In response to all of the interesting messages on the issue of creationists,
I'd like to recommend Michael Shermer's "Why People Believe Weird Things". A
section of the book is dedicated to the skeptic's view of
"creation-scientists", pointing out all of the flaws and inconsistencies in
their arguments, and explaining why it isn't science at all. It may not help
anyone with the issue of how to present material in a museum, but it's
certainly an important topic and well-debated in this book. (Schermer is a
contributor to Skeptic magazine. It seems like some of you already read it;
if not, you would really enjoy it!)
Erin Gerrity
Portland Museum
2308 Portland Avenue
Louisville, KY 40212
502 776-7678
On 10/30/02 12:58 PM, "Julie Moore" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> As it happens I was reading the "Mastering Civic Engagement" text at the
> same time as reading this discussion on Museum-L, and it occurred to me that
> the groups which hold fundamentalist Christian, creationist/neo-young-Earth
> views, in many areas, can be considered a significant enough constituency
> that we need to figure out how to collaborate with them as an important part
> of our work in civic engagement. I don't think we should necessarily
> present their viewpoint in an unquestioned manner; rather, we need to ensure
> that we are not setting up a situation where there are competing orthodoxies
> and clashing power structures. If we can find a way to present Native
> American cosmologies in a non-sinister, power-sharing way, surely we can
> include this kind of "mythology" as well. Acknowledging that this view
> exists and that many people believe it doesn't mean that we come down on the
> side of agreeing with it wholeheartedly--presenting it in a balanced manner,
> with evidence either way, is responsible museum practice. I feel the same
> way about acknowledging the existence of Afrocentric histories of the
> world--present the argument from both sides, and allow the visitors to
> figure out their own opinions.
>
> I fully realize that religion is a loaded issue, but we don't want to fall
> into the same pattern as our "enemies": insisting that one view is
> absolutely right and persecuting others who don't see it that way. Perhaps
> we can all grow as museum workers and individuals if we open ourselves to
> other possibilities before insisting on orthodoxies of our own.
>
> Julia Muney Moore
> Director of Exhibitions and Artist Services
> Indianapolis Art Center
> 820 E. 67th St.
> Indianapolis, IN 46220
> (317) 255-2464 x233
> FAX (317) 254-0486
> email <[log in to unmask]>
> website <http://www.indplsartcenter.org>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: P Boylan [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 5:10 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Biblically/Politically Correct Tours
>
>
> It is truly sinister that increasingly vocal political pressure is being
> brought by such small, but apparently ever more powerful, groups on those
> in education, libraries and museums to demand "equal representation" of
> their "alternative" views - no doubt as a prelude to the eventually
> banning of scientific orthodoxy.
>
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