Evolution Denialism in Universities

Chris Hegarty said:
I've had a bit of a problem lately. Perhaps I'm becoming more perceptive, but I've noticed a strong rash of evolution denialism at the collegiate level. I'm an undergrad at Purdue University, itself a very science-research school and (one would think) not very likely to harbor many evolution denialists. However, some college Christian fundamentalist group has started spewing large numbers of Jack Chick pamphlets all over the place. Here's a link if you haven't seen it. I say "some college Christian fundamentalist group" because there are a lot of them at Purdue. So, therefore, I have a few questions to field to you all:

1) Have any of you college types noticed an increase in evolution denialism in colleges lately? There was the Cameron Origin of Species baloney a while back, but is this becoming more pervasive?

2) If this movement is becoming more common in colleges and universities, why and how?

3) Are college fundamentalist groups becoming more militant about their "mission"? They seem so to me, but I don't have much of a frame of reference; I'm kind of a spring chicken.

Thanks in advance for your perspectives. I posted my whole story about my "incident" up on my blog because if I posted it here I'd violate RULE TEN fairly badly.
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Its my guess that with the decline of religion in the USA and high profile atheism on the rise these people feel threatened and are trying to fight back.
 
NewtonTrino said:
So everyone who denies evolution is a nutcase?
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Nutcase is a bad word; vague definition, and insulting to boot.

I'd say almost everyone who denies evolution is anti-science, and the rest are either misinformed or (a tiny, tiny minority) may be on the verge of an exciting scientific breakthrough that will correct our understanding of evolution, not abolish it.
 
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zaphod2016 said:
Nutcase is a bad word; vague definition, and insulting to boot.

I'd say almost everyone who denies evolution is anti-science, and the rest are either misinformed or (a tiny, tiny minority) may be on the verge of an exciting scientific breakthrough that will correct our understanding of evolution, not abolish it.
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But if we descended from monkeys why are there still monkeys?

DrKitten????? help!!!
 
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I've had a bit of a problem lately. Perhaps I'm becoming more perceptive, but I've noticed a strong rash of evolution denialism at the collegiate level. I'm an undergrad at Purdue University, itself a very science-research school and (one would think) not very likely to harbor many evolution denialists. However, some college Christian fundamentalist group has started spewing large numbers of Jack Chick pamphlets all over the place. Here's a link if you haven't seen it. I say "some college Christian fundamentalist group" because there are a lot of them at Purdue.
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I must be missing something here, but this is a problem why......?

"Wrong Sir, Gluons are a made-up dream. No one has seen them or even measured them...they don't exist. Its a desperate theory to explain away the truth"
Exactly.

People distribute all kinds of pamphlets in all kinds of places. Why should Purdue University be some kind of censorship zone?
 
dasmiller said:
Still in progress. Ever notice how every year there are more people and fewer monkeys?

. . . it was a joke, sheesh!
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Oh man! Once we kill off all the monkeys creationists won't be able to use this tired old piece of bs.
 
Well then why is it a problem?

Distributing a pamphlet is not a very good guide to public support, if anything it is the opposite, as it suggests a shut out or lack of receptivity through normal channels.

Which is odd really, because he is absolutely right about the Gluons.
 
Everyone knows gluons are a liberal conspiracy and the only thing keeping atoms together is jesus christ himself.
 
Chris Hegarty said:
I definitely agree that the Internet is a huge influence; I've read up a little on some websites, and they have an incredibly sophisticated game plan for how, where, and when they will attempt to hook people on creationism.
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I can see how the Internet could benefit denialism through providing a tool to help these people coordinate, but I was wondering recently if it might also be working to spread better knowledge about evolution. I have noticed for a while that on general forums (games and music) that denialist and YEC ideas tend to get smacked down pretty soundly by facts. It has given me a bit of hope for the next generation.
 
Sideroxylon said:
I can see how the Internet could benefit denialism through providing a tool to help these people coordinate, but I was wondering recently if it might also be working to spread better knowledge about evolution.
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Only in the sense that it spreads better knowledge about everything -- but evolution was already extremely well-spread and so it benefits less.

In 1960, for example, there was already a well-established international network of scientists, with well-established channels for communicating with each other. They published journals, wrote books, attended conferences, and every major educational institution had copies of those journals and books available for the education of students.

The main difference between now and then is that now I can publish my theories much more quickly -- but not especially more widely.

The difference that the creationists experience between now and then is that now they can publish their theories much more widely.
 
Chris Hegarty said:
However, some college Christian fundamentalist group has started spewing large numbers of Jack Chick pamphlets all over the place.
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I don't know Purdue, but I'm surprised they get away with that. The few tracts I have seen were tantamount to hate speech in places.

As for the point of your post, there is a growing culture of every viewpoint being equally valid regardless of evidence or data, that old-fashioned science doesn't know everything (therefore any old junk theory might be true) and that its somehow better to eschew science in favour of spiritual stimulation.

Minority interests are also well-organised these days so a handful of nutjobs (and I'll be the one who is happy to say that most if not all evangelical Christian types fall into that category ;) ) can appear to be a growing trend.
 
Last of the Fraggles said:
I don't know Purdue, but I'm surprised they get away with that. The few tracts I have seen were tantamount to hate speech in places.

As for the point of your post, there is a growing culture of every viewpoint being equally valid regardless of evidence or data, that old-fashioned science doesn't know everything (therefore any old junk theory might be true) and that its somehow better to eschew science in favour of spiritual stimulation.

Minority interests are also well-organised these days so a handful of nutjobs (and I'll be the one who is happy to say that most if not all evangelical Christian types fall into that category ;) ) can appear to be a growing trend.
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The line between fact and opinion blurring is not a good thing. And the fact that the majority of the people accept this, is scarier still.

It honestly seems like it is politically incorrect currently to tell someone they are simply wrong. And that is something that does not sit right with me, because regardless of if we all agree everyone is just as valid as everyone else, that dosn't make it true.
 
sadhatter said:
It honestly seems like it is politically incorrect currently to tell someone they are simply wrong. And that is something that does not sit right with me, because regardless of if we all agree everyone is just as valid as everyone else, that doesn't make it true.
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It's a problem that I don't see going away, either. If people point out that we have to call out denialists' ideas as unscientific and illegitimate, I'm sure there will be cries of religious persecution. It's a bit of a rock and a hard place.
 
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