Reason 1 Dogma 0

Of Theories And Fiction

Dear Fundamentalists,

A theory explains something such that it can be shown repeatedly. It may not be an absolute fact because we may not know all the aspects of it, and it may later be proven wrong, but it explains everything it's related to, today. You can't say "Evolution is just a theory... and should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered without saying that for ALL theories. And you don't need to study a theory carefully to be able to accept it; to wit, Einstein's Theory of Relativity. We haven't projected any matter near the speed of light yet so we can't prove or disprove the theory, and I don't think most people have the BRAINS to study it "carefully and critically". Those who are interested in it and its ramifications accept it because it's the best answer so far.

Can you explain gravity? Scientists can't. But a Mr. Newton became aware of its presence and people have tried to explain it via theories for centruies. It benefits (or hinders) each of us the same way every day even though it's just a lowly "theory". Why aren't you putting stickers in books warning students that gravity is only a theory and not a fact? Because it doesn't conflict with your religious texts; or, more accurately, the way YOU INTERPRET your religious texts.

The word science comes from the latin word for knowledge. Scientists are trying to gain knowledge of our world, most of which has NOT been left in a convenient collection of writings as have your religious texts. What you have in Genesis is a story; there's not one item in there that can be tested and shown to be or not be repeatable via the scientific method.

In this country, you have the sacred RIGHT to believe as you wish. You do NOT have the right to say that the articles of your faith are fact and must be taught as science. Please get this through your thick skulls.

First we had Cobb County, GA (see below) and now we have the Dover (PA) School Board. You people WORRY me.

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*ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Since 2002, Dr. Kenneth Miller has been upset that biology textbooks he has written are slapped with a warning sticker by the time they appear in suburban Atlanta schools. Evolution, the stickers say, is "a theory, not a fact."*

"What it tells students is that we're certain of everything else in this book except evolution," said Miller, a professor of biology at Brown University, who with Joseph S. Levine has authored three texts for high schoolers.

On Thursday, Miller -- along with fellow teachers and scientists -- cheered a federal judge's ruling that ordered the Cobb County school board to immediately remove the stickers and never again hand them out in any form.

"Obviously, this is quite a victory for good science education," said Benjamin Z. Freed, an anthropology professor at Atlanta's Emory University and chairman of Georgia Citizens for Integrity in Science Education.

But some parents and religious conservatives decried the ruling as another in a string of what opponents call activist judges overruling the wishes of elected officials -- often on matters of religion.

"It's another example of how the bench is dictating to people what symbols they can display, if they can pray or not pray or if they can teach a particular subject," said Sadie Fields, head of the Georgia chapter of the Christian Coalition.

The Georgia case is one of several battles waged in recent years throughout the nation over what role evolution should play in science books.

The school district just north of Atlanta approved the stickers after more than 2,000 parents complained the textbooks presented evolution as fact, without mentioning rival ideas about the beginnings of life.

During four days of testimony in federal court last November, the school system defended the warning stickers as a show of tolerance, not religious activism as some parents claimed. Its attorneys argued the school board had made a good-faith effort to address questions that inevitably arise during the teaching of evolution.

The stickers read, "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

Scientists, several of whom testified in the case, say the sticker confuses the scientific term "theory" with the word's common usage and inappropriately combines science with personal religious belief.

"Many of us hold deeply personal religious ideals as well," Freed said. "But for a science teacher in a public school to introduce religion into a science class would fall way outside the ideals of any organization of scientists or science educators."

A group of parents and the American Civil Liberties Union challenged the stickers in court, arguing they violate the Constitution's separation of church and state.

Jeffrey Selman, whose son was a second-grader in Cobb County schools at the time, called Thursday's ruling a "shot across the bow" of religious fundamentalists he says are attempting to introduce their beliefs in the classroom.

"I got what I wanted; I got the stickers removed," said Selman.

The school board issued a statement saying members are disappointed by the ruling and are meeting with lawyers to decide whether to appeal. The Cobb school system has 30 days to appeal.