Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site utastro.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!ut-sally!utastro!bill 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 References: <1330@cbscc.UUCP>, <2474@azure.UUCP>, <1614@utcsstat.UUCP> 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) utastro!bill@ut-ngp (ARPANET)