and "Evan Almighty" where creationism is projected as a belief that is only held by people unable to think for themselves.
Anticreation in public schools
- Main Article: Anticreation in Public Schools
Perhaps no place is anticreation sentiment more apparent than in the US public school system. Today Christian teachers are afraid of letting their faith be known and pray only in secret. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union quickly move to sue any school district if it is reported that a teacher is introducing intelligent design concepts. Numerous examples have also been documented where educators were discriminated against simply because of their views about God that never made it into the classroom.
This anticreation movement has been furthered by government agencies such as the National Academy of Sciences, which has gone so far as to publish booklets discouraging the teaching of creationism (See Science, Evolution, and Creationism) . Government policy is also in place to prevent those who believe in God from receiving teaching certification[3].
Organizations
- The National Academy of Sciences is a US national government agency that was created in 1863 to "investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art" whenever called upon to do so by any department of the government. According to a 1998 report in the journal Nature, a recent survey found that 93% of NAS members are either atheists or agnostics. The biologists in the National Academy of Sciences were found to possess the lowest rate of belief of all the science disciplines, with only 5.5% believing in God.[4] Their recent anticreation activities include the publication of Science and Creationism. This book, published in 1999, states unequivocally that creationism has no place in any science curriculum at any level.[5]
- The American Civil Liberties Union is strictly opposed to Creation. This organization says that Creation should not be taught in schools because it is a direct violation of the United States Constitution. "The ACLU policy on religion in public schools states that '...any program of religious indoctrination -- direct or indirect -- in the public schools or by use of public resources is a violation of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state and must be opposed....'" "In 1980, the Board of Directors further clarified this policy by stating, 'ACLU also opposes the inculcation of religious doctrines even if they are presented as alternatives to scientific theories.'" The ACLU believes that Creation is the perfect example of these doctrines. This organization mistakenly believes that there is no evidence for Creation; they think that people who interpret the Bible literally do not have any form of proof, but that they simply "just believe" without looking for any physical evidence.[6]
- The National Center for Science Education has devoted itself to the belief in evolution. It defends the "right" to teach evolution in schools, while saying that Creation has no place within American educational facilities. The organization claims to be religiously neutral, but is still extremely antagonistic towards the belief in Creation. The Director of this center is Eugenie Scott, a physical anthropologist who taught at several universities before becoming the Director in 1987. The NCSE gets involved in controversies over the belief of Creation and Evolution whenever possible. [7]
Philosophies
Atheism
- Main Article: Atheism
Atheism is a philosophical denial of the existence of God. A more active stance affirms the nonexistence of God, and proposes positive belief rather than mere suspension of disbelief.
Secular humanism
- Main Article: Secular Humanism
Secular humanism is a branch of humanism that specifically seeks to separate itself from groups that believe in a deity. Simply stated secular humanism is a philosophical worldview or religion that shares beliefs based on atheism or agnosticism. Secular humanism is the only view that is and is allowed to be taught in the U.S. public school system.
Evolutionism
- Main Article: Evolutionism
The most prominent belief to oppose creationism on scientific grounds is known as the general theory of evolution. This view, in the broadest sense, includes cosmic evolution beginning with big bang, the origin of life, and the common descent of biological life on Earth.
Theistic evolutionism
- Main Article: Theistic evolutionism
Theistic evolutionism (also known as evolutionary creationism) is a form of old earth creationism whose advocates are frequently found actively opposing young earth creationism. As such, the position is generally considered anticreationary by many.
The perspective is derived from an attempt to reconcile Biblical teachings and the common evolution theory. Although, some people interpret this as a scientific theory, it is more of a philosophical view of origins. Those holding to this belief state that teachings of Creation and Evolution do not need to contradict.[8] Theistic Evolutionists believe that God did in fact create the earth, but that he accomplished it over billions of years.[9]
Anticreation response articles
The CreationWiki editorial staff is compiling responses to the claims of anticreationists. The majority of the files are rebuttals to the anticreation sites, Talk.Origins and the EvoWiki. To browse the list of all response articles, see the anticreation response category.
- Index to Creationist Claims - responses to Index to Creationist Claims Response articles have now been written for all Talk.Origins claims, but many can be improved upon.
- Frequently Asked But Never Answered Questions - responses to FABNAQ.
- The Revised Quote Book - responses to The Revised Quote Book: Looking at how Creationists Quote Evolutionists
News
- JPL Worker Sues Over Intelligent Design Demotion A NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory worker who distributed Intelligent Design DVDs on the job is suing the JPL for discrimination after he was demoted. ABC News, April 19, 2010.
- Creationism theme park caught in tax dispute A federal judge has cleared the way for the government’s seizure of a creationism theme park in Pensacola. WorldNetDaily. August 07, 2009
- God and Science Don't Mix A scientist can be a believer. But professionally, at least, he can't act like one. Wall Street Journal. June 26, 2009.
- California youth prevails in suit on teacher's comment about creationism Tederal judge ruled that a public high school history teacher violated the First Amendment when he called creationism "superstitious nonsense" during a classroom lecture. San Jose Mercury News. May 5, 2009.
- Graduate School Sues Texas Agency Over Academic Discrimination The ICR Graduate School is suing the Texas Higher Ed Coordinating Board, its commissioner, and several of its members for unconstitutional discrimination in their handling of the School's application for accreditation. Christian Newswire. April 21, 2009.
- Christian schools angry over ban on teaching creationism Australian Christian schools will campaign against a decision to effectively ban the teaching of creationism. Sydney Morning Herald, March 3, 2010.
- Darwin on a Godless Creation: "It's like confessing to a murder" Darwin's heretical theories meant the end of his belief in creation by God. Scientific American. February 12, 2009
- Like it or not, you pay for faith in evolution A case is on the way to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the use of federal taxpayer funds to endorse the beliefs of religious groups that promote belief in evolution. WorldNetDaily. January 09, 2009
- TBSE Critiques Misleading Propaganda Obscuring Education Issues Recent poll by an anticreation activist group has been claiming that there is essentially no controversy over origins or how they are taught. Texans for Better Science Education. January 5, 2009.
- Scientists unite for science curriculum Texas Darwinists denouce teaching creationism in public school science classrooms. The Houston Chronicle. September 30, 2008.
- Church of England issues 'apology' to Darwin. A spokesman for the Church of England has said the church misunderstood Charles Darwin's work nearly 150 years ago, and that good religion needs to work constructively with good science as well as the opposite being true. Episcopal Life Online, September 17, 2008.
- Royal Society scientist loses post after suggesting teaching creationism in schools. By Martin Beckford. After Prof. Michael Reiss suggested that creationism be taught as a world view, not dismissed as a misconception, recriminations began immediately and he was fired as Director of Education at the Royal Society. London Daily Telegraph, September 17, 2008.
- California Judge Rules Against Academic Freedom Judge has allowed the University of California (UC) to continue denying course credit for college preparatory classes from Christian high schools. Institute for Creation Research. August 15, 2008
- Judge says UC can deny religious course credit UC discrimination specifically targets Christian high schools whose textbooks declare the Bible infallible and reject evolution. San Francisco Chronicle. August 13, 2008.
- The Cons of Creationism NY Times editorial illustrates anticreation stance that permeates U.S. media. New York Times June 7, 2008.
- Lewis-Palmer grad's 'Jesus speech' lawsuit thrown out Student disciplined for mentioning Jesus Christ in a valedictorian speech. The Gazette. August 7, 2008
- ICR Graduate School petitions for reconsideration of its application for degree-granting authority. They include 26 "evidentiary appendices" and also copy the Texas AG on their petition, asserting that the denial of their application was unconstitutional. WorldNetDaily. May 29, 2008.
- Expelled: Intelligent design film fuels debate over how life came to be The Toledo Times. April 28, 2008.
- ICR Graduate School loses bid for accreditation. The Texas Higher-Ed Coordinating Board's Academic Excellence and Research Committee voted down ICR's bid after the unusual step of inviting public comment. ICR is reviewing its options. April 24, 2008.
- Angry scientists protest Pope's visit to Roman university 67 professors signed statement calling for cancellation citing a 1990 speech. Catholic World News Jan. 14, 2008
- European panel condemns creationism effort European lawmakers approved a report condemning efforts to teach creationism in schools. United Press International. Oct. 5, 2007
- Academic Freedom Expelled from Baylor University The Evolutionary Informatics Laboratory website has been taken offline because of anonymous complaints linking the lab to intelligent design. Evolution News & Views. September 5, 2007
- Creation versus Evolution at the European Parliament Anticreationists respond to seminar at the European Parliament entitled “Teaching Evolution Theory in Europe – Is your child being indoctrinated in the classroom?” International Humanist and Ethical Union August 7 2007.
- Astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez Appeals Tenure Denial to Iowa Board of Regents Evolution Views and News. July 11, 2007
- Protesters, Visitors Flock To the Newly Opened Creation Museum As the Creation Museum's doors opened, about 100 protesters were outside the front gates; and the line for people entering ran around the building. News 5. May 28, 2007.
- Iowa State Faculty Admit Intelligent Design Played Role in Scientist’s Tenure Denial Discovery Institute. May 18, 2007
- Intelligent Design Advocate Denied Tenure at ISU Associated Press. May 15, 2007
- Creation Museum's first visitor? Bill Maher got an interview with Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis under false pretenses. Worldnetdaily. April 16, 2007.
- Bruce Chapman and John West: Are the Darwinists afraid to debate us? SMU professors are seeking to prevent intelligent design conference on the Southern Methodist University campus. The Dallas Morning News. April 10 2007
- Biology Teacher Fired for 'Polluting' Evolution Lesson with Bible By The Associated Press. Mar. 20 2007.
- Oregon Biology Teacher Fired Over Bible References Fox News. March 20, 2007
- 'Young Earth' creationist stirs a scholarly storm NCSE director Eugenie Scott expresses concern over granting a doctorate to a creationist whose work is described as "impeccable" by his graduate advisor. The Vancouver Sun. February 17, 2007
- Peer-harassed scientist rocks evolutionary boat The U.S. House Committee on Government Reform issued report on the "Intolerance and the Politicization of Science at the Smithsonian". World Net Daily. February 15, 2007
- Kansas Repeals Evolution Ruling Language considered to be challenging to evolution was repealed by the newly-elected Kansas state Board of Education. CBS February 13, 2007
- New campaign to censor different view of Grand Canyon Once again evolutionists are pushing the US National Parks Service to have the creationist book banned from Canyon bookstore. by Tas Walker. Creation Ministries International. January, 9 2007.
- Congressional Investigation Confirms Discrimination against Smithsonian Scientist Critical of Darwinian Evolution The demotion of a well-published evolutionary biologist has been found to be religiously and politically motivated. Discovery Institute. December 18, 2006.
- "Masterful" Federal Ruling on Intelligent Design Was Copied from ACLU The key section of the court decision on intelligent design was copied nearly verbatim. Discovery Institute. December 12, 2006.
- Professor's Snub of Creationists Prompts U.S. Inquiry Professor of biology at Texas Tech University refuses to give recommendations for students who will not acknowledge Darwinian mechanisms as responsible for the origin of human species. The New York Times. February 3, 2003.
People
- Main Article: Anticreationist
- Isaac Asimov (1920 – 1992)
- Richard Dawkins
- Theodosius Dobzhansky (1900 - 1975)
- Mark Isaak
- Stephen Jay Gould
- Ernst Mayr (1904 – 2005)
- Ian Plimer
- Michael Ruse
- Eugenie Scott
- Kevin Henke
- Joseph Meert
- Carl Sagan
- Lenny Flank
- Sam Harris
Sites
Icons
Related References
- Wikipedia: Theistic Evolution
- Theistic Evolution Essay
- Wikipedia: Day-Age Creationism
- The ACLU Website
- The NCSE Website
- Wikipedia Secular Humanism
- MSNBC: NEWSWEEK
- All About Creation
- Wikipedia: Evolution
- The Facts about Intelligent Design: A Response to the National Academy of Sciences’ Science, Evolution, and Creationism by Casey Luskin. Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA) Center. January 15, 1985.
External links
- When will Europe wake up? Council of Europe ‘condemns creationism’ (but it ought to reconsider where the ‘threat to human and civic rights’ is really coming from). by Jonathan Sarfati and David Catchpoole. Creation Ministries International
- Hoax of Dodos Discovery Institute responds to false claims in Randy Olson's film Flock of Dodos.
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See Also
- Anticreation in media
- Anticreation in public schools
- Anticreationist debate tactics
- Creation vs. Evolution
- Sceptic arguments
- Objections to creationism
- Evolutionism
- Naturalism
- Humanism
- List of anticreationist blogs
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