Thursday, March 29, 2007
By Brian Lewis-Jones
Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Humes said Wednesday night in order to understand the evolution debate in public schools, both sides of the educational conflict must be understood.
KANSAN
Edward Humes, author and journalist, speaks Wednesday evening at the Dole Institute of Politics. Humes, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, has published seven books. His most recent is Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion, and the Battle for America's Soul.
Hume’s argument came from his new book, “Monkey Girl: Evolution, Education, Religion and the Battle for America’s Soul,” which discusses the national and regional debate between evolution and intelligent design.
The book talks about the teaching of evolution and intelligent design in public schools, as well as what Americans believe about the debate. The book handles the perspectives of both evolution proponents and intelligent design advocates.
“It’s not just about the debate,” he said. “It’s about what has support and what doesn’t.”
He said evolution is widely defined by its critics, who say the theory has never actually been observed and scoff at the idea that humans evolved from monkeys. In this form, Humes said, most Americans are right to doubt the theory of evolution.
Humes said about two-thirds of Americans doubt or reject evolution, signaling a “cultural separation of biblical proportions” between faith and science. He said the unwillingness for students to ask questions about the theories is one of the major problems in the debate.
“Isn’t it preferable to think of ourselves as a design of intelligence rather than related to a mollusk?” he asked.
pullquote
Isn’t it preferable to think of ourselves as a design of intelligence rather than related to a mollusk?
- Edwards Humes
Intelligent design essentially isn’t a science, he said, but instead is religious in nature. He said it wasn’t wrong for teachers to teach the concept, but it presents a supernatural-creation opinion.
Bill Lacy, director at the Dole Institute of Politics, invited Humes to speak last November about his book, “Over Here: How the G.I. Bill Transformed the American Dream.”
When Humes mentioned “Monkey Girl” to Lacy, he was reinvited to speak because of the topic’s relevance to the area.
Lacy said Humes tries to take people into worlds they are unfamiliar with by showing different perspectives fairly.
“He’s carved his own little niche and has been clever about it,” he said.
Eric Bloom, 28-year-old Lawrence resident, said he was intrigued by Humes and the topic he presented.
“Two blocks from my house is a Pulitzer Prize author giving a speech for free – you can’t get much better than that,” he said.
Bloom said he thinks beliefs are heavily determined by age and level of education.
Humes, who has written seven books, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1989 for specialized reporting about the United States Military.
“The story never really ends,” Humes said. “It evolves.”
Kansan staff writer Brian Lewis-Jones can be contacted at bljones@kansan.com.
— Edited by Mark Vierthaler
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Comments
Puliltzer Prize winner examines debate
I do NOT believe in evolution. Life comes from life, there are no known exceptions. There are no missing links. The "missing" links never existed because one kind of an animal will never evolve into another kind of an animal. It is possible, for example, to selectively breed a dog so that it is short. This is not a new kind of dog, but a dog without dna code for height. The dog is not a more advanced dog but a less advanced dog... but it is still a dog, not a cat or a bird... it's still a dog.
In fact, science confirms what the Bible has taught from the beginnig of creation, that KIND begats like KIND. This biological law has never been broken, EVER.
Genesis 1:24 (KJV) And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Science is observable, repeatable, and testable. Evolution cannot be observed, repeated, or tested... what an illogical thing to believe.
Psalms 100:3 (KJV) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Psalms 14:1 (KJV) > The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Romans 1:19 (KJV) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. Romans 1:20 (KJV) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:21 (KJV) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:22 (KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, Romans 1:23 (KJV) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Puliltzer Prize winner examines debate
A comment about the article:
quote: "The book talks about the teaching of evolution and intelligent design in public schools, as well as what Americans believe about the debate. The book handles the perspectives of both evolution proponents and intelligent design advocates."
What's there to say about intelligent design being taught in public schools? It isn't being taught.
He continues...“It’s not just about the debate,” he said. “It’s about what has support and what doesn’t.”
What is "it?" If "It" isn't the debate...then what is it? maybe someone else can tell me?
Quote "Intelligent design essentially isn’t a science, he said, but instead is religious in nature. He said it wasn’t wrong for teachers to teach the concept, but it presents a supernatural-creation opinion."
Ok, so there's nothing new about his observation of ID, but why he doesn't make the same observation about the basic tenants of evolutionary theory after all his research into the debate is beyond me!!! Spontaneous generation is a belief!
Another quote: "He said the unwillingness for students to ask questions about the theories is one of the major problems in the debate."
THis is a very interesting point and observation indeed. May I suggest that students are NOT being taught to think, but instead are being taught "What to think." a true sign of indoctrination.
Both sides "evolutionary proponents and ID proponents" need to be up front about where observation ends and belief begins. Just stick to observable and repeatable science in science class.
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