I think the basic problem is that a majority of the public doesn't know
how to distinguish science from non-science or faith-based doctrines.
Post-modern approaches to explaining what science is (relativism) have
helped this situation to occur and Alan Sokal was right to stir up
things.
Alexander Hellemans
On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:07:28 +0100, "Ian Russell"
<[log in to unmask]> said:
> 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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