On 6/8/05 3:01 PM, Michael A. Mares's electrons arrived as:

> Well, I wasn't going to weigh in on this discussion, but you phrased
> it so well. You have hit on the answer. The Tulsa Zoo should say in
> their labels on creation:
> 
> "There are many creation myths that peoples, both ancient and modern,
> have used  to explain the origin and diversity of life. Some believed
> that elephants were deities. Others believed that trees and rocks
> were deities, or mountains, lightning, thunder, and other natural
> objects. Some believed that there was a single supreme being who
> created everything. Others believed in many gods. All are myths. As
> science developed,  myths were pushed to the background. Most people
> no longer explain lightning by invoking Thor, or creation and
> evolution by invoking God. Every society has their pet myths. Today,
> the Tulsa Zoo will highlight religious myths related to animal
> diversity, in the exhibit: CREATION MYTHS: FROM GANESHA TO GOD."


Yes -- a wonderful opportunity, as you describe above.  But you can be sure
this is not what will happen at the Tulsa Zoo.

Creationists do not want their views presented in the context of other
creation stories -- they don't want to imply equality between icons of
Christianity and Hindu statues of Ganesha.  That's not the company they wish
to keep.  No doubt the same Board pressures that ordered Creationism to be
presented at the zoo will make sure it is compared to science and Evolution,
not to other religions.

Which, by the way, is an enduring irony -- that believers in any one
religious diety are usually atheists about all the rest.


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Art Center College of Design
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