Science, Evolution, and Creationism (2008) / Chapter Skim
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3 Creationist Perspectives
3 Creationist Perspectives
Pages 37-46
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From page 37... ...
In the United States, various views of creationism typically have been promoted by small groups of politically active religious fundamentalists who believe that only a supernatural entity could account for the physical changes in the universe and for the biological diversity of life on Earth. But even these creationists hold very different views.
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From page 38... ...
The belief that Earth's sediments, with their fossils, were deposited in a short period does not accord either with the known processes of sedimentation or with the estimated volume of water needed to deposit sediments on the top of some of Earth's highest mountains. Creationists sometimes cite what they claim to be an incomplete fossil record as evidence that living things were created in their modern forms.
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From page 39... ...
It also is possible to directly observe many of the specific processes by which evolution occurs. Scientists regularly do experiments using microbes and other model systems that directly test evolutionary hypotheses.
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From page 40... ...
is impos sible through natural processes, according to this view, and so must be attrib uted to a transcendent intelligent designer. However, the claims of intelligent design creationists are disproven by the findings of modern biology.
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From page 41... ...
The biochemical mechanisms responsible for many cellular processes show clear evidence for historical duplications of DNA regions. In addition to its scientific failings, this and other standard creationist arguments are fallacious in that they are based on a false dichotomy.
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From page 42... ...
Also, science has a competitive element as well as a cooperative one. If one scientist clings to particular ideas despite evidence to the contrary, another scientist will attempt to replicate relevant experiments and will not hesitate to publish conflicting evidence.
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From page 43... ...
Instead, petroleum geologists agree with other geologists that sedimentary rocks are the products of billions of years of Earth's history. Indeed, petroleum geologists have been pioneers in the recognition of fossil deposits that were formed over millions of years in such environments as meandering rivers, deltas, sandy barrier beaches, and coral reefs.
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From page 44... ...
primary purpose [of the Louisiana ‘Creation to the advocacy of non-religion, Act,' which required the teaching of ‘creation and it may not aid, foster, or science' together with evolution in public schools] promote one religion or religious was to change the public school science curriculum theory against another or even to provide persuasive advantage to a particular against the militant opposite." religious doctrine that rejects the factual basis of evolution in its entirety.
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From page 45... ...
But, as civil servants, public school teachers must be neutral with respect to religion, which means that they can neither promote nor inhibit its practice. If intelligent design creationism were to be discussed in public school, then Hindu, Islamic, Native American, and other non-Christian creationist views, as well as mainstream religious views that are compatible with science, also should be discussed.
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