Monday, July 14, 2008

Jason Grill and Evolution

A notice from state representative Jason Grill was received via e-mail today. In it he states he is hosting a town hall-style meeting at Park University this coming Wednesday July 16th. It is to be at 7:00 pm at Park University's McCoy Meetin' House (8700 Northwest River Park Drive, Parkville, MO 64152). I will try to be there.

Earlier this year, the actor Ben Stein presented a screening of his anti-science movie Expelled to the state's governor and some state legislators, mostly Republicans, in the capitol building. Stein's purpose was to boost his view that evolution should not be taught in the state's schools. By Stein's own admission, he doesn't fully understand evolution. I hope to convince Rep. Grill that events such as these are real threats and that he needs to display a stiff backbone when challenged by some Republicans' desires to officially water down the teaching of science in Missouri schools and insert the teaching of supernaturalism. Specifically, he needs to be encouraged to stand up against those in the House who want to bring in the teaching of creationism/intelligent design instead of the scientific theory of natural selection. I have specifically offered to assist him and his staff in preparing for the expected onslaught against reason and logic by the superstitious.

To help you understand the issue, it is always a good idea to understand the scientific side. There are so many misconceptions out there that they can be likened to a whack-a-mole game. As soon as one is hammered down another pops up elsewhere. A customer came in the Beagle yesterday and saw an Astronomy magazine cover about the Big Bang. He turned around and said, "the Big Bang, huh?, That's about evolution right?" I informed him that the Big Bang theory had nothing to do with evolution and quickly explained how the former was a theory about how the early universe formed and the later was about how life on earth has changed over time and that neither theory was about how life on earth began.

On our website you can find the paper "Some facts about evolution" that may be useful to those wanting to learn more on the subject.

4 comments:

Fishman Jack said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I hope your message was received loud and clear. Most recently, the great State of Lousiana followed the infamous footsteps of the Kansas Board of Education in relaxing science education standards through allowing a preface to any discussion around evolution. The allowance enables the teacher to tell his/her students that evolution is "just a theory". Not only does this smack against the definition of theory and scientific method but simply takes a full step backwards in general scientific curricula.

Signed,
R. "Germ Theory is just a theory so I'll continue eat off of the ground" Neal

Anonymous said...

I dont think that ben stein is anti science. hes anti evolution, you can still be for science and not agree with evolution,

why cant we all just get along... what danger to science comes from believing that God created the world? maybe God created the universe in the form of evolution...

My Parkville MO said...

Ben Stein is, at least partially, anti-science when he expresses his anti-evolution stance and his belief that Creationism/Intelligent Design should be taught along side legitimate scientific theories.
Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of the theory of natural selection (evolution).
Creationism/Intelligent Design fail the very basic definitions of a scientific theory. The theory of natural selection fits the definitions like a glove.
There is no danger to science there is a danger to the teaching of science. If the teaching of science is allowed to devolve into the swamp of anyone's and everyone's religion or supernatural belief is as valid as the well-tested theories of science.