I also agree with your statement of fact Diane. Semantics is often the only weapon available to those without grounds on which to stand. I have had numerous conversations with some of my more faithful friends who seem unwilling or unable to grasp the notion that I do not have "faith" in science, or that Darwinism is not a "religion". The importance of their faith to them seems to make it inconcievable that other people might not have spiritual faith in something. They also seem unable to make a divide between faith and science, preferring to spin their wheels trying to meld the two. I love my friends, no less for their faith than for their other positive qualities, so I always find myself a little dismayed when confronted with a resolute resistance to or refutation of science or logic on the basis of belief. I think the creation museum has as much right to exist as anyone or anything. My disapproval of the content is of no concern to them or to history. If nothing else it provides lively conversation for us and the media. Mark Janzen Registrar/Collections Manager Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection Wichita State University (316)978-5850 Stephen Nowlin <stephen.nowlin@A RTCENTER.EDU> To Sent by: Museum [log in to unmask] discussion list cc <[log in to unmask] SE.LSOFT.COM> Subject Re: Theory--acceptence; faith-belief 05/25/2007 12:18 PM Please respond to Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask] SE.LSOFT.COM> on 5/25/07 9:19 AM, Diane Gutenkauf's electrons arrived as: > As one with a strong scientific background and as a true stickler for > semantics, I can't help but point our that-- > > One accepts or rejects a scientific theory; one believes or disbelieves a > religious creed. Thank you for that, Diane! I was just reading through the creation museum posts, wondering what this "believe in evolution" thing was... There is one aspect of this subject to which I might add, having to do with how ephemeral mental constructs -- mythologies, fantasies, fictional tales -- are given a boost in authority as they become the subject of and embedded in real physical architecture. One can imagine that to an uneducated peasant of the twelfth or thirteenth century, a medieval cathedral with its soaring spires and magical works of art was an embodiment and proof of religious truth. Who but God could achieve such wonders. (Same for the Pyramids, Stonehenge, going back...) Living only in folklore or even in books and literature, mythologies have more difficulty escaping the realm of conjecture -- but once ensconced in architecture they take on a tangibility that can be difficult to refute, particularly in the minds of those who desire to be a "believer" in the first place. Not only does this new creation museum advance its cause by embedding its belief system in architectural reality, it also is a poseur in the world of natural history museums, embezzling their credibility as scientifically sound institutions. At its best, this museum is just curious kitsch -- worse than that, though, I'm afraid represents a vigorous attempt on a number of fronts by the religious right to infiltrate the public consciousness with pseudoscience in support of backward supernatural doctrines and the real-world social and political decisions that follow in their wake. As with a recent stealth attempt by the Discovery Institute to imply a sanction of Creationist beliefs by the Smithsonian Institution, I think this Creation Museum is an assault on the mission of every natural history museum and should taken seriously. Perhaps if not by direct refutation, then by renewed and bold rigor in presenting and defending science -- in communicating what science is and being proactive about saying what it is not. /stephen ______________________________________ S t e p h e n N o w l I n Director, Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery Art Center College of Design http://xrl.us/williamsonGoogle http://www.williamsongallery.net http://www.artandscience.us http://www.pasadenaculture.net ______________________________________ ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . 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