THE ANGRY OLD MAN
SCIENCE & CREATIONISM
BASIC OBSERVATIONS
When the subject of Creationism comes up, you can be sure of two things. Those who believe in Creationism will never change their mind and the those who believe otherwise will never change their minds. So, in the battle between the two sides over whether Creationism will be taught in the schools as science or religion, facts will have nothing to do with the decision. It comes down to one thing. The side that has the most power at the time will prevail.
Genesis and the story of Adam & Eve represents just one of innumerable creation myths which different peoples at different times have invented in order to account for the manner in which Earth and everything on it came to be.
My view, which is shared by most on the scientific side, is that every one should be allowed to believe what ever they wish. AS LONG AS THEY DON'T FORCE THEIR VIEWS ON OTHERS.
And that is where the problem lies. Most fundamentalists won't accept any other view and insist that everyone accept their view. This is an even bigger problem when they insist on having it taught in the schools as a science. Creationism is not a science, it is a Religious Belief.
For someone who believes in the scientific approach, the answer is simple. A scientist does not believe in fundamental and absolute certainties. For the scientist, certainty is never an end, but a search.
A scientist is characterized neither by a willingness to believe or a willingness to disbelieve, or a desire to prove or disprove anything. A scientist wants to discover what is. He does it by observation, experiment, verification and falsification. The scientist expects that others will check his findings. Only then can his findings be verified.
A fundamentalists takes things on faith, and expects you to do likewise. His proof cannot be verified and is often made up of half-truths. They cannot accept any dissenting view or findings.
A point of fact that we all need to remember. Tyranny almost always springs from a fanatical faith in the absoluteness of ones belief. As I write this, the news is full of radical Muslims who are blowing up buses, business's, etc. They blew up the twin trade centers in New York. Fanatical faith in anything is dangerous.