Waging War on Evolution

October 14, 2006 by Dr. Mc.

On Oct 1 the Washington Post carried a very well-written argument by Paul A. Hanle entitled “Waging War on Evolution.” I don’t know how long they post articles, so I will repeat exerts as I comment here. What I find interesting is how much I agree with many things he said, yet I totally disagree with what he meant. For example, he said,

“This is not a war of religion against science. The two have thrived together for centuries. Nor is it a struggle of believers against godless materialists; many believers practice science and find inspiration for it from their faith. It is a battle between religious dogma cloaked as science and open inquiry that leads to new knowledge and understanding of the natural world.”

I agree that it “is not a war of religion against science,” but for a different reason than Dr. Hanle concludes. Science deals with facts—what can be demonstrated by repetition under controlled conditions, plus extrapolations on why those phenomena occur, for the sake of prediction and understanding. This definition is consistent with that given by most state school boards around the country. Unfortunately, “science” has been expanded by some to speak boldly, confidently, and conclusively about realms such as the first cause of things—history (onetime events) cannot be tested in a laboratory. Hanle states that “it is a battle between religious dogma cloaked as science and open inquiry that leads to new knowledge and understanding of the natural world.” Again I agree: Religion has crept into science when we ask people to believe without questioning something (dogma?) that cannot be proven. “Open inquiry that leads to new knowledge and understanding of the natural world” is blocked by such censorship of alternative ideas. I believe the best way for truth to be found is to let all ideas be pitted in open debate. So again I agree: It is not “a struggle of believers against godless materialists.” It is instead a struggle of godless materialists against science.

Posted in Culture & society, Notable Quotes, Science and faith | No Comments »