quite.

The Christian biblical legend of creation is not factual and thus 
doesn't come close to any definition of scientific theory. "Creationist 
science' is an oxymoron, and not truthful in the least. While 
empiricists might argue about the conditionality of experimental 
conclusions vs 'truth', for a theist, there is, and must be 'absolute 
truth' - it is the predicate of the belief system. Of course, their 
'absolute truth' is promulgated by their 'god'.

As for museum ethics, the ICOM code seems rather straight-forward. A 
'creationist' museum would have to disregard at least the following:

ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, 2006

4. Museums provide opportunities for the appreciation, understanding 
and promotion of the natural and cultural heritage

Principle: Museums have an important duty to develop their educational 
role and attract wider audiences from the community, locality, or group 
they serve. Interaction with the constituent community and promotion of 
their heritage is an integral part of the educational role of the 
museum.

4.2 Interpretation of Exhibits
Museums should ensure that the information they present in displays and 
exhibitions is well-founded, accurate and gives appropriate 
consideration to represented groups or beliefs.

4.6 Publication
Information published by museums, by whatever means, should be 
well-founded, accurate and give responsible consideration to the 
academic disciplines, societies, or beliefs presented. Museum 
publications should not compromise the standards of the institution.

...

8. Museums operate in a professional manner

Principle: Members of the museum profession should observe accepted 
standards and laws and uphold the dignity and honour of their 
profession. They should safeguard the public against illegal or 
unethical professional conduct. Every opportunity should be used to 
inform and educate the public about the aims, purposes, and aspirations 
of the profession to develop a better public understanding of the 
contributions of museums to society.

8.4 Academic and Scientific Responsibilities
Members of the museum profession should promote the investigation, 
preservation, and use of information inherent in the collections. They 
should, therefore, refrain from any activity or circumstance that might 
result in the loss of such academic and scientific data.



-L.D.




On Aug 3, 2006, at 7:37 AM, Meredith Greiling wrote:

> Well put, Maggie.
>
> The real worry is that if this place is allowed to pass itself off as a
> science museum, where does that leave other science-based museums?  I
> think museum professionals are right to be concerned if anything can
> call itself a museum and display religious beliefs as though they were
> provable facts.  Is it ever ok to take an object, such as a fossil, and
> deliberately misinform the public as to what it is and how and when it
> was formed?  Isn't this behaviour against the principles that guide the
> vast majority of museums and what we base our professional standards
> upon?
> What would happen if all museums decided to put their own 'spin' on
> their objects.
>
> Meredith Greiling
>
>
>
>>>> [log in to unmask] 03/08/2006 12:12 >>>
> The problem is that there is a logical fallacy in your statements.
> Science
> is the very OPPOSITE of "believing in something."   Science is based on
>
> repeatable experiences....facts....not premises that have to be taken
> "on faith."
> Creationism is a religion.   Just as it is OK to base a museum on
> religion,
> so, I'm sure, it is OK to base a museum on Creationism...but the
> fallacy is
> where creationism tries to equate itself to science as two different
> beliefs or
> two different "approaches" to the world.   Creationism is faith based
> and is a
> religion and cannot be proved or disproved....that is the nature of
> faith.
> But it attempts to position itself as a viable "science" of sorts...and
> that is
> the danger.   It is a distortion of thought to bend what is essentially
> a
> religious approach in order to make it appear a "science."   Most
> creationists
> work overtime to attempt to deny the religious basis of this thinking.
>  It is
> faith-based and cannot be tested in the accepted manner of scientific
> testing.
>
>
> Creationists often use the word "theory" as if creationism is just
> another
> "theory."   But a "theory" in science is a repeatable experience, that
> can be
> proven by repeating the same sets of actions to get the same result,
> i.e. a
> PROOF.  Example would be that water consists of two different elements
> that can be
> separated by heat.   This can be demonstrated scientifically by boiling
> water
> and getting the separation of hydrogen and oxygen that can actually be
>
> measured and proves that there are two parts hydrogen to one part
> oxygen in water.
> This can be done over and over again and get the same result.
>
>  A scientific theory is not an "idea," it is a provable demonstrable
> thesis.
>  Distorting the use of the word "theory" to imply that creationism is
> simply
> another "theory" may work for those ignorant of the meaning of the word
> in
> science, but it should not be utilized to confuse people and distort
> understanding.   And therein lies the concern of educated individuals.
>  Creationism
> confuses people by purposely and meaningfully distorting the idea of a
> "theory" to
> make is seem to embrace creationism.
>
> Also, it is entirely untrue that creationism tolerates science.   The
> end-goal of creationists is to take evolution out of the classroom or
> have it taught
> as if it is only another "idea" about the world.
> That effort to confuse understanding of our world is a serious problem.
> If
> the museum teaches creationism for what it is and also for what it is
> not...that
> would be good.
> Maggie

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