The divine comedy Creationism |
Running gags |
Jokes aside |
Blooper reel |
Evolutionism debunkers |
Many creationists assert that there is a conspiracy in science to maintain the truth of evolution. This is utterly ridiculous.
Some creationists claim that, in general, scientists are pressured (possibly by some imaginary entity dubbed "the scientific establishment") not to challenge the established dogma. This assertion has it backwards, given the nature of science.
Creationists Henry Morris[1] and Ben Wiker[2] argued that evolution has obtained the status of sacred revelation and that to express doubts by bringing up the counterevidence to the theory is to brand oneself an intellectual infidel.
First and foremost, evolution is constantly changing as the understanding of the mechanisms of genes, gene expression, etc. is vastly expanded. The modern synthesis shows how much evolution has changed since Darwin's time, and how much more it may change.
The problem with this claim is that the premise is downright false; evolution isn't seen as sacred. The claimants seem to believe that if someone defends an idea, no matter how well established in science, they are defending it as though it were sacred. This is incorrect because they are only defending the facts. There is nothing sacrosanct about the evolutionary theory; it is defended in the same way that the Theory of Gravity or Heliocentric Theory is defended. It is only the action of scientists defending science and facts from non-science and interference.
As with all established theories in science, counterevidence is welcome, but presenting it does risk ridicule if the evidence turns out to be obviously misinterpreted (as most do). However, if the evidence is strong and plentiful enough, then the paradigm will shift.
Evolutionary theory has obtained its status through entirely scientific reasons. For the first 50 or so years, it was on the defensive against counter-claims, but it eventually won out because the evidence is on its side.
Regardless, this claim doesn't prove that the theory is untrue.
Finally, hypocritically, all creationist organizations require all of their employees to follow Statements of faith in order to ensure that they do not uncover evidence that can potentially contradict a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Scientists who propose evolution and an old earth and oppose creationism are lying.[3]
It is not true that the church used to teach that the Earth was flat. Only two Christian theologians (Lactantius and Cosmas Indicopleustes) taught it, and they were largely ignored and uninfluential. The flat earth myth is a product of Darwinism meant to make it look like religion was the enemy of science when it was not so.[4]
For those of you in the mood, RationalWiki has a fun article about Scientific evidence of evolution being a hoax. |
Categories: [Creationist claims] [EvoWiki ports]