Science vs Religion: Has Darwin failed?

Check out this article: In Texas, a Line in the Curriculum Revives Evolution Debate

By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.
Published: January 21, 2009

AUSTIN, Tex. — The latest round in a long-running battle over how evolution should be taught in Texas schools began in earnest Wednesday as the State Board of Education heard impassioned testimony from scientists and social conservatives on revising the science curriculum.

The debate here has far-reaching consequences; Texas is one of the nation’s biggest buyers of textbooks, and publishers are reluctant to produce different versions of the same material.

Many biologists and teachers said they feared that the board would force textbook publishers to include what skeptics see as weaknesses in Darwin’s theory to sow doubt about science and support the Biblical version of creation.


and conclusion:

“Every single thing they are representing as a weakness is a misrepresentation of science,” said David M. Hillis, a professor of biology at the University of Texas. “These are science skeptics. These are people with religious and political agendas.”



Let's hope that with the new President, our country can finally join the rest of the enlightened world.

http://www.spiegel.de...

I agree with most of this article. I don't doubt that religion has, or at least at one point in time did have, survival value. But as Sam Harris said in his book "The End Of Faith", such beliefs lead to wars and those wars are now a danger to the entire civilization because of the sophistication in weaponry.

Given that we had superstitions before and pagan gods, I don't think it is out of the question that we humans can adjust and adapt. A lot hinges on how parents bring up the children and whether evolution is taught in schools (as seen by battle in the curriculum in Texas in the other article.)

It is therefore imperative for us non believers to band together, to give ourselves support, to make ourselves visible and to encourage our friends to "come out."

Make it a goal to get more people to sign up for this Meetup. It is a battle well worth fighting.