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Religion & Law

: Thoughts in a Haystack

Tone Deaf

By John Pieret

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Jerry Coyne, at his blog, Why Evolution Is True, may be displaying at least part of real problem some people have with the statements by a number of scientific organizations concerning the compatibility of science and religion. Coyne points to PZ Myers's post on the recent decision in the case brought by Chad Farnan against James Corbett and the Capistrano Valley High School to the effect:

"Corbett states an unequivocal belief that Creationism is 'superstitious nonsense,'" U.S. District Court Judge James Selna said in a 37-page ruling released from his Santa Ana courtroom. "The court cannot discern a legitimate secular purpose in this statement, even when considered in context."

Coyne then states:

The legitimate secular purpose was, of course, to help students distinguish between science and non-science. If Corbett told his students that homeopathy was medical nonsense, he wouldn't be in trouble. The secular purpose of this statement is precisely the same.

Well, the court certainly agrees with Coyne that distinguishing between science and non-science is a legitimate secular purpose. It specifically found that this statement by Corbett about creationism was not a violation of the Establishment clause: "It's not science. Scientifically, it's nonsense."

The fact that Coyne cannot discern any difference between "it is scientific nonsense" and "it is religious, superstitious nonsense" may go a long way to explain his inability to recognize the nuances entailed in the so-called "accommodationism."
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Full post as published by Thoughts in a Haystack on May 03, 2009 (boomark / email).