Becky,
I have a couple of friends who were anthropology students in undergraduate.
They had no trouble reconciling their belief in God with their understanding
of evolution – and ID was not the resolution. ID is not as simple as saying
a Greater Power guided evolution. ID attempts to disprove evolution or at
least throw a monkey wrench into the wide grip Darwinian/evolutionary theory
has on modern scientists. It pokes holes in evolutionary theory, then argues
that because evolutionary theory cannot explain life some higher power must
be responsible.
My anthropologist friends believe in God and they believe in science. ID is
not science – it's faith trying to co-opt science and muscle its way in to
classrooms, universities, and natural history museums.
Lois Byrnes was right. This is about power, not knowledge.
I'd suggest reading the very long but very good article in The New Yorker by
H. Allan Orr entitled "Devolution." You can read it online at
http://www.pandasthumb.org/pt-archives/001066.html.
Best,
George Garner
Director of Exhibitions
Center for History
808 West Washington, South Bend, IN 46601
www.centerforhistory.org // (574) 235-9664
--------
Celebrate Historic Gardens Month in June at the Center for History by
visiting the exhibition, Gardens, and strolling the beautiful grounds
surrounding the Oliver mansion.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rebecca Fitzgerald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: ID Movie at Smithsonian
| No one has mentioned that many folks have no problem reconciling ID and
| evolution as compatible theories, and actually belief that the Big Bang
and
| evolution were tools of a Greater Power. Also, when it comes down to a
poll
| of people world-wide, I'm betting that ID is a more widely held belief
| system.
|
| Bottom line - if we only believed those things that could be proven, our
| lives would certainly be dreary little affairs, wouldn't they?
|
| Becky Fitzgerald
| Executive Director
| Susquehanna Museum
|
| -----Original Message-----
| From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf
| Of Rebecca M. Trussell
| Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 5:46 PM
| To: [log in to unmask]
| Subject: Re: ID Movie at Smithsonian
|
| Robyne,
| Thanks for pointing this out. I didn't automatically think of the
| presentation in historical terms. Perhaps the National Museum of American
| History would provide the appropriate venue, in that case, not the
National
| Museum of Natural History which unequivocally recognizes the the
| scientific method for the proving of theories.
|
| Rebecca Trussell
|
| > [Original Message]
| > From: Robyne Miles <[log in to unmask]>
| > To: <[log in to unmask]>
| > Date: 5/31/2005 4:57:52 PM
| > Subject: Re: ID Movie at Smithsonian
| >
| > Sadly, I would say that there is one part of S.I.'s mission that
actually
| > fits this circumstance:
| >
| > "authoritative experiences that connect us to our history and our
heritage
| > as Americans"
| >
| > No doubt these people are authorities on I.D., and as frightening as it
| is,
| > this is indeed part of both our history and our heritage as Americans.
| Ugh.
| >
| > DISCLAIMER: This comment does not in any way support the idea of holding
| > this event there. As many have stated, I think without an actual forum
to
| > debate varying ideas, having the film there is quite simply crap (I'm
| > feeling eloquent).
| >
| > On 5/31/05 11:44 AM, "Rebecca M. Trussell"
<[log in to unmask]>
| > wrote:
| >
| > > Considering the Smithsonian's mission statement, as refined by
Secretary
| > > Small, the Smithsonian does not seem to serve itself in any way other
| than
| > > financially by housing a program on ID unless it results from bona
fide
| > > scientific research, peer-reviewed and published in a recognized
| scientific
| > > journal. Founder Smithson's broad-brush mission statement might be
| > > interpreted to allow such a program, but the same interpretation could
| also
| > > support programs exploring the existence of an Aryan race and
asserting
| UFO
| > > existence based on eye-witness testimony.
| > >
| > > Perusing the Discovery Institute's website gives one the distinct
| > > impression that hocus-pocus can easily masquerade as science with the
| help
| > > of a slick website.
| > >
| > >
| > > http://www.si.edu/about/mission.htm
| > > "I then bequeath the whole of my property...to the United States of
| > > America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian
| > > Institution, an Establishment for the increase & diffusion of
| knowledge..."
| > > James Smithson (1765-1829)
| > >
| > >
| > > "The Smithsonian is committed to enlarging our shared understanding of
| the
| > > mosaic that is our national identity by providing authoritative
| experiences
| > > that connect us to our history and our heritage as Americans and to
| > > promoting innovation, research and discovery in science. These
| commitments
| > > have been central to the Smithsonian since its founding more than 155
| years
| > > ago."
| > > Lawrence M. Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian
| > >
| > > http://www.discovery.org/
| > > Intelligent design is "simply the argument that certain features of
the
| > > natural world?from miniature machines and digital information found in
| > > living cells, to the fine-tuning of physical constants?are best
| explained
| > > as the result of an intelligent cause." Jay W. Richards
| > >
| > > Rebecca Trussell
| > >
| > >
| > >> [Original Message]
| > >> From: Jay Heuman <[log in to unmask]>
| > >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
| > >> Date: 5/31/2005 1:47:07 PM
| > >> Subject: Re: ID Movie at Smithsonian
| > >>
| > >> I think we all must keep in mind, the Discovery Institute gave a
| > >> contribution of $16,000 to the Smithsonian and, just like any other
| donor,
| > >> they have been granted permission to use the auditorium to screen
their
| > >> movie.
| > >> Whether one is sympathetic with the contents of the movie, the
| system
| > >> has this 'loophole.' The Discovery Institute is not abusing or
| misusing
| > > the
| > >> system.
| > >> However, perhaps the system should be changed once we ask
| ourselves:
| > > Who
| > >> should decide what can be shown in the Smithsonian's facilities
| following
| > >> such a donation? Do we want Holocaust deniers giving money to the
| > >> Smithsonian for the right to show revisionist propaganda? Do we want
| the
| > >> KKK donating money so as to conduct a 'White Power' lecture series?
I
| can
| > >> come up with dozens of other scarier thoughts than an intelligent
| design
| > >> movie.
| > >>
| > >> [Note: I'm not a supporter of the Design Institute, their
| > >> ideas, or their movie. I am a supporter of consistency in
| > >> museum policy.]
| > >>
| > >> Best wishes, sincerely,
| > >>
| > >> Jay Heuman
| > >> Curator of Education
| > >> Salt Lake Art Center
| > >> 20 South West Temple
| > >> Salt Lake City, UT 84101
| > >>
| > >> tel: 801-328-4201 | fax: 801-322-4323
| > >> web: www.slartcenter.org
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| > >> On 5/31/05 11:07 AM, "Mary Rogers" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
| > >>> Hello Everyone,
| > >>> I have been hearing a lot lately about ID...mostly by way of various
| > > groups
| > >>> (radio stations, etc.) making fun of ID believers. Now we have
| listers
| > >>> calling the showing of this movie at the Smithsonian shameful and
| > > horrifying.
| > >>> Although some would call people who believe in ID narrow-minded, I
am
| > > feeling
| > >>> compelled to put that same label on those who are bashing those
| > > believers and
| > >>> also those who are so concerned about this situation.
| > >>> My comments and questions:
| > >>> It sounds to me like no one is going to be FORCED to watch this
movie
| > > at the
| > >>> museum. Those who want to watch it may do so.
| > >>> Individuals may choose to believe in whatever they want, no matter
how
| > >>> ridiculous I think it sounds.
| > >>> Aren't museums the perfect place for this type of exchange to take
| > > place? If
| > >>> not here, then where? Do we think that because we don't like what
| > > these IDers
| > >>> are saying that we shouldn't let anyone else hear, either? Isn't it
| our
| > >>> mission and job to present ideas?
| > >>> I tend to be somewhat skeptical, but I think that most big-money
| donors
| > > to
| > >>> museum have some type of agenda for which they intend to use the
| museum
| > > to
| > >>> further. Isn't this the way the world works?
| > >>> Thanks. Keep up the good work.
| > >>> Mary Rogers
| > >>
| > >> =========================================================
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