I know, I know, I said I wouldn’t enter this debate. But Steve Matheson gets it so right I feel that I would be remiss if I didn’t link there . His last point is so well made that I’m going to quote it in full:
3. Hold the scientific community accountable for how it responds to misuse of its name. Instead of blaming Myers and Dawkins for doing what they do best, exert moral pressure on the rest of science to be clearer about what is and isn’t a legitimate invocation of the authority of science. Christians, after all are rightly suspected of moral failure when/if they fail to condemn outrages perpetrated in their name. Why should this not be expected of scientists? And while no human can find the time to answer every summons to repudiate the idiocy of fellow travelers, the world has a right to ponder whether relative silence signals tacit approval.
We have some loud atheists who like to pretend that it is science, and not unbelief, that is in conflict with belief. Shall we silence them? OF COURSE NOT. We should thank them for getting some important questions into the public square, then we should make it quite clear that their efforts have little to do with science, and everything to do with their perfectly legitimate but completely religious convictions.
You really should read the rest of the post too.
Heh heh heh. Or in Henry’s words, “A field of science in which there is much argument and uncertainty is a field in rude good health.” Read that as theo-logy. That’s why we have so much fun debating.
Richard – I am cheering you all the way, as I often do. So, let’s get communicating. Don’t all rush at once…
Err, I think I’ll wait until this latest Expelled kerfuffle has calmed down. I don’t want to have too much fun at once.
Oh, and surely that should be the-ology.
Thanks for the link, Richard. It’s really excellent.
Yes Bob. We’ve all got an ology here.
“In the 1980s she became hugely popular as overbearing grandmother Beattie in the BT adverts. One of the award-winning ads contained the famous line “You got an ology”, a catchphrase that she’ll forever be associated with. ”
Richard, would you explain this to non-Brits such as myself?
My ap-ologies for misplaced hyphens.
I’m a Brit and I haven’t a clue either, Heather! Must be all that TV I have never watched. I look forward to enlightenment (I think!).
If I knew what it meant, I might suggest updating it to “you got an -omic”.
http://www.geocities.com/tvtranscripts/comm/comphone.htm
Sorry, Richard, I’ll allergic to TV at the best of times, and most particularly to adverts….so I guess I’ll just have to live in ignorance. Though “you got an omic” is quite a good motto for our times, no?
Don’t worry Richard, I know what you’re on about. When I got my Ph.D. my father said that he’d have to practice saying “My Son, The Palaeontologist”.
Indeed, Maxine! (I think I saw the advert only about once, but it had become such a cultural thing that everyone seemed to know it – I have a similar allergy).
Henry, I’ve just had this stunning idea for a new crime drama. It’s st in a museum…
And all the victims died 20Mya?
Henry, I’ve just had this stunning idea for a new crime drama. It’s st in a museum…
Go for it Richard. It’s been done before of course … 🙂 … but not with your noir detective.
HAHA! Yes, of course. Oh dear. As if I haven’t enough to do.