For those involved and/or interested in the creationism versus evolution
discussion, please note the cover story of latest issue of Museum News . . .

In reference to Mr. Steffen's statement (below):
    The secular-humanist understanding of history did not "create" this
dichotomous view.  A number of scientists involved in groundbreaking
research and experimentation just before and during the Enlightenment were
devout and devoted to their religious systems . . . yet found themselves
forced into debate and/or censored by religious authorities.  If anything
"created" the dichotomous view, it was the collective past abuses of
religious authority.  Whilst the schism ('faith' versus 'proof') may have
been revealed by those rationalistic positivists, the wedge was irreparably
driven in by the counter-reformationists (on the Roman Catholic side) and
fundamental literalists (on the Protestant side).
    This is not a question of scientists bashing religion, but of religion
bashing science.  So why should science -- testing (and retesting)
hypotheses in structured experimentation -- have to "amend" itself to
accommodate religion, grounded in faith, without verifiable evidence?  Why
should science (or any field of inquiry) bow to religion that, so often,
imposes supposedly universal morality (as commanded by a divinity) on
objective reality?
    Religion has taken only the first step of scientific method -- develop a
hypothesis.  But there is no structured experimentation possible when I
comes to faith.  Those who believe, believe without the need for knowledge;
those who crave knowledge often consider faith cheap . . . if not entirely
bankrupt.

Best wishes,

Jay Heuman
Curator of Education
Salt Lake Art Center
20 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

T 801-328-4201
F 801-322-4323
E [log in to unmask]
W http://www.slartcenter.org





> Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 12:37:55 -0700
> From: Joshua Steffen <[log in to unmask]>
> I think the day has come to amend the secular-humanistic understanding
> of history that has created this dichotomous view of Western societal
> development where the basic tension has been between the wise
> "Enlightened" rationalistic positivists and those who dogmatically
> stood in the way of Progress by shaking their shaman trinkets of
> faith.

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