Suzie Smartypants explains the Evolution

This is just priceless! Thanks to PZ Myers at Pharyngula!

Mississipi wingnut sounds off on evolution

The great state of Mississippi which blessed the country with the likes of Trent Lott, is back in the news because of its godly take on evolution - that "controversial" theory.

Gary Chism is an independent insurance agent and a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.

Now he may be a great insurance agent, but he's no scientist and has not a clue as to what evolution is all about. His ability to think logically is also challenged as you shall see.

Representative Chism has introduced a bill into the Mississippi State Legislature that would mandate all textbooks that teach evolution include the following on the inside front cover of the textbook:

"The word 'theory' has many meanings, including: systematically organized knowledge; abstract reasoning; a speculative idea or plan; or a systematic statement of principles. Scientific theories are based on both observations of the natural world and assumptions about the scientific world. They are always subject to change in view of new and confirmed observations.

"This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things. No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life's origins should be considered a theory.

"Evolution refers to the unproven belief that random, undirected forces produced living things. There are many topics with unanswered questions about the origin of life which are not mentioned in your textbook, including: the sudden appearance of the major groups of animals in the fossil record (known as the Cambrian Explosion); the lack of new major groups of other living things appearing in the fossil record; the lack of transitional forms of major groups of plants and animals in the fossil record; and the complete and complex set of instructions for building a living body possessed by all living things.

"Study hard and keep an open mind."


There's so much wrong with this it's hard to know where to begin. As others have said, it represents gross ignorance about scientific "theory," and especially the theory of evolution. Evolution is not "controversial" except in the minds of biblical literalists. And it's not correct to say "some scientists present [evolution] as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things." All but a few wingnut "scientists" accept evolution. And, as usual, Mr. Chism does not understand the meaning of "theory" in a scientific context. But there is humor, too. As State of Belief blog puts it:

"This is pretty sad - this public official has so little understanding of how science works that [he] thinks that scientists can only make conclusions based [on] events they personally witnessed. Think of the implications! It it snows today in Chicago, and I fly to Chicago tomorrow, I can't conclude that it snowed in Chicago the day before because I wasn't there to see the snow fall. If we take this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, no one was present when God created the universe, so any statement in the book of Genesis 'should be considered a theory.'"

Finally, none of this has to do with a desire to be more "scientific" or more accurate or to help the students in Mississippi schools obtain a deeper knowledge of the true origins of life. It is a blatant christianist attempt, once again, to impose their literalist biblicism upon captives in the public schools. All christianist statements pretending to give "both sides" a hearing are blatant lies!


A more detailed deconstruction of this Mississippi nonsense is here.

Creationist chicanery in Texas

[Image from Pharyngula]

Onenewsnow, being a christianist right wingnut outfit, has no problem with stretching the truth or lying outright, especially for the purpose of giving credence to creationist lies.

For example, in an article discussing an upcoming vote by the Texas State Board of Education onenewsnow says this vote "will decide the fate of academic freedom in the Lone Star State."

That is a lie.

What the Texas SBE is considering is adding the teaching of creationism to the science curricula of Texas public schools. Creationism, itself, is a big lie!

But onenewsnow says that "Those in favor of academic freedom want teachers to be able to discuss both the strengths and weakness of evolution, which the other side wants any scientific critique of evolution censored in the classroom."

Talk about disengenuous! That sentence is an unmitigated falsehood. First of all, science teachers have always discussed evolutionary theory in all of its aspects, including whatever so-called "weaknesses" it might have. That has never been a problem.

What these fundamentalist idiots try to cover up with their pseudo-science is the fact that there is no scientific equivalent to evolution capable of describing the origin and development of life on this planet.

Creationism [or Intelligent Design] is a theological concept based upon a literal understanding of the first chapters of Genesis, and they can't even get that right, as there are two creation stories!

The Discovery Institute is behind this perversion; a bunch of rightwing fundy christianists attempting to impose their biblical nonsense upon unsuspecting students in Texas public schools. (This same thing is going on at this moment in a number of other states, also).

There is perhaps no bigger liar than Casey Luskin of the Discovery Institute (which is the font of creationism) who had the audacity to claim that "This is not about trying to push religion in the science classroom; this is not about pushing creationism or even scientific alternatives to evolution like intelligent design. This is simply about whether students are going to have the right and the academic freedom to learn about both the science that supports Darwin and the science that challenges Darwin."

Excuse me, Luskin, but you are full of bullshit! It's all about religion! It's all about pushing a biblical view of creation! It has nothing to do with academic freedom!

There is no "science" that challenges Darwin! You, sir, are a liar of the first magnitude and thus a violator of the Ten Commandments.

Luskin goes on to claim that "A number of scientific peer-reviewed journalistic publications exist that discuss scientific challenges to core aspects of modern Darwinian theory."

That, too, is unadulterated bullshit. Name one, Luskin! There are no scientific "peers" that perpetrate creationist nonsense or intelligent design! No scientific "peer" or "peer-reviewed journalistic publications promote creationism for creationism is a biblical concept, a theological delusion. Intelligent design, which is just another name for creationism, shares the same fate!


Unfortunately, these christianist creepos won't quit. It's going to take decent, science-respecting people in each state where evolution is attacked, to defang the fundamentalist snake-handlers promoting creationism.

Since the courts in Dover, Pennsylvania threw out the teaching of creationism/ID, it has actually become more difficult to fight the pseudo-scientists, because they have taken to hiding their deceit by pretending they are about "academic freedom," rather than admitting their true purpose which is always and forever to promote fundamentalist christianity's creationist delusions.


An related article of interest here. And here. This one's especially good relative to scientific "peers" who reject evolution; click here.