The Florida Citizens for Science and the Struggle against Creationism!

Dr. Joseph G. Meert

Associate Professor of Geology

University of Florida

Me and Creationists

From “Creationwiki”: Joseph Meert is a semi-known anticreationist who is an associate professor of geology at the University of Florida. His research mainly focuses on paleomagnetism and geochronology in reference to the land masses that made up Gondwana. He see himself as a "defender of an old earth and evolution“

From Creation.com: Nothing in the example Meert has presented represents any sort of challenge to the biblical Flood.

From TrueOrigin: Undoubtedly, neither Meert nor any others in his camp, even believe that a world-wide flood ever occurred, much less consider the geomagnetic consequences of it. Nonetheless, there are numerous bona fide, credible, scientists who do believe in such a flood and who cite numerous evidences in support of it.

From creation.com: He (Meert) is typical of anti-creationist academics who venture outside their own field (he is an assistant professor in the geology department of the University of Florida in Gainsville (sic), specializing in paleomagnetism).

From trueorigin: Joe Meert falsely claims that Walt Brown refuses to debate him, but the truth is that Joe Meert refuses to participate in a strictly scientific debate. Meert is also raising people’s awareness of the importance in having a thorough, written, scientific debate on this important issue. For that, we appreciate your interest and his bluster.”

From setterfield.org: Your knowledge of the Bible is horrid. Your logic is absent. Science does not demand testability. I have read enough from other geologists now to know that a lot of the views you espouse are highly suspect and often rejected. Dr. Meert's shenanigans are dishonest and unethical in the extreme.

My FavoriteHey joseph, have you ever burnt you hand on a stove top? I mean leave your hand there for lets (sic) see, like five miniutes (sic). Times that by 12 thousand, then times that by 12 thousand more, and then 12 thusand (sic) more after that. Gee that is a lot of pain don't you think? Well that is how your entire body... is going to feel for eternity if you don't change you beliefs and actions.

A Brief History FLCFS

Florida Citizens for Science is a statewide, nonprofit, grass-roots organization who wish to help our state develop and maintain the highest educational standards. We support science-based curricula, textbooks, testing methods and appropriately trained teachers.We welcome members with different political views, religions and philosophies, but maintain that the proper focus of science education is the study of the natural world through observation, testing and analysis.

Founded in 2005 by Joe Wolf, Joe Meert, Pete Dunkelberg and Phyllis Saarinen at Chili’s in Gainesville Florida

Why do we need a Group?

In short- Creationism (and its many variants) is an active political group aimed, in essence at establishing a theocracy in the United States (and elsewhere). Don’t believe me?

Listen

A Brief History of the Struggle

-Ever since Darwin posited his theory of Natural Selection, many people were offended because they believed his theory left no room for a god.

-Thomas Huxley-Darwin’s ‘bulldog’ was the original ‘agnostic’ and fought to popularize Darwin’s ideas.

-Victoria Institute (UK 1865) was the first anti-evolution group (later members moved towards theistic evolution).

History: Part 2

"You say that there are geological facts which prove the long existence of the world through many ages. I say there are no such facts. Here we are completely and plainly at issue.”

"Why is it that all the great nations of antiquity have passed away ? Why is it that Babylon has gone? …. The whole history of the nationalities of the world establishes the great principle that the tendency of man is to degenerate.”

History: Part 3Evolution was not a ‘big deal’ in the USA until the famous Scopes Monkey Trial in Dayton, TN in 1925

Scopes Trial

The Scopes Trial—formally known as State v. Scopes, Scopes v. State, 152 Tenn. 424, 278 S.W. 57 (Tenn. 1926), Scopes vs. The State of Tennessee and informally known as the Scopes Monkey Trial—was an American legal case that tested the Butler Act which made it unlawful “to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals” in any Tennessee state-funded school and university.

Scopes Lost, but the decision against him was overturned by the TN Supreme Court who said the jury was not allowed to set the fine.

Butler Act

The Butler Act (and similar legislation in other states) was finally struck down in 1968 by the US Supreme Court in the Epperson vs. Arkansas case……however

Many jurisdictions simply modified the laws by stating that if evolution is taught, creationism must be given ‘equal time’.

1987: Edwards versus Aguillard was heard by the supreme court and ‘equal time’ laws were ruled unconstitutional.

The Lemon Test

1. The government's action must have a legitimate secular purpose;

2. The government's action must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion; and..

3.The government's action must not result in an "excessive entanglement" of the government and religion.

The “Catch”

Renquist and Scalia dissented from the majority opinion stating that students should be free from indoctrination.

This was seized upon immediaely by the creationists who suffered major intellectual defeat during the trial.

Of Pandas and People

An ‘answer’ to Stephen J. Gould’s “The Pandas Thumb”.

“The basic metabolic pathways of nearly all organisms are the same. Is this because of descent from a common ancestor, or because only these pathways (and their variations) can sustain life? Evolutionists think the former is correct; creationists because of all the evidence discussed in this book, conclude the latter is correct.” (1983 edition)

cdesign proponents

Intelligent Design: The New Creationism?

After being slammed by the courts in a variety of decisions (McLean versus Arkansas Board of Education; Edwards versus Aguillard and many smaller court cases)……

Creationists adopted the term “Intelligent Design” and pretended that no particular designer was implied.

The Evolution of the“DiscoveryInstitute”

Disco Institute (as we call it)

A collection of strange characters all insisting that evolution is at the root of all evil and must be replaced with “Intelligent Design”:

1. The proposition that human beings are created in the image of God is one of the bedrock principles on which Western civilization was built. Its influence can be detected in most, if not all, of the West's greatest achievements, including representative democracy, human rights, free enterprise, and progress in the arts and sciences.

Wedge

this cardinal idea came under wholesale attack by….. Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud….The cultural consequences of this triumph of materialism were devastating.Materialists also undermined personal responsibility.Materialism spawned a virulent strain of utopianismMaterialist reformers advocated coercive government programs that falsely promised to create heaven on earth.

Discovery Institute's Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture seeks nothing less than the overthrow of materialism and its cultural legacies……

the Center explores how new developments in biology, physics and cognitive science raise serious doubts about scientific materialism and have re-opened the case for a broadly theistic understanding of nature

The WedgeHowever, we are convinced that in order to defeat materialism, we must cut it off at its source. That source is scientific materialism. This is precisely our strategy. If we view the predominant materialistic science as a giant tree, our strategy is intended to function as a "wedge" that, while relatively small, can split the trunk when applied at its weakest points.

Phillip E. Johnson “Darwin on Trial”

Governing Goals

To defeat scientific materialism and its destructive moral, cultural and political legacies.To replace materialistic explanations with the theistic understanding that nature and hurnan beings are created by God.

5-Year Goals

A major public debate between design theorists and Darwinists (by 2003)

Thirty published books on design and its cultural implications (sex, gender issues, medicine, law, and religion).

One hundred scientific, academic and technical articles by our fellows.

Significant coverage in national media:

The Strategy

Phase I: Research, Writing and Publication

Phase II: Publicity and Opinion-making: The main focus.Lots of SpeechesMovies like “Expelled”TV and radio talk showsPolitical Activism

Phase III: Cultural Confrontation and RenewalTea Party??

Spiritual & cultural renewal:

Mainline renewal movements begin to appropriate insights from design theory, and to repudiate theologies influenced by materialism

Major Christian denomination(s) defend(s) traditional doctrine of creation & repudiate(s) Darwinism

Seminaries increasingly recognize & repudiate naturalistic presuppositions

Positive uptake in public opinion polls on issues such as sexuality, abortion and belief in God

Ten states begin to rectify ideological imbalance in their science curricula & include design theory

The DefeatKitzmiller versus Dover:

Judge John E. Jones (Bush appointee)

Jones decried the “breathtaking inanity” of the Dover policy and accused several board members of lying to conceal their true motive, which he said was to promote religion.

A six-week trial over the issue yielded “overwhelming evidence” establishing that intelligent design “is a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory,” said Jones, a Republican and a churchgoer appointed to the federal bench three years ago.

The Problem

“Academic Freedom”

Sounds Great: but………………….

“Creationists have spent years working school boards, with only minimal success. Now critics of evolution are turning to a higher authority: state legislators. In a bid to shape biology lessons, they are promoting what they call "academic freedom" bills that would encourage or require public-school teachers to cast doubt on a cornerstone of modern science.”

Santorum AmendmentThe Conferees recognize that a quality science education should prepare students to distinguish the data and testable theories of science from religious or philosophical claims that are made in the name of science. Where topics are taught that may generate controversy (such as biological evolution), the curriculum should help students to understand the full range of scientific views that exist, why such topics may generate controversy, and how scientific discoveries can profoundly affect society.

Academic Freedom BillsTen states begin to rectify ideological imbalance in their science curricula & include design theory (Santorum Amendment)

AlabamaOklahomaMarylandNew MexicoLouisiana : Bobby Jindal signed into law June 2008MissouriMichiganSouth CarolinaIowa

…….FLORIDA

Florida Battles

Most Recent Attack: 2008 Senator Ronda Storms and Rep Alan Hays introduced the “Academic Freedom Bill”

Bills passed in both House and Senate, but a common language could not be worked out before the end of the session.

Hays was elected to the State Senate this year, Ronda Storms is still in office.

Is Florida the Next Battleground?Highly Likely: Besides Storm and Hays, Senators Stephen Wise and House of Representatives member Dennis Baxley are all in power and have introduced these bills in the past.

Storm and Hays in 2008;Baxley in 2005

Conservatives hold power in both the state house and senate and Rick Scott is sympathetic to intelligent design.

What can we do?

Education/Logic?

While pointing out the scientific issues with regard to intelligent design creationism is useful, it’s not going to sway those who are religiously entrenched in the idea.

A Better Way?

Think about the people sponsoring the bill.

While not necessarily a blueprint, many supporters of ID/creationism will be:

-Fundamentalist Christians

-Tea Party Supporters

- Republicans

-Right to Life Advocates

-Anti Homosexual

Unusual Battle Plan?Appeal to Taxpayer Waste?

"Any board thinking of trying to do what the Dover board did is going to have to look for a bill in excess of $2 million," and "I think $2 million is a lot to explain to taxpayers for a lawsuit that should never be fought.

What Will FLCFS DO?

We need your support. The creationist/ID groups have lots of money and lots of political connections.

FLCFS is a grass-roots group of citizens who work normal jobs and dedicate their spare time to fighting for good science in the state of Florida.

Keep your eyes open and let legislators know that we have bigger problems in the state of Florida than passing legislation that will cost taxpayers money in court.

www.flascience.org