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From: bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.religion
Subject: Re: Can Creationists Contribute to Science?
Message-ID: <59@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 28-Jan-84 15:56:04 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.59
Posted: Sat Jan 28 15:56:04 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 31-Jan-84 01:48:03 EST
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Organization: UTexas Astronomy Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 44

>>	I am appalled at the cavalier attitude of summarily
>>	dismissing creationism and its supporters into the
>>	"pseudo-science" category.  I seriously doubt that more than
>>	a few on this network have even bothered to read any of the
>>	material published on the *scientific* evidence for
>>	creation. I have found a few who are willing to consider 
>>	evidence itself, but by far the vast majority who believe in
>>	evolution have also believed the straw man that
>>	evolutionists have created from the Genesis account and then
>>	ridiculed.

I think that supporters of evolution ought to read some creationist
books also, but not for the reasons I assume Larry Bickford would.
To quote Douglas J. Futuyama, in "Science on Trial" (Pantheon, 1983),
p. 228:

	"Although I am averse to supporting the creationist cause
	financially by buying their publications, I must recommend
	some creationist literature as the surest antidote to
	believing the creationist line.  Many publications of
	Creation-Life Publishers, P.O. Box 15666, San Diego,
	California 92115 will do nicely."

I have followed Futuyama's advice and am glad I did.  Nothing can
give one a better idea of the depths of intellectual dishonesty
that the major writers on creationism are willing to probe than
a careful reading of some of their books.  Furthermore, if you
ever have occasion to debate a creationist, it would be well if
you were thoroughly familiar with their arguments.  Recent
experience has shown that creationists can easily be defeated
in public debates, provided that the debater on the other side
is well prepared.

As for Larry's quote from Professor Stephen Jay Gould, if he
will write to Professor Gould and get a statement from him
declaring that the quote constitutes support for the creationist
cause, then I will be impressed.  Otherwise, I will draw my own
conclusions.
-- 

	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
	{ihnp4,kpno,ctvax}!ut-sally!utastro!bill   (uucp)
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