Tuesday 16 September 2008
Creationism vs Evolution?
The creationism vs evolution argument has run for some time now. For some reason, it has become a more eminent and fervently debated issue in the past couple of years.
For some peculiar reason, I find the forceful postulation of creationism quite irritating. I realise that Darwin's "theory" of evolution through natural selection is probably not flawless but it does explain and account for the over-riding evidence available.
I don't dislike creationism purely on the basis that it is religious (and I shy away from anything that argues points from religious perspectives) - more, I disapprove of the fact that if creationism were an accurate description of life as we know it, then most of science itself is erroneous - cosmology, biology, chemistry, geology, etc.
The additional 'irritation' for me is provided in the homo erectus guise of Dr Richard Dawkins. I support 99% of his argument and welcome the work he does, but I cant possibly uphold his contemptuous attitude towards any non-supporter of evolution theory. I'd much prefer for him to propound his (Darwin's) case on evidence, fact and corroborating scientific argument rather than the razzmatazz of arguing or rowing with opponents (as was witnessed in his recent channel 4 offering - The Genius of Charles Darwin).
Perhaps I'm being a little unfair on Dr Dawkins. I just feel that in order to argue against other people's ideas or opinions you first need to open yourself up to them and embrace the basis of their misunderstanding.
I might be wrong in my support of evolution. But, I prefer to trust the countless arms of science that provide archaeological, geological, cosmological and geographical evidence [among many others] to suggest that the universe (and, indeed, our world) is very much older than 6,000 years! - There lies the first (and the biggest) hurdle for me to scale before I could ever contemplate the substance of creationism.
As for teaching it in schools?! - The only value I can envisage is to draw parallels with the 'world is flat' theory and how the contemporary ridiculousness of creationism might very well suffer the same 'egg on face' fate..
For some peculiar reason, I find the forceful postulation of creationism quite irritating. I realise that Darwin's "theory" of evolution through natural selection is probably not flawless but it does explain and account for the over-riding evidence available.
I don't dislike creationism purely on the basis that it is religious (and I shy away from anything that argues points from religious perspectives) - more, I disapprove of the fact that if creationism were an accurate description of life as we know it, then most of science itself is erroneous - cosmology, biology, chemistry, geology, etc.
The additional 'irritation' for me is provided in the homo erectus guise of Dr Richard Dawkins. I support 99% of his argument and welcome the work he does, but I cant possibly uphold his contemptuous attitude towards any non-supporter of evolution theory. I'd much prefer for him to propound his (Darwin's) case on evidence, fact and corroborating scientific argument rather than the razzmatazz of arguing or rowing with opponents (as was witnessed in his recent channel 4 offering - The Genius of Charles Darwin).
Perhaps I'm being a little unfair on Dr Dawkins. I just feel that in order to argue against other people's ideas or opinions you first need to open yourself up to them and embrace the basis of their misunderstanding.
I might be wrong in my support of evolution. But, I prefer to trust the countless arms of science that provide archaeological, geological, cosmological and geographical evidence [among many others] to suggest that the universe (and, indeed, our world) is very much older than 6,000 years! - There lies the first (and the biggest) hurdle for me to scale before I could ever contemplate the substance of creationism.
As for teaching it in schools?! - The only value I can envisage is to draw parallels with the 'world is flat' theory and how the contemporary ridiculousness of creationism might very well suffer the same 'egg on face' fate..
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