Michael Reiss resigned as director of education for the The Royal Society, Britain's national academy of science, amid false reports that he supports creationism. In a talk at the British Association's Festival of Science, Reiss argued that science teachers should be prepared to discuss creationism more frequently with students and should be able to show that evolution is more scientific. He suggested creationism be treated "not as a misconception but as a worldview." Several Royal Society fellows demanded his resignation as the society said his comments "led to damage to the society's reputation." Reiss, who is ordained in the Church of England, resumed a full-time position as professor of science education at the University of London's Institute of Education.
Religious organizations can buy Google ads related to the keyword "abortion" after a September court battle. The Christian Institute, a British group, sued Google last spring over its policy that it "does not permit the advertisement of websites that contain 'abortion and religion-related content.'" Abortion clinics, Planned Parenthood, and other groups were allowed to purchase ads for the keyword. Google settled the suit with the Christian Institute privately and announced September 17 that it will allow such sponsored links if the ad content is factual and not graphic or emotional. The ad policy change applies to Google worldwide.
The Episcopal House of Bishops voted 88-35 to remove Robert Duncan as bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh for "abandoning the communion" of the Episcopal Church. The vote came about a month before the diocese was scheduled to vote on whether to leave the Episcopal Church and join the Argentina-based Anglican Province of the Southern Cone. The September 18 vote is unprecedented in Episcopalian history, said Faith McDonnell, director of religious liberty programs at the Institute on Religion & Democracy. "This preemptive strike against a bishop who was still the bishop of a diocese in the Episcopal Church is pretty breathtaking," she said. Duncan is moderator of the Common Cause Partnership, a network of several orthodox Anglican groups in North America.
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Both sides of this argument have an anthropocentric view of the universe. Since we can think, we must be superior to everything around us. To the Creationists: Please do not make God so small that we can not only understand Him, but even explain why He did what He did. To the Evolutionists: You have almost no data on the universe that could not be discarded as geocentric. To argue about the finer points of the other side of this debate is the ultimate in conceit. To the Creationists and the Evolutionists: Before you condemn another's world view, ask yourself: Why do I believe as I do? If you are honest, you will walk away from these arguments with your tail (rudimentary though it may be) between your legs. Remember: Anthropocentricity and Geocentricity are two faces of the same ultimate conceit - That mankind and this earth are great enough to make us the center of the Universe. Really?
John Hamilton
Posted: October 20, 2008 2:36 PM
The problem is that Creationism, as opposed to the doctrine of creation, claims to be a scientific explanation, which means that it is in fact a misconception. I agree with Reiss that that the debate should be reframed. It is a valid and vital philosophical problem. It is disappointing, though perhaps not surprising, that some members of the Royal Society are no more able to make this distinction than their Creationist nemeses.
bobxxxx
Posted: October 20, 2008 1:04 PM
He suggested creationism be treated "not as a misconception but as a worldview."
Creationism should be treated as a myth. It's a waste of time to talk about it.
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