Don't know much about biology
From a
short piece in the Sunday NY Times by Jim Holt:
As for the great ruck of ordinary Americans, they are merely uninterested in, or perhaps bored by, science. Only one in five has bothered to take a physics course. Three out of four haven't heard that the universe is expanding. Nearly half, according to a recent survey, seem to believe that God created man in his present form within the last 10,000 years. Less than 10 percent of adult Americans, it is estimated, are in possession of basic scientific literacy. This ignorance of science, flecked with outright hostility, is worth pondering at a moment when three of the nation's most contentious political issues - global warming, stem-cell research and the teaching of intelligent design - are scientific in character. And further on, he writes:
...it is often said that science and religious faith are compatible, since the former deals with "how" questions, the latter with "why" questions. As an empirical matter, however, that does not seem to be true. On the whole, around 9 in 10 Americans say they believe in a personal God. When scientists are surveyed, that figure falls to 4 in 10. Among the scientific elite - members of the National Academy of Sciences - fewer than 1 in 10 say they believe in God, with the biologists in particular professing agnosticism or atheism at a rate of 95 percent. We have come to the start of the 21st century with a determination to substitute faith in miracles, deities, sacred texts, and holy men for the tested rigor of the scientific method.
Preoccupied with ritual and even the most laughably marginal religious symbols, we debate whether a Christmas tree might better be known as a holiday tree, even as suicide bombers invoke their own notional deity to press their side of another, more serious, debate. And in both cases, faith shows its appalling ability to deflect the minds of men from progress and reason.
|
+Save/Share
|
|
FEATURED QUOTE
"It is the logic of our times No subject for immortal verse That we who lived by honest dreams Defend the bad against the worse."
-- Cecil Day-Lewis from Where Are The War Poets?
ABOUT US
What is the Blue Voice?
Bruce Miller
Fdtate
Marcia Ellen (on hiatus)
Marigolds2
Neil
Tankwoman
Wonky Muse
RECENT POSTS
"Reconstructing" God's kingdom in America
Two blog alerts
Harold Pinter's Nobel Lecture
Montreal 2005, Kyoto and Beyond
The Assassin's Gate by George Packer
Rendition, torture, misinformation, invasion
Shocking Announcement
School days, school days...
Poverty and Oil in Africa
Bush at the Council on Foreign Relations
ARCHIVES
Weekly, Click Here >>>
06/12/2005 - 06/19/2005
06/19/2005 - 06/26/2005
06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005
07/03/2005 - 07/10/2005
07/10/2005 - 07/17/2005
07/17/2005 - 07/24/2005
07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005
07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005
08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005
08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005
08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005
08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005
09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005
09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005
09/18/2005 - 09/25/2005
09/25/2005 - 10/02/2005
10/02/2005 - 10/09/2005
10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005
10/16/2005 - 10/23/2005
10/23/2005 - 10/30/2005
10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005
11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005
11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005
11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005
11/27/2005 - 12/04/2005
12/04/2005 - 12/11/2005
12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005
12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005
12/25/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 01/08/2006
01/08/2006 - 01/15/2006
01/15/2006 - 01/22/2006
01/22/2006 - 01/29/2006
01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006
02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006
02/12/2006 - 02/19/2006
02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006
02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006
03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006
03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006
03/19/2006 - 03/26/2006
03/26/2006 - 04/02/2006
04/02/2006 - 04/09/2006
04/09/2006 - 04/16/2006
04/16/2006 - 04/23/2006
04/23/2006 - 04/30/2006
04/30/2006 - 05/07/2006
05/07/2006 - 05/14/2006
05/14/2006 - 05/21/2006
05/21/2006 - 05/28/2006
05/28/2006 - 06/04/2006
06/04/2006 - 06/11/2006
06/11/2006 - 06/18/2006
06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006
06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006
07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006
07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006
07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006
07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006
07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006
08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006
08/13/2006 - 08/20/2006
08/20/2006 - 08/27/2006
08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006
09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006
09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006
09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006
09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 10/08/2006
10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006
10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006
10/22/2006 - 10/29/2006
10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006
11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006
11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006
11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006
11/26/2006 - 12/03/2006
12/03/2006 - 12/10/2006
12/10/2006 - 12/17/2006
12/17/2006 - 12/24/2006
12/24/2006 - 12/31/2006
12/31/2006 - 01/07/2007
01/07/2007 - 01/14/2007
01/14/2007 - 01/21/2007
01/21/2007 - 01/28/2007
01/28/2007 - 02/04/2007
02/04/2007 - 02/11/2007
02/11/2007 - 02/18/2007
02/18/2007 - 02/25/2007
02/25/2007 - 03/04/2007
03/04/2007 - 03/11/2007
03/11/2007 - 03/18/2007
03/18/2007 - 03/25/2007
03/25/2007 - 04/01/2007
04/01/2007 - 04/08/2007
04/08/2007 - 04/15/2007
04/15/2007 - 04/22/2007
04/22/2007 - 04/29/2007
04/29/2007 - 05/06/2007
05/06/2007 - 05/13/2007
05/13/2007 - 05/20/2007
05/20/2007 - 05/27/2007
05/27/2007 - 06/03/2007
06/03/2007 - 06/10/2007
06/10/2007 - 06/17/2007
06/17/2007 - 06/24/2007
06/24/2007 - 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 - 07/08/2007
07/08/2007 - 07/15/2007
07/15/2007 - 07/22/2007
07/22/2007 - 07/29/2007
07/29/2007 - 08/05/2007
08/05/2007 - 08/12/2007
08/12/2007 - 08/19/2007
08/19/2007 - 08/26/2007
08/26/2007 - 09/02/2007
09/02/2007 - 09/09/2007
09/09/2007 - 09/16/2007
09/16/2007 - 09/23/2007
09/23/2007 - 09/30/2007
09/30/2007 - 10/07/2007
10/07/2007 - 10/14/2007
10/14/2007 - 10/21/2007
10/21/2007 - 10/28/2007
10/28/2007 - 11/04/2007
11/04/2007 - 11/11/2007
11/11/2007 - 11/18/2007
11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007
11/25/2007 - 12/02/2007
12/02/2007 - 12/09/2007
12/09/2007 - 12/16/2007
12/16/2007 - 12/23/2007
12/23/2007 - 12/30/2007
12/30/2007 - 01/06/2008
01/06/2008 - 01/13/2008
01/13/2008 - 01/20/2008
01/20/2008 - 01/27/2008
01/27/2008 - 02/03/2008
02/03/2008 - 02/10/2008
02/10/2008 - 02/17/2008
02/17/2008 - 02/24/2008
02/24/2008 - 03/02/2008
03/02/2008 - 03/09/2008
03/09/2008 - 03/16/2008
03/16/2008 - 03/23/2008
03/23/2008 - 03/30/2008
03/30/2008 - 04/06/2008
04/06/2008 - 04/13/2008
04/13/2008 - 04/20/2008
04/20/2008 - 04/27/2008
04/27/2008 - 05/04/2008
05/04/2008 - 05/11/2008
05/11/2008 - 05/18/2008
05/18/2008 - 05/25/2008
05/25/2008 - 06/01/2008
06/01/2008 - 06/08/2008
06/08/2008 - 06/15/2008
06/15/2008 - 06/22/2008
06/22/2008 - 06/29/2008
06/29/2008 - 07/06/2008
07/06/2008 - 07/13/2008
07/13/2008 - 07/20/2008
07/20/2008 - 07/27/2008
07/27/2008 - 08/03/2008
08/03/2008 - 08/10/2008
08/10/2008 - 08/17/2008
08/17/2008 - 08/24/2008
08/24/2008 - 08/31/2008
08/31/2008 - 09/07/2008
09/07/2008 - 09/14/2008
09/14/2008 - 09/21/2008
09/21/2008 - 09/28/2008
09/28/2008 - 10/05/2008
10/05/2008 - 10/12/2008
10/12/2008 - 10/19/2008
10/19/2008 - 10/26/2008
10/26/2008 - 11/02/2008
11/02/2008 - 11/09/2008
11/09/2008 - 11/16/2008
11/16/2008 - 11/23/2008
11/23/2008 - 11/30/2008
11/30/2008 - 12/07/2008
12/07/2008 - 12/14/2008
12/14/2008 - 12/21/2008
12/21/2008 - 12/28/2008
12/28/2008 - 01/04/2009
01/04/2009 - 01/11/2009
01/11/2009 - 01/18/2009
01/18/2009 - 01/25/2009
01/25/2009 - 02/01/2009
02/01/2009 - 02/08/2009
02/08/2009 - 02/15/2009
02/15/2009 - 02/22/2009
02/22/2009 - 03/01/2009
03/01/2009 - 03/08/2009
03/08/2009 - 03/15/2009
03/15/2009 - 03/22/2009
03/22/2009 - 03/29/2009
03/29/2009 - 04/05/2009
04/05/2009 - 04/12/2009
04/12/2009 - 04/19/2009
04/19/2009 - 04/26/2009
04/26/2009 - 05/03/2009
05/03/2009 - 05/10/2009
05/10/2009 - 05/17/2009
05/17/2009 - 05/24/2009
05/24/2009 - 05/31/2009
05/31/2009 - 06/07/2009
06/07/2009 - 06/14/2009
06/14/2009 - 06/21/2009
06/21/2009 - 06/28/2009
06/28/2009 - 07/05/2009
07/05/2009 - 07/12/2009
07/12/2009 - 07/19/2009
07/19/2009 - 07/26/2009
07/26/2009 - 08/02/2009
08/02/2009 - 08/09/2009
08/09/2009 - 08/16/2009
08/16/2009 - 08/23/2009
08/23/2009 - 08/30/2009
08/30/2009 - 09/06/2009
09/06/2009 - 09/13/2009
09/13/2009 - 09/20/2009
09/20/2009 - 09/27/2009
09/27/2009 - 10/04/2009
10/04/2009 - 10/11/2009
10/11/2009 - 10/18/2009
10/18/2009 - 10/25/2009
10/25/2009 - 11/01/2009
11/01/2009 - 11/08/2009
11/08/2009 - 11/15/2009
11/15/2009 - 11/22/2009
11/22/2009 - 11/29/2009
11/29/2009 - 12/06/2009
12/06/2009 - 12/13/2009
12/13/2009 - 12/20/2009
12/20/2009 - 12/27/2009
12/27/2009 - 01/03/2010
01/03/2010 - 01/10/2010
01/10/2010 - 01/17/2010
01/17/2010 - 01/24/2010
01/24/2010 - 01/31/2010
01/31/2010 - 02/07/2010
02/07/2010 - 02/14/2010
02/14/2010 - 02/21/2010
02/21/2010 - 02/28/2010
02/28/2010 - 03/07/2010
03/07/2010 - 03/14/2010
03/14/2010 - 03/21/2010
03/21/2010 - 03/28/2010
03/28/2010 - 04/04/2010
04/04/2010 - 04/11/2010
04/11/2010 - 04/18/2010
04/18/2010 - 04/25/2010
04/25/2010 - 05/02/2010
05/02/2010 - 05/09/2010
05/09/2010 - 05/16/2010
05/16/2010 - 05/23/2010
05/23/2010 - 05/30/2010
05/30/2010 - 06/06/2010
06/06/2010 - 06/13/2010
06/13/2010 - 06/20/2010
06/20/2010 - 06/27/2010
06/27/2010 - 07/04/2010
07/04/2010 - 07/11/2010
07/11/2010 - 07/18/2010
07/18/2010 - 07/25/2010
07/25/2010 - 08/01/2010
08/01/2010 - 08/08/2010
08/08/2010 - 08/15/2010
08/15/2010 - 08/22/2010
08/22/2010 - 08/29/2010
08/29/2010 - 09/05/2010
09/05/2010 - 09/12/2010
09/12/2010 - 09/19/2010
09/19/2010 - 09/26/2010
09/26/2010 - 10/03/2010
10/03/2010 - 10/10/2010
10/10/2010 - 10/17/2010
10/17/2010 - 10/24/2010
10/24/2010 - 10/31/2010
10/31/2010 - 11/07/2010
11/07/2010 - 11/14/2010
11/14/2010 - 11/21/2010
11/21/2010 - 11/28/2010
11/28/2010 - 12/05/2010
12/05/2010 - 12/12/2010
12/12/2010 - 12/19/2010
12/19/2010 - 12/26/2010
12/26/2010 - 01/02/2011
01/02/2011 - 01/09/2011
01/09/2011 - 01/16/2011
01/16/2011 - 01/23/2011
01/23/2011 - 01/30/2011
01/30/2011 - 02/06/2011
02/06/2011 - 02/13/2011
02/13/2011 - 02/20/2011
02/20/2011 - 02/27/2011
02/27/2011 - 03/06/2011
03/06/2011 - 03/13/2011
03/13/2011 - 03/20/2011
03/20/2011 - 03/27/2011
03/27/2011 - 04/03/2011
04/03/2011 - 04/10/2011
04/10/2011 - 04/17/2011
04/17/2011 - 04/24/2011
04/24/2011 - 05/01/2011
05/01/2011 - 05/08/2011
05/08/2011 - 05/15/2011
05/15/2011 - 05/22/2011
05/22/2011 - 05/29/2011
05/29/2011 - 06/05/2011
06/05/2011 - 06/12/2011
06/12/2011 - 06/19/2011
06/19/2011 - 06/26/2011
06/26/2011 - 07/03/2011
07/03/2011 - 07/10/2011
07/10/2011 - 07/17/2011
07/17/2011 - 07/24/2011
07/24/2011 - 07/31/2011
07/31/2011 - 08/07/2011
08/07/2011 - 08/14/2011
08/14/2011 - 08/21/2011
08/21/2011 - 08/28/2011
08/28/2011 - 09/04/2011
09/04/2011 - 09/11/2011
09/11/2011 - 09/18/2011
09/18/2011 - 09/25/2011
09/25/2011 - 10/02/2011
10/02/2011 - 10/09/2011
10/09/2011 - 10/16/2011
10/16/2011 - 10/23/2011
10/23/2011 - 10/30/2011
10/30/2011 - 11/06/2011
11/06/2011 - 11/13/2011
11/13/2011 - 11/20/2011
11/20/2011 - 11/27/2011
11/27/2011 - 12/04/2011
12/04/2011 - 12/11/2011
12/11/2011 - 12/18/2011
12/18/2011 - 12/25/2011
12/25/2011 - 01/01/2012
01/01/2012 - 01/08/2012
01/08/2012 - 01/15/2012
01/15/2012 - 01/22/2012
01/22/2012 - 01/29/2012
01/29/2012 - 02/05/2012
02/05/2012 - 02/12/2012
02/12/2012 - 02/19/2012
02/19/2012 - 02/26/2012
02/26/2012 - 03/04/2012
03/04/2012 - 03/11/2012
03/11/2012 - 03/18/2012
03/18/2012 - 03/25/2012
03/25/2012 - 04/01/2012
04/01/2012 - 04/08/2012
04/08/2012 - 04/15/2012
04/15/2012 - 04/22/2012
04/22/2012 - 04/29/2012
04/29/2012 - 05/06/2012
05/06/2012 - 05/13/2012
05/13/2012 - 05/20/2012
05/20/2012 - 05/27/2012
05/27/2012 - 06/03/2012
06/03/2012 - 06/10/2012
06/10/2012 - 06/17/2012
06/17/2012 - 06/24/2012
06/24/2012 - 07/01/2012
07/01/2012 - 07/08/2012
07/08/2012 - 07/15/2012
07/15/2012 - 07/22/2012
07/22/2012 - 07/29/2012
07/29/2012 - 08/05/2012
08/05/2012 - 08/12/2012
08/12/2012 - 08/19/2012
08/19/2012 - 08/26/2012
08/26/2012 - 09/02/2012
09/02/2012 - 09/09/2012
09/09/2012 - 09/16/2012
09/16/2012 - 09/23/2012
09/23/2012 - 09/30/2012
09/30/2012 - 10/07/2012
10/07/2012 - 10/14/2012
10/14/2012 - 10/21/2012
10/21/2012 - 10/28/2012
10/28/2012 - 11/04/2012
11/04/2012 - 11/11/2012
11/11/2012 - 11/18/2012
11/18/2012 - 11/25/2012
11/25/2012 - 12/02/2012
12/02/2012 - 12/09/2012
12/09/2012 - 12/16/2012
12/16/2012 - 12/23/2012
RECENT COMMENTS
[Tip: Point cursor to any comment to see title of post being discussed.]
SEARCH THIS SITE
BLUE'S NEWS
Get the Google News widget and many other great free widgets
at Widgetbox !
ACT BLUE
BLUE LINKS
Environmental Links
Gay/Lesbian Links
News & Media Links
Organization Links
Political Links
Religious Links
Watchdog Links
BLUE ROLL
MISCELLANEOUS