(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Creationist Michael Behe, in addition to admitting that astrology is just as scientific as Intelligent Design, now says that God might be dead and that's something that should be told to schoolchildren, too.

Rothschild asked if it was true that the intelligent designer might not actually exist any longer.

Behe agreed that was true.

Rothschild paused.

"Is that what you want to teach school students, Mr. Behe?" he asked.

As part of a curriculum making students aware of intelligent design, Behe said, "Yes, I think that's a terrific thing to point out. Duh, I eat poop."

Comments

[ursulav.livejournal.com]

Your URL's squirrely, I think...

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is.

Fixed!

[anivair.livejournal.com]

I suppose that, if you're going to believe in ID, that's not a bad opinion to have. It seems that the version of ID he's espousing isn't nessisarily judaeo-christian creationism, at least.

When you get right dowen to it, I don't care if we teach ID, so long as we make sure that kids know that it's not science. it's religion. And it's religion if you thinkt he creator was God, or space aliens, or my mom. No matter what you're taking it on faith in defiance of real evidence. ta-da! religion!

[zenten.livejournal.com]

>>No matter what you're taking it on faith in defiance of real evidence. ta-da! religion!<<

Not necessarily. Unless you count schizophrenia as a religion.

[cmseward.livejournal.com]

So, it's either religion, or mental disorder.

Sounds about right.

[zenten.livejournal.com]

I think there's also has to be something for things less organized than religions, although for these purposes they could be clasified as "religion".

Things like humanity is inately good natured and other beliefs that arn't supported by evidence.

[ryusen.livejournal.com]

i've said before that i think having clases on creationism would be nice to have.... as optional elective classes in religion or philosophy departments. whether you believe in it or not, many people int eh US do and it woudl be helpful to have a good understanding of other people's beliefs.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that's a terrific thing to point out

*rofl*

*get up, wipe tears in eyes*

*rofl some more*

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

All of this goes to show that just because you have a PhD doesn't mean you're smart.

I'm imagining the entire biochemistry department at UPenn covering their faces in embarrassment right now. Especially any of them who actually taught this guy.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

The worst part is that his PhD is in a *different field* from the one he's writing books about.

It's like going to "Dr Laura" for advice or counselling - yes, she's a doctor, of PHYSICAL EDUCATION. Holy crap, do you go to a guy who drives a train because you need to know how to build a bridge?

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

The worst part is that his PhD is in a *different field* from the one he's writing books about.

This is a red flag in resource evaluation. While great discoveries are not infrequently made by researchers working outside their fields, I always tell students to look closely at anything that both flies in the face of established science AND is written by someone whose expertise is not in that field. The information may very well be good, but the author may also be talking out his ass.

My favorite example of this is a book on the academic tenure system written by a professor of economics, whose thesis was that academia should be run like a business. While I have my own issues with academia and the tenure system, I found the book hysterical—as in its tone, not my reaction to it.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

The other really important thing to check is to make sure that their degrees are from *real*, accredited universities, and are not honorary or mail-order.

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The peer review process, unfortunately, does not have a 100% strikeout rate.

Although, I noticed that his publications having to do with ID are largely NOT in peer-reviewed sources. Everything of his that I could find that WAS in a peer-reviewed source was in his field and looked to be fairly conventional.

I wonder if Lehigh granted him tenure, and if so, whether it was before or after he started spouting this stuff.