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August 27th, 2012
11:31 AM ET
Bill Nye slams creationismBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN)–Famed TV scientist Bill Nye is slamming creationism in a new online video for Big Think titled "Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children." "Denial of evolution is unique to the United States," Nye begins in a YouTube video posted on Thursday. The video quickly picked up steam over the weekend and as of Monday morning had been viewed more than 1,100,000 times. Nye - a mechanical engineer and television personality best known for his program, "Bill Nye the Science Guy" - said the United States has great capital in scientific knowledge and "when you have a portion of the population that doesn't believe in it, it holds everyone back." "Your world becomes fantastically complicated if you don't believe in evolution," Nye said in the Web video. Creationists are a vast and varied group in the United States. Most creationists believe in the account of the origins of the world as told in the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories In the creation account, God creates Adam and Eve, the world, and everything in it in six days. For Christians who read the Genesis account literally, or authoritatively as they would say, the six days in the account are literal 24-hour periods and leave no room for evolution. Young Earth creationists use this construct and biblical genealogies to determine the age of the Earth, and typically come up with 6,000 to 10,000 years. Your Take: 5 reactions to Bill Nye's creationism critique The Gallup Poll has been tracking Americans' views on creation and evolution for the past 30 years. In June it released its latest findings, which showed 46% of Americans believed in creationism, 32% believed in evolution guided by God, and 15% believed in atheistic evolution. During the 30 years Gallup has conducted the survey, creationism has remained far and away the most popular answer, with 40% to 47% of Americans surveyed saying they believed that God created humans in their present form at one point within the past 10,000 years. Survey: Nearly half of Americans subscribe to creationist view of human origins "The idea of deep time of billions of years explains so much of the world around us. If you try to ignore that, your worldview becomes crazy, untenable, itself inconsistent," Nye said in the video. "I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, that's completely inconsistent with the world we observe, that's fine. But don't make your kids do it. Because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future. We need engineers that can build stuff and solve problems," he said. Creationists' beliefs about the origins of the Earth are often a narrow focus, based in large part on religious beliefs, and while they reject evolution as "just one theory," they often embrace other fields of science and technology. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter In "The Genesis Flood," the 1961 book that in many ways help launch the Young Earth creationism movement in the United States, the authors write: “Our conclusions must unavoidably be colored by our Biblical presuppositions, and this we plainly acknowledge." Their goal for the book was to harmonize the scientific evidence with the accounts in Genesis of creation and the flood. The idea of creationism has been scorned by the mainstream scientific community since shortly after Darwin introduced "The Origin of Species" in 1859. By 1880, The American Naturalists, a science journal, reported nearly every major university in America was teaching evolution. "In another couple centuries I'm sure that worldview won't even exist. There's no evidence for it. So..." Nye ends his video. soundoff (14,640 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 Next » |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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The big bang and evolution are lies against Jesus’ truth to cause doubt, creating confusion. Satan's lies are built on quick sand foundation. Not unlike the layer of cat litter and kitty poo that covers my floors. What part of Jesus' truth is clarity and satan's lies are confusion do you not comprehend? There are no flaws in His word.
Amen.
Like the wise man said, prayer makes you hoard cats.
What the hell are you doing living in such filth? Jesus, like your god, never existed. If you go back in history thousands of years before Christianity, you will see that the whole story of religion has its roots in sun worship. But I can bet you're probably not going to do that.
I watched his video the other day and I couldn't help but notice how glassy Bill's eyes were.
What's he on?
It's this new weed out called "Fvcking irrelevant"
It's called "reality"... all of the cool kids are doing it. You should try it too.
Ah, the old and tired ruse of attacking the person's character, because you lack the intelligence and wit to challenge the ideology. Keep going fundy, let's see how many more rhetorical fallacies you can come up with. Don't strain yourself, though.
A thing to think about:
The universe, as we know it, seems to be millions or billions of years old. I see this is something anti-creationalist's struggle with. However, consider the possibility, that if there is a God, perhaps He created the universe with an 'aged' appearance? Food for thought.
If he did, he's a jerk.
This is just stupid. Why can't you just accept a fact instead of having to revert to a higher power. Are you really that uncomfortable with your own existence that you have to justify it? Sad.
A thing to think about:
Your god, like the thousands of other gods that have "existed," is fake. Ever consider that?
If there is a god, and he did do that, he's an ass, and I am glad I am an atheist.
And the point of this would be? FYI, the universe appears to be 13.75 ± 0.11 billion years.
I thought my first post didn't go.
Maybe this is food for thought for you but not for any person that has more than three neurons, is mildly literate, and finished third grade.
I don't mean to sound insulting but what a dumb statement you just have made!
God doesn't exist. Swallow that.
I get where you are going, but why not go the direction of God being just as, or older than the creation of the universe? There is no reason to discount science as an attempt at proving something that cannon be proven. I cannot say for sure that there is a God more than the Pope, not can I say there is not. It is foolish to think that we, a people that still have a vast amount of learning to do, can come to any such conclusion about the origin of "us" . Our understanding only goes so far, evolution is happening everyday and has for longer than we know but it is happening.
I've never really considered a perspective like this. Technically, if it were possible to have an all powerful being, they (it) would be able to do such a thing, but there is too much paradoxical logic to comprehend such a thing. Bottom line, does human technology want to evolve or do we want to stop it? I choose progress and discovery, which inadvertently will drive us away from fundamentalism and tradition. God would be an total jerk to give us the drive to explore and experience but not want us to learn more and attempt to explain.
Any religion based on Jesus Christ is gonna lick balls, because Jesus does in fact lick balls.
Cat's Cradle
I believe Jesus preferred to lick homeless people's buttholes. That is why he died from aids.
The problem with many fundamental Christians is that they don't separate facts from beliefs / faith. To them, their beliefs are facts. So, they have no problem wanting their beliefs taught in public schools, because they think that they're facts.
I have my religious beliefs. I'm Jewish. My beliefs are based on my faith, not on facts. For that reason, my religious beliefs should not be presented as facts in our public schools. And, I don't want other religions presenting their faith, their beliefs, as facts either.
The very term "belief" or "faith" says in clear terms that these are NOT based on facts. Let's not pretend they are.
Keep the faith. I have a lot of Christian friends, and their religion helps guide their moral behavior and brings them strength. Good for them. I also have some atheist friends who are good, kind, caring people. Good for them, too.
What's the difficulty of believing both?
They contradict each other. Science is purely based on observational fact while religion is based on controlling massive amounts of idiots.
Try and you'll see. Fantasy and baseless assertions will crash headlong into evidence and reasoning.
@Cat's Cradle
LOL ! 😀
Peace...
Genesis:
Adam: Oh my God, we’re nekkid!
God: Yes! Your nekkidness is shameful! Cover yourselves!!
Adam: I’m sorry! We…we didn’t know!
God: Now you see the world as I do!
Eve: Wait. You knew we were nekkid this whole time, and didn’t say anything?!
God: Well you weren’t supposed to know!
Adam: Yeah, we get that…but you did know! My dik’s just swingin’ on out here. Thanks for the head’s up!
God: L…let’s move on…
Eve: Come on God! We had a conversation while I was jogging yesterday. These things must have been flying everywhere! No wonder you were distracted!
God: Well I work in mysterious ways!
Adam: Hey God, were you checking out my girl’s t.i.t.s?
God: Ah….get out! Get out of the garden you’re both banned.
Eve: Yeah we busted him!
God: Yeah you enjoy child birth b.i.t.c.h!
@HeavenSense
here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhWKRtiIVbk
And here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUFUujSNpEU
@b4bigbang
LMAO !!! 😀
Peace...
I like Bill and believe he is well intentioned – but you know what they say about the best intentions; don't let someone else lead you to that choice as the worst thing would be realizing that choice was wrong for you – and since Bill brought children into this conversation; that realization would be even more overwhelming if you accepted his choice for your children...
Creation Ministries International – http://www.creation.com – other scientists that see things differently than Bill DENYe the Science Guy ....
Proverbs 4:19 "But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over."
Neanderthal? Cro Magnon? Radioactive dating? All fake? Magic bearded guy made everything? Obviously real.
Proverbs 4:19 "But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over."
Sounds an awful lot like christian science deniers to me. Could it be that you guys have come full-circle and are now the target of your favorite book?
Cat's Cradle – I hear you; felt the same way for over 52yrs...
One of my stumbling blocks was creation vs evolution – I found this organization and went to one of their forums and wanted to learn more because of that – check out creation.com – this site has many scientists looking at creation scientifically and drawing different conclusions than BNye – opportunity to keep things balanced and see what their thoughts are – was a small part of this new journey for me but it helped...
@UniversalMan
Interesting... so, you used to be 'atheist' ? then went to creationists seminars and now you believe, what exactly ?
Peace...
I really hope the correct religion is Heaven's Gate... Just don't drink the Kool-Aid.
therealpeace2all – wouldn't say I was a full on atheist – I was just relating to Cat's Cradle's comments because it reminded me how I use to talk/think – just went to the one creation seminar probably to laugh and sneer at it because I mean, who would believe that version, after everything we've been taught in school, it just didn't make sense; so I wouldn't say that just going to a seminar was the turning point for me – I will say that something happened and I fully accepted and believe in Jesus Christ now; but I fully understand that I can't make that change for others and it's not my place to judge them if they don't – I appreciate you offering the word peace and I pray for His peace to be with you 🙂
@UniversalMan
Thanks !
Peace...
If the church came out and said, "one plus one equals banana," you religious fvcktards would defend that to the death as well. Brainwashed morons.
Thanks, well said.
Isn't funny how Bill specifically says he wants the children. Reminds me of something Satan would say. It is easier to change the foundation of group of people by attacking them at the roots. Bill, my children are going to be a wonderful, God fearing Americans who will contribute to our society with loyalty, pride, and intelligence. NO, you can't have them. I rebuke you Satan.
This guy really annoyes me because
I want a god who takes a personal interest in ME, ME, & ME
I want a god who protects ME when life gets scary
I want a god who validated MY values and beliefs to be 100% correct
I want a god who gives ME easy answers to life's complicated questions
I want a god who will let ME live forever after I die
I want a god who will let ME look down at all those people who disagreed with me and watch them burn in hell
Bill, there are many engineers that build stuff who are believers in Christ. How is religion "keeping us in the stone age"? About a decade ago I kept a physical map of the city in my car in case I ever got lost. Now I can use the GPS on my phone, and the number of Christians in the world hasn't changed since then.
Agreed
What's your point? In civilized countries the number of religious fanatics is on the decline. In the US, Barna's group shows people leaving the church in droves.
Who created GPS technology... oh yea, scientists.
Moby Schtick, my point is that I believe religion doesn't impede civilization's technological advancement. Also, I can only assume that the rates of those who are religious has stayed relatively constant without empirical evidence.
Cheesus Chrust Pizza Shop, yes, scientists did create GPS.
Believing in Christ is a separate issue from believing that every word of the Bible is literal truth. You can believe the Bible is a collection of morality tales for guiding your life without taking genesis and Jonah and the whale as factual.
JP, to a follower of Christ. the Bible is to be believed from front to cover. The Old Testament is fulfilled through Christ. I wasn't aware of this until I took a course on the Bible last year. It is not intended to be used a moralistic "self-help" book. It's to explain the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You don't believe religious zealots impede science? Do the words "stem cell research" mean anything to you?
Creationists are the dumbest people on the planet, not that I consider them to be people.
This is the sort of hatred and ignorance that leads to violence and hate crimes. People who believe in creationism are not even people to you? What kind of horrible person are you? Everyone has a right to believe what they will. They are not less than you because they disagree.
Sticks and stones may hurt me. But, names never will. So, now, the values, ettiquittes, manners that my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and all the generations before is now called by the name of creationism. Well, it is the only life I have known. And, I am not ashamed of knowing that kind of life. And, I will forever cherish all my ancestors who passed those values to me. All deserve to be known for the individual that they are. And, how they have been influenced by their ancestry and their beliefs. No one should ever be known by a name different than the one on their birth certificates.
What does "values, ettiquittes, manners" have to do with creationism, the belief in a devine creator? Are you saying they are linked, that only creationists have them?
The values of religion are not the problem in this case. You can believe that you should be nice to people without believing that geology, paleontology, biology, astronomy etc are all lies. Do you really believe 2000 year old tales written by desert nomads over the same scientific research whose evidence is all around you? If science is wrong, then there wouldn't be an internet for you to read this on.
Go back far enough, many of your ancestors also believed that all celestial bodies revolved around earth and that our planet was flat. Honoring outdated and dangerous viewpoints just because they were taught to us wrongly does not validate them.
What do manners and etiquette have to do with creationism?
Your world is made of fantasy and ignorance.
You don't know therefore you choose to fill in the gaps with your imagination.
When I was 3 years old I neither knew about nor understood the concept of evolution. That doesn't mean that my 3 year old self isn't important to who I am today, but I realize that he was ignorant.
Its very nice that you respect the views that you were raised with. But you also have to realize that your ancestors also believed that the world was flat and that you would sail off the edge or be eaten by dragons. Believing in evolution in no way lessons a persons belief in God. Perhaps you need more faith in God.
Rinda Lynn, I totally respect your opinion/ beliefs, but remember that people's parents, grandparents, etc believed the earth was flat back in the day. What happened is what happened regardless of what you believe.
So by definition of what you are saying..... what your ancestors have told you is the truth. Your ancestors once thought that the earth was flat. With Science and Exploration it was found to be round. At one time it was thought that the earth was the center of all and that the Sun revolved around the earth. Again, through Science we now know we are part of a much bigger Universe and that all does NOT revolve around us. I have always felt that my belief in God does not preclude me from believing in EVOLUTION. I just don't understand what people such as yourself don't get and probably NEVER will. Having a concrete belief in Evolution does NOT preclude me from having a moral compass, manners or the ability to have values that let me believe that everyone is created equal. The Genesis account of the worlds creation was a simplified story told to people at a time when they had no education or frame of reference to understanding the Universe. Stories and parables were told in such a way for the "everyday man" to understand. With Science we know so much more. All I am saying is that based on tangible evidence the earth is MUCH OLDER than 6000 years. I know that their are those that won't understand how I can believe in a higher power and evolution but I have to problem in having both.
If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people.
"The true test of a first-rate mind is the ability to hold two contradictory ideas at the same time." –F. Scott FItzgerald
Not many first-rate minds are writing comments here.
That's seems more like the test of intellectual dishonesty.
Sounds to me like Orwell's doublethink
And of course yours is ?
Sound a bit like a test for mental illness.
...sounds...damned worn-out keyboard.
Isn't your user name oxymoronic?
Sounds like classic fence sitting.
I heard he smoked A LOT.
@Religious scientist
F. Scott Fitzgerald was a severe alcoholic and an egoist. His credentials are suffering to refer to first-rate minds.
Religion and science need not conflict, however, the religious right has taken an all out war against science from poopooing carbon dating to ignoring Global warming as man made. We can have two separate ideas most likely but after years and years of our children being under attack by the religious zealots that would have us believe that man and dinosaurs lived side by side.....it is like teaching my kid the Tooth fairy is real.
I wonder if Religious scientist believes evolution is a natural process (scientist) or if it is somehow orchestrated by his personal preference of deity (religious)? An answer to that question might give us some insight into Religious scientist's integrity.
You all are wrong!
The universe was created as is just about 60 seconds ago, which strangely enough, is roughly the time it takes for this thread to get a new page...
Hello and welcome to the HeavenSent blog. This is YOUR opportunity to voice your HeavenSent opinions!
Please frame your posts to best preach to Atheists about the dangers of a Godless life-style.
Here are some suggested key words to get you started:
Hey-Zues
Personal worm that feeds off them, is never quenched, for eternity
Believing the lies of satan that they will be collectively mini-gods
Do as the atheists do in this country to ensure the USA goes belly up
Too blind to see His truth whether I write it in street language or scripture form
Jesus told us to send r-apists and murderers back to Him
Atheists lie when they talk about freedom of speech
He ran off all the Christians from the other site he oversaw
That will be the end of you
Itchy Ears
God doesn't have favorites
Carnal
You're a putz, cough fool
Liar against His truth
Abide in Jesus' truth
Prideful
Stay on the wrong side of the gulf until you are blotted out for eternity
Tommie Tom
Scotty
Minions of satan
Prayer changes things
Talmud
Man-made lies of the talmud
Jesus’ letter, the Bible
God’s truth
Jesus’ truth
The truth
Jesus Christ's truth are resurrected to eternity
I am flying with Evil
Boo hoo
I know from Moe Curly of the 3 stooges that nothing works
Truth
Those that believe in Him go with Him to eternity
Lies lies lies
Fat drippings
Personal worms
Horrors, earth quakes, floods, disasters are God's wrath against all of us
You fools doing evil
You atheists
Smug atheists
Prideful atheists
Amen
Throw away that users manual
Prayer really works
No eyes to see or hear His truth
Blotted out for eternity
Burn burn burn for all eternity
Writing your filth
True Christians
The liar satan
Snakes in your Belly
Athiests at CNN
They are blocking my posts again
Dead bones
Logic?? I don't require a single shred to define my beliefs
You must like worms
Pay no attention to the small minded fools that got their brain fried
Read back through the previous articles for over a year dummy
I know you atheists to be fools
Notice who is most quoted in the Golden rule. Jesus Christ's wisdom
You believing something doesn't make it true
I'm not holding my breath
You own those labels
Humble yourself and ask Jesus for forgiveness
Reprobate minds
Jesus told us he would give you reprobate minds
After their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears
Satan's lies causes confusion
Atheists write this garbage
Satan is death
You are fooling yourself if you don't tell gays they suffer for eternity
Tortured for eternity
Pathetic
Blame it on the Christians for having the guts to tell idiots God's truth
Your father Satan
End of days taught in Jesus' truth is nothing new to Christians
Another rock. Nothing new under the sun
You insist on your lies having wings to fly
You are still a pigeon
The entire MO behind the atheist is to throw out as many lies and see what sticks
Debating is the atheists game
Satan impregnated Eve with Cain
I know you atheists to be fools
Christians are on these articles to ensure Jesus Christ's truth is posted
Start your walk with Jesus
Blinded by satan's lies
Test from God. Do you have what it takes to pass?
Serpent is just one of the multiple names of Lucifer aka satan
The big bang and evolution are lies against Jesus’ truth to cause doubt, creating confusion
Satan's lies are built on quick sand foundation
What part of Jesus' truth is clarity and satan's lies are confusion do you not comprehend?
There are no flaws in His word
Jesus' truth stands for eternity
Get over your obsession with me
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my
Rocks, everywhere on this site, rocks
Seeds of Jesus falling on rock.
Stepping over His seeds that get blown by the wind to find their way to fertile grounds
Typical of swines trampling
It's obsessive compulsion to grab at any straw to give a reason not to learn or understand
Go back to posting under my handle and answering yourself
Scott
Get a life and try to grow
Singular swine using multiple handles.
You still continue to refuse to learn your heritage
I've posted the answer numerous times
I'm glad the line from the movie Secretariat sticks in your mind
Statistics prove that the more devout someone is, the higher IQ they have
Read the Bible. It is 100 percent accurate in every facet
It makes me smile to know that people will be tortured in hell for eternity
He steals their handles to write his evil
You atheists steal my handle to post your evil will
Reap the sword of the Lord Jesus when He returns
Stealing our handles
Why are you lying?
Get an education to His truth
What's your point small god savior?
I expect foolish thinking from an atheist
Jesus’ wisdom is roaring it's ugly head throughout the world
Another Pharisees jealous that Jesus is God and not them
The atheist that hijacks my handle to spew their lies
Hhmmm, confused?
Remember….Muslims, Jews and Atheists need not apply!
Amen.
If God created us to be kind and all that crap you just said, you yourself are going to hell. You are being unkind to everyone around you that doesn't share your view. But of course you'll just blame faith and God and whatever. BOTTOM LINE: If you don't live a life that shows you are kind to everyone and can show compassion and help those in need, you are a bad person, a sinner, going to hell.
By the artificial gods, all I needed to do was read the first two and then the final sentence to know your post is a waste of time. Go pick up a biology book.
@HeavenSent Blog
If you're an example of who's in heaven, then I want an alternative.
You're a very SICK person; indeed, heavensent. this is what happens to someone like you that has been brainwashed out of the crib to your casket! " Be open minded " use common scence to reason what man-kind can think. wheather thier is a god or thier isn't, we should all use our heads and move man-kind ahead...with-out wars. the universe is much greater than this little godly earth in-which we occupy.
When chicken embryos start to develop they have teeth buds and the beginnings of multi segmented tails. As they develop their DNA tells the developing embryo to absorb them. Much like human embryo's absorb the so called embryonic gill slits. Now if you turn off the genes that control this absorption instruction you get chicken embryos that develop long multi segmented dinosaur tails and meat eating dinosaur teeth complete with the serrated inside edge. Other studies have also been successful in regressing feathers into scales.
Good for Bill Nye.
I love his line in the video about how believing in creation over evolution is akin to being a geologist without believing in plate tectonics! Too true....
I wish more scientists and educators would get involved in helping to bring American children out of the dark ages of creationism so that we can catch up with the rest of the 21st century. I am alarmed to read that 46% of Americans say that they believe in Genesis as literal fact. If that's true, that is really dangerous for the future of science in this country....
Uh, I'm no creationist, but some of the best minds in western civilization were creationists. Being a creationist may make one ignorant with certain respects to academia, but it doesn't make one wholly ignorant; at least to the degree Mr. Nye suggests. I know plenty of atheists who are intellectual morons, but it doesn't make me think all atheists are detrimental to progress and innovation. While I think it's silly to subscribe to a rigorous creationist view, I don't think the future is in jeopardy because people do. It does, however, make for some pretty good jokes.
No, your logic is off. People in the past have not had the same evidence that we have now about these issues. Intelligent people value evidence, that's Nye's point (and Dawkins' and many other scientists who are making the same arguments).
No, I think you've missed my point. Personal beliefs have not hindered progress or science. Nor has it advanced it. I have worked with scientists/scholars who I disagree with fundamentally on a religious level but were some of the best minds in science. Do you honestly think every scientific mind of the 20th century that advanced civilization's understanding of the universe was an atheist? I don't believe that any more than I believe that scientists who were creationists were the sole reason advancements have been made. Belief (or non) shades the way one looks at the world, but it is possible to for people with such beliefs to work without biases. It's happened for quite some time, even as advancements have been made. IMHO too much is being made about nothing.
There is a real problem with preferring to believe that which makes you feel better over that which is backed up by actual evidence. In the long run, teaching children that if they don't want to believe observable facts they don't have to is bad for science and social progress. Creationist prefer to believe they are special and hand crafted by a supreme being – despite mountains of actual data which clearly supports evolution.
Science only exists because of personal beliefs. The whole point to valuing scientific *evidence* is the belief that evidence is how we can best understand the universe. So you can't separate human understanding from belief.
The people you appear to referring to from our past have been great given the evidence that they had to work with, and within the context of their specific fields. So it isn't relevant to this issue whether Einstein, Darwin or Jefferson or anyone else were atheists. None of them had the evidence or access to knowledge that our children have today. You are arguing that teaching the value of evidence is unnecessary- but you are doing so using a tool that exists only because others valued evidence more than you do.
How is such belief bad for science and social progress? While I am sympathetic to Mr. Nye's pleading, I don't find any of the reasons very compelling. So yes, there is more evidence today for evolution than before. So what if people believe in something that I totally disagree with? I disagree with people about a great many things– but we get stuff done. Maybe if he was addressing the extreme nutcases he'd be on to something.
Look, I am totally with teaching evolution in schools. Scientist here. I prefer that people agree with my worldview– it makes my life easier and drama-free. But at the end of the day, there is no data that show that believing in creationism is bad for progress. It certainly would SEEM that way, but in practice I have seen such belief (to varying extremes) and science work together just fine. Scientific work speaks for itself, regardless of belief. People can believe what they want– as long as it doesn't impede or skew good, honest, scientific work– I don't have a problem with that. The extreme religious nutcases are no different than extreme anything else out there: an annoying minority that makes press occasionally because of sensationalist comments/views. So, yes, it would be nice if they would be quiet. But if creationism was such a blight on progress, I think we'd be lot worse off than Mr. Nye's belief/theory suggests. My point is, there is a great many things people can be ignorant of– it doesn't make them bad people, bad innovators, or necessarily bad scientists.
Teaching children to form beliefs based on tradition and dogma rather than evidence is bad for anyone who wants medical treatment, technology, economics, or other social problems to improve.
Maybe you are happy with the status quo- maybe you are comfortable with things getting worse. But some of us think things can be better and that improving education is an excellent way to get there.
Donna– all due respect here. I have yet to see any data that show that your opinion is true. Just because people say something is "bad" doesnt make it true. Where is the evidence that such ignorance in one aspect of someone's belief system (as stupid as it may be) completely and utterly contributes to the degradation of society? Bill Nye can say that a lack of education is "bad" for progress, but what does that even mean? There is data that shows a direct relation between education and financial success, but last I checked, a lot of ignorant, educated people who are atheist, agnostic, religious have good educations and are doing fine. Please give me solid, consistent instances in the West where believing in "archaic" or "primitive" worldviews is detrimental to scientific and social progress. It only seems to make sense that not accepting the evidence for evolution is generally a "bad" thing, but at the end of the day, the status quo as you have stated is still on a progressive trajectory. It doesn't take a room full of scientists who know the ins and outs of evolution to create the space for innovation.
I"m not going to write a paper to prove to you something that should be obvious. It's sad to me that you are a scientist, yet you don't see the value in rational thought and evidence. People who adhere to dogma constantly bash gay people and actively try to keep them from their civil rights. People who adhere to dogma vote for politicians who support that dogma. People who ignore evidence support policies that cause damage (global warming). People who adhere to dogma try to prevent medical science from progressing in areas like stem cell research and birth control.
I shouldn't have to prove to you how other people's beliefs impact those around them.
I"m not going to write a paper to prove to you something that should be obvious. It's sad to me that you are a scientist, yet you don't see the value in rational thought and evidence. People who adhere to dogma constantly bash gay people and actively try to keep them from their civil rights. People who adhere to dogma vote for politicians who support that dogma. People who ignore evidence support policies that cause damage (global warming). People who adhere to dogma try to prevent medical science from progressing in areas like stem cell research and birth control.
And in this very case, people who adhere to dogma and reject evidence try to get that dogma to be accepted as science, which prevents children from learning about what evidence is and why it's significant.
I shouldn't have to prove to you how other people's beliefs impact those around them, especially in a DEMOCRACY.