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FT (UK): Creationism Is About Politics Not Religion

Started by Kyuuketsuki, October 09, 2008, 02:09:21 PM

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Kyuuketsuki

QuoteThe Evolution Of Creationism
Christopher Caldwell
September 5 2008


The address by Sarah Palin, the vice-presidential nominee, to the Republican convention on Wednesday was hailed by both supporters and detractors as marking an epoch in US politics. The Alaska governor introduced herself as a representative of the small-town Americans “who do some of the hardest work . . . who grow our food, run our factories and fight our wars”, and warned that she was not coming to Washington to seek the good opinion of the press. For Republicans, it was the most electrifying oratorical moment in a generation, when the authentic voice of middle America made itself heard again after decades of silence. For Democrats, it was a rant unprecedented in its boorishness and effrontery.

Leaving aside Alaskan regional exotica, from moose stew to snow-machine racing, the great novelty of Ms Palin’s candidacy is that she is the first national nominee since William Jennings Bryan a century ago to be called a “creationist” â€" a disbeliever in the theory of evolution. This is unfair. Those who describe Ms Palin that way are latching on to one exchange during the Alaska governor’s race two years ago when she said she had no objection if teachers questioned Darwin. “I say this as the daughter of a science teacher,” she said. “Don’t be afraid of information, and let kids debate both sides.” She explicitly ruled out putting creationism on school curriculums.

But she is not exactly shouting her mainstream views from the rooftops, either. A new kind of opposition to the theory of evolution has stirred small-town America in recent years. From the 1960s until the 1980s, believers in the Biblical account of creation managed to stymie the teaching of Darwin in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. But only briefly â€" they were drubbed in the courts, on the grounds that their teachings violated the separation of church and state. Outright creationists, of the sort who date the Creation to 4004BC, are today few, disorganised and weak. What the US does have, though, is an active community of campaigners for “intelligent design”, the belief that nature is too complex to be understood without reference to a “designer” â€" presumably one with a capital D. Intelligent design, too, has fared badly in the courts, but the political questions it raises are live. They tell us a bit about why populism made such a thundering return to US politics this week.

[Read The Rest Of The Article Here]

So religion is about power & control? I'd never've guessed! Honest!

Kyu
James C. Rocks: UK Tech Portal & Science, Just Science

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rlrose328

I do not, for one single second, believe Palin wouldn't push ID into classrooms.  She is the rabid evangelical creationist, no doubt about it.  And I don't believe a word out of her mouth.

And yes, creationism is about politics... brainwash the masses about god and you've got them in the palm of your hand.  Rulers and leaders have known that for millienia.  Any idiot who doesn't acknowledge that deserves what they get.
**Kerri**
The Rogue Atheist Scrapbooker
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Mister Joy

They deserve what they get but I'd still rather they didn't get it. Mainly for the sake of America's biggest enterprise: All Life on Earth inc. The less psychotic nutters you guys elect the better life will be for the rest of us.

rlrose328

So true... wish there was something those of you outside this country... i.e., the masses out there who don't believe in god and who believe a country should be secular... could help during this election and this horribly religious phase of our country's history.   :)
**Kerri**
The Rogue Atheist Scrapbooker
Come visit me on Facebook!