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Religion & Law

: Thoughts in a Haystack

Now There?s Yer Problem

By John Pieret

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There are some dribblings left over from the Florida flap that shows just how far the?debate? still has to go. There is, for example, this:

West Port High School science teacher Janice David said there shouldn't be a controversy about the theory of evolution and religious-based beliefs. Science and religion can live together harmoniously.
"The definition of theory is that it has not been proven," David said. "We really think it is the truth, but we can not prove it without a doubt."

Ummm, no! ... As a matter of fact, the word ?theory,? as used in the concept ?scientific theory,? does not have to do with any concept of proof beyond doubt.

A really well-supported scientific theory, such as common descent, has so much evidence on its side that any rational person exercising a modicum of objectivity will accept its over-all truth, despite the quibbles thrown up by creationists. As has often been said, evolution has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt ... just not beyond unreasonable doubt. But that still doesn?t have anything to do with the definition of ?theory.? Perhaps Ms. David can learn along with her students when the new standards go into effect.

David said she tells her students that "there is no inherent conflict in fact-based science and fact-based beliefs."

Perhaps I should leave that straight line to PZ but I would like to know if Ms. David had ever heard of the term ?oxymoron.?

"Evolution is a theory," she said.
In middle school, evolution is just a minuscule part of one life science chapter.

Hopefully, that?s a bit of educational malpractice that the new standards will force Ms. David and others of her ilk to correct, since they did not think to do so on their own.

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Via Florida Citizens for Science.
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Full post as published by Thoughts in a Haystack on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).