Discussion of the rights and wrongs of his resignation needs to stay focused
on what Prof. Michael Reiss actually said or intended. It seems to me that a
key sentence in his written abstract
http://www1.the-ba.net/bafos/press/showtalk2.asp?TalkID=301 is:
"I argue that a belief in creationism is better understood not as a
scientific misconception that can be ... corrected by the presentation of
evidence but as an alternative worldview that is much more resistant to
change."
I regularly give talks about the problems of anti-evolution campaigning to
church groups and his suggestion entirely matches my experience. Obviously,
anti-evolutionism is a scientific misconception. He's not denying it. But
the proposition here - and certainly my experience - is that misconceptions
based on religious prejudice are seldom corrected by the mere, cold-blooded
presentation of scientific evidence. Presenting the evidence is crucial and
central, but simply not enough on its own.
Before effective communication can begin, it is necessary to connect. With
people. With prejudices. In this way I personally see many, many sensitive
victims of anti-evolution propaganda quietly come to an acceptance of
evolution. Whatever hardline Darwinian 'bulldog' the RS now prefers to
appoint, I predict she or he will achieve poorer results with this important
target group. And this affair has already made my own communication work
just that little bit harder.
[log in to unmask] * http://www.interactives.co.uk
*
Give people facts and you feed their minds for an hour.
Awaken curiosity and they feed their own minds for a lifetime.
*
Ian Russell
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