Religion trumps science in Louisiana

We're in big trouble in this country. Way too many people know way too little about civics, history, philosophy, economics, mathematics, and especially science.

And when they want to know something "scientific," they turn to a passage in the Bible conveniently provided by their even more ignorant preachers or the pretend scientists who hold forth at places like the Discovery Institute or the Creation Museum.

Thus, one fool, in an article printed in today's newspaper, argues, "The fact is the founders of modern science and the scientific method were virtually unanimous in their belief in a Divine Plan, and, therefore, an Intelligent Design behind the scientific discoveries they were making."

This ignoramus then quotes from Francis Bacon and Sir Isaac Newton, and even Albert Einstein as believers in God and as examples of "founders of modern science." Typically, this person lies about Einstein, for he most definitely did not believe in a deity of any kind!


Such widespread foolishness is dangerous to the health of our country as the 21st century moves on toward an unknown and evermore frightening future. Recent studies have shown that the United States has fallen to the bottom of the list when it comes to scientific knowledge and research.

But that's why the Christian Right is able to achieve a certain amount of success as they promote Creationism through an underhanded methodology in the various state houses. We've written about the attempt in Florida, which was typical. The Christian Right claims it is all about "academic freedom," which is a blatant lie. The Christian Right says it has nothing to do with religion, which is another lie.

Creationism whether by itself or dressed in the costume of Intelligent Design, is fundamentally and basically about religion. That's what the court ruled in the Dover, Pennsylvania case and the ruling was absolutely correct. There is no Creationism or Intelligent Design without a "god" or an "intelligent designer"! And when you posit a god or ID'er, you've moved out of the realm of science and into the realm of religion.

Religion is not to be taught or substituted for science in our public schools.


In the great state of Louisiana, the Christian Rightists, using the "academic freedom" ploy, were able to convince the House Education Committee that teachers should be able to "use supplemental materials when discussing evolution, global warming and human cloning."

This is the strategy used by the Christian Right in states throughout the nation. If you accuse them of being devious, they get very angry of course. Thus, Sen. Ben Nevers, who is responsible for this misnamed "Science Education Act," said, "There is no language in here submitted by some secret agency trying to teach religion in public schools."

Here's the truth, from Stardust: Public school teachers, the scientific community and advocates of church-state separation objected frantically to the bill approved by the House Education Committee, which was "designed to undercut the teaching of evolution."

As noted, the bill was introduced by Senator Ben Nevers, but "is the handiwork of the Louisiana Family Forum, the Discovery Institute and other forces determined to damage science education and roll back constitutional safeguards."

What was most interesting was that when the hearing on this bill was held, the room "was packed with home-schoolers wearing stickers in support of the bill. Home schoolers won't be affected by the measure, of course, so it doesn't take much analysis to see what's going on here."


The Religious Right, a massive hypocritical operation covering many different people and groups, operates on the belief that the ends justify the means. Thus, as they move about the country attempting to undermine the teaching of evolution and introduce their god into the public schools, they lie over and over again as a matter of course.

And finally, one has to wonder why they are so adamant in trying to impose their beliefs on their friends and neighbors who do not share those beliefs? They can home school their little darlings, and can undermine the teaching of evolution to their heart's content. They can establish their own private, religious schools, and hire the dumbest science teachers in the world to teach their Creationist crap with no obstruction from any governmental entity.

So why won't they leave the rest of us the hell alone and allow us to get about the business of figuring out how we're going to make this world livable for our children and grandchildren?