Posted by James on 7/26/2007, 11:09 am, in reply to "Re: Science and (or is it vs?) Religion" Yes, there is room for informed dissent, but one still has to at least acknowledge the theoretical foundation upon which one's field of study stands. "It would be one thing if a student's attitude were, I deny that there is any evidence for evolution, I don't listen to evolutionists, I have a closed mind on the matter. It is quite another if a student can point to his previous academic excellence and say, I have demonstrated a mastery of evolutionary theory as it currently rests. I am knowledgeable of the evidence for it, and am capable of presenting the case FOR evolution. However, I have certain reservations, I find these specific weaknesses and flaws in Darwinism, and I wish to subject my alternate hypotheses to rigorous testing and peer review. I am capable of announcing my discoveries even if they seem to conflict with my religious views, because I feel that a pursuit of truth is an absolute requirement of my faith." I would welcome someone of this caliber if they had an alternative theory with similar explanatory power. But with all honesty, anybody who has spent a good deal of time studying modern biology would have an extremely difficult time in first rejecting evolutionary theory and an even harder time in formulating an alternative theory with the same strengths. "If a student has demonstrated the ability to conduct proper science, then his personal religious views should not automatically disqualify him from the opportunity to conduct research. Individual case-by-case evaluations should be made, not blanket rejections of any and all who dissent from Darwinism." I don't see this professor basing his call on personal religious views at all, but rather on the rejection of Darwinism, the cornerstone of modern biology, without which an understanding of advanced biology would be impossible. Even Behe, posterchild for ID because of his irreducible complexity idea, acknowledges some truth to evolutionary theory.
199.80.67.240
"Science needs skepticism, and there is room among its practitioners for dissent."
